L.A. County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger started serving as chair of the Board of Supervisors for the 2024-25 term on Tuesday, her office announced in a news release.
There are some immediate changes that will be implemented in the board’s meeting schedule at Barger’s direction, the release states.
As memorialized in a letter sent to her colleagues on Tuesday, effective Jan. 1, board meetings will be held every Tuesday. This will result in the convening of 36 Board of Supervisors meetings in 2025 – an increase of over 50% in meeting frequency.
Public comment on policy motions not held for discussion by the Board of Supervisors will now take place at the start of the board meeting instead of at its end.
“It’s an honor and privilege to lead the Board of Supervisors as we continue to tackle the critical issues facing our county,” Barger said in the release. “None of us know exactly what this next year will hold. But, here’s what I will say with certainty: The county of Los Angeles remains a strong and stable safety net for our communities. As someone who has dedicated my entire career to county service, I know the importance of our county’s role. Our commitment has always been to serve residents — and that will not change in the year ahead, no matter what is happening elsewhere. Los Angeles County will continue to stand as a beacon of hope, a safe harbor for our residents when they need us most.”
Barger stated in the release that she will focus her chair year on uplifting public safety and unity.
“Her public safety work will center on helping people experiencing homelessness and foster youth, as well as investing in health and mental health systems,” the release states.
Barger’s priorities also include supporting public safety agencies to ensure neighborhoods and businesses are protected, according to the release.
The Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County recently bestowed the President’s Award upon Barger for her achievements and support of the law enforcement mission.
While delivering remarks about her upcoming chair term, Barger addressed her fellow supervisors directly, the release states.
“To my colleagues, I promise I will serve this board with a steady hand,” Barger stated in the release. “I will seize opportunities for collaboration and continually emphasize that we’re at our best when we see one another’s perspectives. We owe it to our communities to work together. There’s a reason county supervisors don’t have an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ next to their names on the ballot. County government is not about politics. It’s about people.”
Barger brings over three decades of leadership and experience exclusively focused on Los Angeles County government, according to the release.
To view Barger’s remarks, go to tinyurl.com/yn448thd. For her full speech, go to tinyurl.com/2yybzunc.
