Skip to main content

Thoughts on the River: Mitch O'Farrell

Support Provided By

Mitch O'Farrell began his public service in 2002 under the leadership of then Councilmember Eric Garcetti. O'Farrell's experience as a field deputy, district director, and senior advisor to the former City Council President have given him the experience to make government work better for people across the 13th District. His plans include creating opportunities for more affordable housing; reforming City policy to help small, neighborhood businesses drive the local economy; and working with his colleagues, the Mayor, and the entertainment industry to halt runaway production. Councilmember O'Farrell is also the Chair of the Arts, Parks, Health, Aging and Los Angeles River committee; Vice-Chair of Personnel and Animal Welfare committee; and a committee member of Innovation, Technology and General Services committee, Public Safety committee, and a member of Education and Neighborhoods.

Below are highlights from our conversation with Councilmember O'Farrell; you can watch the whole interview above.

On what the Army Corps' recommendation for the $1 billion plan means for Los Angeles:

It's a watershed moment for Los Angeles. There's just no question about it. A former employee of the Army Corps of Engineers Brian Moore said it best. He said this is the biggest news since they channelized the river in the '30s and '40s. And, it really is. What this represents is investment and habitat restoration [...] I'm talking about for the first time a realistic chance of bringing back the steelhead trout to the river, animals and wildlife that haven't been seen since we channelized the river.

On the benefits of river revitalization for L.A. residents:

It's really important for people to know that one quarter of all Angelenos live within one mile of the L.A. River. They're the ones who are going to benefit the most and we're going to make sure they do because we want to put protections in place and create affordable housing. So, it's very exciting. It's social justice. It's economic development. It's habitat restoration. It's sustainability. It's water conservation. It's all of that wrapped into one. And, it's a wonderful moment.

On how river revitalization could affect the housing market in the surrounding neighborhoods:

The real estate speculation has already begun. Real estate is being looked at up and down the river and has been for a while. This will very likely increase that. So while that's happening, I'm working on an affordable housing policy for the city of Los Angeles [...] We are working to create a permanent source of revenue for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and a policy that will help preserve the affordable housing we have.

On the potential for displacement of long-time residents:

Our families are being priced out of the city. We've got to do something about it. It's a moral imperative. We are the only high cost city in the United States that does not have a permanent source of funding to build more affordable housing. Our partners are out there waiting for us to do this, our nonprofits, and our developers who build affordable housing, they're waiting.

Support Provided By
Read More
Gray industrial towers and stacks rise up from behind the pitched roofs of warehouse buildings against a gray-blue sky, with a row of yellow-gold barrels with black lids lined up in the foreground to the right of a portable toilet.

California Isn't on Track To Meet Its Climate Change Mandates. It's Not Even Close.

According to the annual California Green Innovation Index released by Next 10 last week, California is off track from meeting its climate goals for the year 2030, as well as reaching carbon neutrality by 2045.
A row of cows stands in individual cages along a line of light-colored enclosures, placed along a dirt path under a blue sky dotted with white puffy clouds.

A Battle Is Underway Over California’s Lucrative Dairy Biogas Market

California is considering changes to a program that has incentivized dairy biogas, to transform methane emissions into a source of natural gas. Neighbors are pushing for an end to the subsidies because of its impact on air quality and possible water pollution.
A Black woman with long, black brains wears a black Chicago Bulls windbreaker jacket with red and white stripes as she stands at the top of a short staircase in a housing complex and rests her left hand on the metal railing. She smiles slightly while looking directly at the camera.

Los Angeles County Is Testing AI's Ability To Prevent Homelessness

In order to prevent people from becoming homeless before it happens, Los Angeles County officials are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to predict who in the county is most likely to lose their housing. They would then step in to help those people with their rent, utility bills, car payments and more so they don't become unhoused.