REP LIEU SECURES NEARLY $11 MILLION FOR 10 LOCAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING $2.5 MILLION FOR PROJECTS IN CITY OF LA

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) announced that he secured nearly $2.5 million for two community funding projects in the City of Los Angeles in the Fiscal Year 2022 government spending package signed into law by President Biden.

The resources will go toward creating a pilot program at the LA City Mayor's Office of City Homelessness Initiatives to improve crisis and incident response for people experiencing a mental health crisis and/or homelessness. It will also create opportunities for urban cooling and pedestrian improvements in the City of LA.

"I am pleased that the Community Project Funding that I fought for will go to our communities soon," Rep. Lieu said. "Specifically, $2.5 million will go directly to projects in the City of Los Angeles. This funding will enable Los Angeles to invest in its compassionate community safety pilot program, CIRCLE, as well as invest in infrastructure improvements to expand urban cooling, urban greening and pedestrian safety. I am proud to have worked alongside Mayor Garcetti and other local leaders to help ensure our community has the resources it needs for a healthier, safer, and more resilient future."

"Representative Lieu always prioritizes the needs of Angelenos and their families when fighting for funding in Washington," said Mayor Eric Garcetti. "Thanks to his tireless advocacy, Los Angeles can continue to lead on issues that impact our residents' everyday lives — with new funding to expand programs that reimagine how we deliver public safety, help bring our unhoused neighbors indoors, and improve public health in communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis."

For the City of LA, Rep. Lieu secured:

• $1.5 million for the City of LA's Crisis and Incident Response through Community-Led Engagement (CIRCLE) Pilot Program. The pilot's target will be non-emergency calls to 911 involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis and/or homelessness. CIRCLE calls will come to the LAPD's 911 system or the police non-emergency number. LAPD dispatchers will be trained to recognize non-violent situations with a behavioral health and/or homelessness component, and route those calls to CIRCLE. A team will respond, assess the situation, and provide immediate stabilization in cases of urgent medical need or psychological crisis. These response teams will be equipped with one outreach worker, a licensed behavioral health clinician, and a community ambassador. They will also provide assessment, information, referral, advocacy and, when warranted, transportation to the next step in treatment.
  
• $1 million for the City of LA's Cool Neighborhood Project – Fairfax District. This funding will support the Neighborhood Cooling Project, which will include cool pavement coating, street trees in empty parkways, new tree wells, tree maintenance, access ramps, and sidewalk repair. This project provides opportunities for urban cooling, urban greening, pedestrian improvements and improved public health.

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