iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 5h

🚨 UPDATE LA28 FAILED to provide us with any of the financial docs we requested and that they are contractually obligated to provide. We requested these to give you TRANSPARENCY on their finances related to the Olympics since LA TAXPAYERS ARE ON THE HOOK if it goes over budget.

1348

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 28/09/2026

Thank you to the few Councilmembers who fought for greater oversight and audit powers over LA28's finances (Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez, Nithya Raman, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Ysabel Jurado, and Heather Hutt). Unfortunately, they didn't have enough votes at the time.

Every Councilmember EXCEPT Eunisses Hernandez, Nithva Raman, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Ysabel Jurado, and Heather Hutt SIDELINED this proposal to strengthen audit powers for the City to look into LA28's finances at anytime (NOT AFTER the Olympics are complete) so LA taxpayers are protected. Shame. Thank you to the 5 CMs above though.

0121

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 28/09/2026

Never before in this City’s history has a private organization been financially backstopped by the City of Los Angeles taxpayers to carry out an endeavor of this size and scale. Our data request for financial information from LA28 AGREED to by the City and LA28 is due today.

L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia demanded last month that LA28, the private nonprofit producing the Games, release a much more detailed accounting of its activities than it has in yearly reports to City Hall. He has asked for bank statements, more detailed revenue and expenditure accounting and other documents

"L.A. taxpayers need to know that
LA28 is doing well. They want to
make sure that those numbers are
legit, which is why we`re requesting
more information," Mejia said in an
interview. "Because if LA28 does not
do well, then we as taxpayers, as the
fiscal backstop, we're on the hook."

1152

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 28/09/2026

If the Mayor & most of City Council DO NOT want to fight for transparency and accountability on LA28's finances, WE WILL. REMINDER: YOU ALL (LA taxpayers) are financially liable for UNLIMITED amounts if the LA Olympics goes over budget. www.latimes.com/california/s...

Los Angeles Times article that savs
LA Olympics organizers limit some financial disclosures. a times review shows
A picture of the LA Colliseum shows below the headline with stadium red seats

Organizers of the 2028 Summer
Olympics in Los Angeles have given
vague and sometimes incomplete
annual reports to the city on details
of their preparations for what has
been described as the largest athletic
event in the nation's history, records show.

A review by The Times of five vears
of annual reports from LA28 shows
that the organization appears at
times to have curtailed the reporting
requirements that are spelled out in
its 2021 contract with Los Angeles

The private nonprofit organization's
yearly reports haven't outlined
progress on roughly two dozen
venues around Greater Los Angeles.
Nor have they included details about
contracts LA28 signed with companies providing such services as security and preproduction work for the opening and closing ceremonies.

The incomplete updates leave the
with less city's taxpayers information than promised on matters such as who is winning business - and the attendant iobs and profits - from contracts that soared to $687 million in value last year. They also don't have as clear a picture on things like the progress on plans to install a running track at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and swimming pools inside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood

15123

Reposted by LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 01/09/2026

Our bathrooms / water fountains map has been used over 10,000 times this summer! 🚽💦 bathrooms.lacontroller.app 🚿NEW: mobile showers has been added to our map. Share this resource with anyone who needs it!

14815

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 04/09/2026

If you see fraud, waste, and abuse in the City of LA, submit a claim (can do so anonymously) at controller.lacity.gov/fwa

0141

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 04/09/2026

Affordable housing is in dire need in Los Angeles, and the City should ensure everyone has a fair shot of getting into these units. We recommended that the Housing Dept. strengthen covenant language on conflicts of interest and conduct site visits.

1211

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 04/09/2026

We received a Fraud, Waste, & Abuse tip: An affordable housing developer was renting out their affordable units to friends and employees from another related entity. Due to legal ambiguity around covenant language, we couldn't substantiate the claim.

23010

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 01/09/2026

14815

Reposted by LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Controller Kenneth Mejia making good on his promise to at least attempt to get LA28 to open up its books. "Today's data request is part of the Controller's robust financial oversight process to force visibility into the spending, commitments, and assumptions built into the Olympic Games budget"

"Open up the books!" - Controller Kenneth Mejia demands transparency over the 2028 Olympic Games, requests LA28 hand over financial records &
statements After years of woefully inadequate financial records and statements, Controller Mejia submits a financial data request to LA28 to provide transparency and
accountability on the Olympics LOS ANGELES - The Controller's Office submitted a data request to LA28 today to demand the organization provide financial records and statements owed to the City of Los Angeles. As the City's accountant, auditor, and paymaster, the Controller has a responsibility to protect City of LA taxpayers from the impact of the LA28 Olympic Games. As agreed in the 2017 Host City Contract, the City of LA is the financial backstop if the LA28 Games result in a financial deficit. LA taxpayers are exposed to potentially unlimited financial obligations and deserve full transparency from LA28 related to all spending and revenue incurred in the
process of planning and executing the 2028 Olympic Games. Today's data request is part of the Controller's robust financial oversight process to force visibility into the spending, commitments, and assumptions built into the Olympic Games budget that the City's taxpayers are ultimately on the hook for if
the Games are financially unsuccessful.

The 2021 Games Agreement between the City and LA28 contains nine subsections that detail information LA28 must disclose annually. The Controller’s Office has determined that LA28 is only in compliance with two of those subsections, while six are incomplete and one is unknown. The missing information includes comparisons of financial forecasts vs. actuals, bank statements, schedules and budgets for venues, the identity of contractors and the values and purpose of contracts. When the City agreed to be the financial backstop for the Olympics in 2017, the budget was set at $5.306 billion. Since then, it has grown to $7.263 billion. Each time that expenses have increased, LA28’s projected revenues have similarly increased by the exact same amount. It is essential for LA28 to disclose all contractually required information so the people of Los Angeles understand the scope of the financial risk they are taking.

Controller Mejia said, “We all want a successful 2028 Olympic Games, but its success cannot be at the cost of transparency and accountability to LA taxpayers. Any event of this size and cost requires rigorous financial scrutiny, and I intend to use my full authority under the City Charter to open up LA28’s books. The Controller’s Office looks forward to LA28’s timely cooperation with our data request and we look forward to working with LA28 as a collaborative partner.”

35813

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 12/06/2026

🚨TOMORROW City Council may block some Charter reforms that WERE possibly headed for your Nov. ballot: - Council expansion - Ranked choice voting - More LAPD oversight 📣Make your voice heard Fri 1pm at City Hall! ✍️Submit written comment: lacouncilcomment.com CF 26-0489

lacouncilcomment.com

Public Comment Form

45631

Reposted by LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 12/06/2026

14514

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 12/06/2026

More info about our office’s recommendations, how to write to your City Councilmember, and an FAQ on Charter Reform: charterreform.lacontroller.app

charterreform.lacontroller.app

Take Action For Charter Reform

020

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 12/06/2026

Come to City Hall tomorrow 1pm & tell City Council to support: - Council expansion - Ranked choice voting - More LAPD oversight - All 6 Controller recommendations, especially an independent budget ‼️ Submit comment in writing here: lacouncilcomment.com CF 26-0489

lacouncilcomment.com

Public Comment Form

140

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 12/06/2026

A recommendation of ours the City Council Committee actually DOES plan to move forward is a CFO for the City. BUT instead of the elected Controller as CFO, they want to give it to an unelected bureaucrat (the CAO) who works for THEM.

CRC 13
Redesignates the City Administrative Officer as the Chief Financial Officer, with a ten-year term; defines roles in the development and adoption of Capital Improvement Program, preparation of a mid-term biennial budget report and a multi-year
financial plan
Approve with revisions.
Present to voters in November 2026, wib amendments as discussed in this report.

130

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 12/06/2026

My Office sent the Charter Commission 6 recommendations last August. At first, the Commission seemed ready to recommend 5 of 6. By the end, they only recommended 1 (enshrine Fraud, Waste, and Abuse). Tomorrow, the City Council Committee might kill that one too!

CRC 15
Incorporate Controller's fraud, No waste, and abuse duties into required the Controller's powers and which duties Administrative Fiscal
Charter amendment is to enact this provision, is already included in the Code. Impact: No fiscal impact.
Note and file.

132

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 12/06/2026

The Charter Reform Commission was created to tackle big issues like district size and elections. But instead of sending it to voters in November, Council might ask for “further study.” 🤨 Studying reforms like these is why the Commission was created in the first place!

120

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 12/06/2026

14514

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 10/06/2026

THANK YOU ALL for sending emails! It takes just a few minutes but makes a BIG difference. Your email could lead to the City Charter giving the Controller an independent budget. It could lead to more accountability in City Hall for decades. charterreform.lacontroller.app

charterreform.lacontroller.app

Take Action For Charter Reform

271

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 10/06/2026

In the email: - Ask your Councilmember to support a Charter proposal that gives the Controller an independent budget of no less than 0.42% of the General Fund - Say why it’s important to you (i.e., more accountability in City Hall) More info at charterreform.lacontroller.app

charterreform.lacontroller.app

Take Action For Charter Reform

180

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 10/06/2026

STEP 3: Write & send your email: The subject line can be anything with the words “Charter” and “Controller”. Examples - - Support an independent budget for the Controller in the Charter - Charter Reform: Give the Controller an independent budget

130

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 10/06/2026

STEP 1: Find out who your Councilmember is by entering your address into neighborhoodinfo.lacity.gov STEP 2: Get your Councilmember’s email address at charterreform.lacontroller.app (scroll down a little)

neighborhoodinfo.lacity.gov

130

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 10/06/2026

🤝HELP MAKE CITY HALL MORE ACCOUNTABLE! (In less than 10 mins!) ᯓ➤ The Controller’s Office should have an independent budget (NOT decided by Mayor & Council). An independent budget would protect us from political retaliation. YOU can help! Email your Councilmember:

1183

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 15/05/2026

We hope our new dashboard helps renters & organizers document patterns of harm & helps put pressure on both landlords and the City to act. Everyone deserves safe, stable & dignified housing. prp.lacontroller.app

prp.lacontroller.app

Top 100 Problem Rental Properties

0143

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 15/05/2026

There has never before been an uncomplicated way for anyone to look up years’ worth of violations by address. Our dashboard centralizes over 10 years’ worth of housing complaint & violation data into a single database.

2120

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 15/05/2026

Top types of housing violation cases: - Illegal Eviction: 55,018 cases cited - Illegal Rent Increase: 37,876 cases cited - Reduction of Services: 32,015 cases cited - Harassment: 24,179 cases cited

2101

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 15/05/2026

Top 100 Problem Rental Properties is a dashboard that includes: - Top 100 addresses with the most housing violation cases - Search tool for all residential addresses with reported housing violation cases - Interactive map - Numbers & types of violations cited - Property ownership

1100

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 15/05/2026

🏢We ranked the TOP 100 PROBLEM RENTAL PROPERTIES in the City of LA Top 3 addresses with the most housing violation cases: 🥇636½ N Hill 🥈11700 W Wilshire 🥉6650 W Forest Lawn Look up violations for any residential address, Dec 2013 - Nov 2025: prp.lacontroller.app

35424

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 05/05/2026

📧 Contact your Council Member to support our Office's Charter Reform recommendations to strengthen and protect the City Controller's Office! VISIT charterreform.lacontroller.app for easy to use instructions on our action items!

charterreform.lacontroller.app

Take Action For Charter Reform

0110

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 05/05/2026

In case you missed it, the City is undergoing Charter Reform. In other words, it’s a once-in-a-generation rewrite of the City Charter. NOW is the time to give YOUR input on real changes that can be made to the City’s Constitution.

1171

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 05/05/2026

WANT us to audit & do fraud, waste, and abuse investigations WITHOUT getting our budget cut in retaliation? ✂️ Want us to be able to audit any City program no matter how expensive & regardless of where that program is housed? 🔎 YOU can help us! 💪🏼 Charterreform.lacontroller.app

14113

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 21/04/2026

🫂 Unarmed Model of Crisis Response: $5 Million INCREASE to $18.8 Million Expanded coverage to ensure more residents have access to appropriate, non-law enforcement interventions for non-violent, non-emergency calls such as mental health crises, welfare checks, & disturbances.

0263

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 21/04/2026

⚖️ Liability Claims: $23 Million INCREASE to $210 Million This is in-line w/ our Office constantly sounding the alarm on liability claims being underbudgeted ($87 million annually) when we spend $200+ million annually. Our liability claims dashboard: liabilityclaims.lacontroller.app

liabilityclaims.lacontroller.app

City of LA Liability Claims Dashboard - Interactive Data Analysis

Interactive dashboard analyzing City of Los Angeles liability claims and payouts from FY2020 to FY2025. View comprehensive data, trends, and statistics.

3246

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 21/04/2026

🔨 Street Services: $55 Million INCREASE to $478 Million Includes increases in hiring more employees, salaries, contractual services, liability claims, & more. Increases for sidewalk repair, pavement preservation, access/curb ramps, clean corridors program, & more.

1183

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 21/04/2026

🏡 Homelessness: $165 Million DECREASE to $788 Million This is more in-line with our recent analysis which found that previous homelessness budgets were too high compared to actual spending (e.g. HHAP $). Decreases also include Prop HHH winding down & less State/Federal grants.

1254

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 21/04/2026

MAYOR'S $14.8 BILLION PROPOSED CITY OF LA BUDGET JUST DROPPED‼️ FEW HIGHLIGHTS 🧵 🚔 LAPD: $223 Million INCREASE to $3.6 Billion Includes increases in salaries, overtime, pensions, benefits, liability claims, & more. Includes hiring 510 officers to maintain a force of 8,555.

Budget Bar chart.
The bigger the category or department's budget, the longer the bar is.
Department Total Budget Police ($3.6B) $3.557.628.561 Other Special Purpose Funds ($2.5B) $2,545,282,776 Fire ($1.5B) $1.514.594.136 Sanitation ($1.1B) $1.069.890,629 Capital & Tech Improvements ($810M) $810,064,173 Wastewater Special Purpose Fund $499,903,538 Street Services $478,429,289 Recreation and Park $474.630.679 Transportation $398,059,754 Housing $384,921,950 Library $365,127,957 City Attorney $314,177,826 Building and Safety $262,923,803 Prop. A Local Transit Assist. Fund $253,358,910
Engineering $242.677,110
Other Agencies $183,707,300 Mavor $154.374.858 Bond Redemption and Interest $115,952,089 Finance $112.615.965 City Planning $111,561,348 Community Investment for Families $108,447,983 Council $106.132.869 Street Lighting $92,072,310 City Administrative Officer $88,310,805 Contract Administration $84.235,266 Prop. C Anti-Gridlock Tr

1812149

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 08/04/2026

The impact this $80 million could have if it were being used means streets could get paved, parks could get improvements, and more fire hydrants could be installed. And these services wouldn’t strain the City’s budget – it’s money the City already has. Check out the report: bit.ly/idlefunds

bit.ly

0131

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 08/04/2026

Right now, the City is facing another tough budget year. We need to make sure to use the money we already have before we dip even further into our reserves or make deeper cuts into City services.

1120

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 08/04/2026

What idle funds COULD HAVE been used for: $10.9M for economic development $11.9M for community safety $9.7M for parks $7.8M for housing and homelessness. $7.1M for streets $4.3M for transportation $1.7M for fire hydrant installation & main replacement

160

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 08/04/2026

Special Funds are different than the General Fund: Special Funds can only be used for specific purposes. (The General Fund can be used for anything.) Special Funds sitting idle means that there are specific purposes that the City could have been spending on but wasn’t.

140

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 08/04/2026

Imagine finding $80 MILLION sitting IDLE around your house that you could have been using! That’s what our office found when we looked at the City’s Special Funds for any funds that hadn’t been used for 2+ years! Read our Idle Funds Report: bit.ly/idlefunds

13114

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 02/04/2026

Note: The City Attorney was also investigating the same events & secured a default judgment against Makai for breach of contract. The court ordered Makai to pay the City $542k. Also, Makai was banned from doing business with the City for 3 years.

1100

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 02/04/2026

Our FWA Unit’s investigation helped to ensure that GSD is now overseeing vendors better & sticking to protocol. We only have 5 FWA investigators for the entire city (40k+ employees, 40+ departments). Even so, we thoroughly evaluate all cases. The City must fund our FWA Unit.

140

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 02/04/2026

- We reminded GSD that they’re required to report potential fraud, waste or abuse within 10 days of discovery (they waited over 2 years to report this allegation)

240

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 02/04/2026

- GSD should conduct reviews to ensure that accurate information is entered into the City’s financial management system - GSD should train purchasing staff on the importance of City policies on sharing usernames/passwords (more)

150

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 02/04/2026

We made recommendations to the General Services Department (GSD), and they agreed with implementing our recommendations: - GSD has already reminded staff about prepayment rules ✔️ - GSD should conduct reviews to ensure that prepayment rules are being followed (more)

150

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 02/04/2026

Staff (including nonpermanent staff) were allowed to share a single login for the City’s financial management system - so it was almost impossible to tell who marked the lifts as received.

150

LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia @controller.lacity.gov · 02/04/2026

Staff were directed to falsely mark the lifts as received, in order to make the payment happen. (Had the lifts not been marked as received in the City’s systems, the City would not have approved the payment.)

150