At the City Council meeting on the evening of Monday, Feb. 27, the council voted to bring the state of emergency relating to the COVID-19 pandemic to an end from April 1. The count was 4-1, with Vice Mayor Yasmine-Imani McMorrin the one “nay” vote.
Action Item 1 read, “City Council Discussion and Direction Regarding (1) Termination of the COVID-19 Local Emergency; (2) a Potential Urgency Ordinance Related to Commercial Tenant Eviction Moratorium Protections During the Repayment Plan Period; (3) a Potential Urgency Ordinance Related to Limitation on Third Party Food Delivery Fees; and (4) Other Direction Related to the COVID-19 Local Emergency as Desired.”
All council members besides McMorrin believed that the time was right with the numbers heading in the right direction, with Council Member Freddy Puza suggesting the April 1 date. McMorrin said that there are still people at risk but she understood that she was in the minority in dissenting.
The council also voted to maintain the moratorium on evictions, while tenants are making honest attempts to abide by payment plans out in place. That passed unanimously.
Later in the meeting, without discussion, the council unanimously passed Action Item 4, “Consideration of a Request to Sign Onto the Amicus (Friend of the Court) Brief Prepared by the County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles to Support the Defense of the Federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program in a Case Pending before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.”
While the City Council has been divided on many issues, they came together to firmly support the DACA children.
The meeting ended at an unusually early 10 p.m.