Press Release: Councilmember Padilla Introduces Motion to Establish CD6 Wildfire Relief Fund for Informal Service Workers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2025
Contact: Lauren Perez-Rangel, lauren.perez.rangel@lacity.org, 818-795-4778
Kevin Contreras, kevin.contreras@lacity.org, 818-795-4664
COUNCILMEMBER PADILLA INTRODUCES MOTION TO ESTABLISH CD6WILDFIRE RELIEF FUND FOR INFORMAL SERVICE WORKERS
Los Angeles, CA – In the wake of one of the worst wildfire disasters in Los Angeles’history, Councilmember Imelda Padilla introduced a motion to provide targeted relieffor informal service workers in Council District 6. The proposed “CD6 Wildfire ReliefFund for Micro-Enterprises” seeks to address income losses faced by housekeepers,gardeners, personal chefs, caretakers, and other self-employed workers who havesuffered income losses and face significant challenges in accessing federal or stateemergency resources.
The motion allocates $25,000 in discretionary funds (AB 1290) from Council District 6to the ICON Community Development Corporation (ICON CDC), a longstandingpartner in the Northeast San Fernando Valley that operates the City of Los AngelesBusiness Source Centers in the North and South Valley regions, and has a proventrack record of supporting micro-entrepreneurs and street vendors. The directive is tocreate and administer a temporary relief program to support CD 6 residents who workin the aforementioned micro-enterprises and informal service sectors.
“This past week has been devastating for Los Angeles, and my heart goes out to allexperiencing loss and displacement,” said Councilmember Padilla. “Our localeconomy is deeply interconnected, and disasters like these ripple across the city,impacting even those miles away. Informal service workers—housekeepers,gardeners, and caretakers—are vital to our communities, yet they often face uniquechallenges in recovery. Without targeted support, these workers risk falling throughthe cracks, and we must act to prevent further hardship.”
Federal assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) isavailable for those directly affected by the fires. However, many informal workers inCD6, who rely on service contracts in impacted areas, may not qualify for such aid.The proposed relief fund is designed to fill this gap, providing direct support toworkers facing economic hardships as a result of the fires.
Councilmember Padilla emphasized the importance of addressing the unique needsof these workers: “This relief fund is not just about recovery—it’s about equity andensuring that every resident of Council District 6 has the tools to weather a crisis.”
This motion builds on Councilmember Padilla’s longstanding commitment toenhancing public safety and emergency response in District 6. Last year, on January30, 2024, Padilla successfully advanced a motion to bring critical fire emergencyresponse resources to the Northeast San Fernando Valley, including adding a secondFire Engine at Fire Station 7 in Panorama City and securing the establishment of anew fire station in District 6.
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