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BUDGET DAY - From deteriorating infrastructure and rising labor costs to homelessness spending, public safety concerns, liability risks, and growing frustration over basic city services, the decisions being made inside City Hall today will shape the future of Los Angeles for years to come.
That is exactly why Budget Day 2026 may become one of the most important civic events of the year.
And now, it is only ONE MONTH away.
On Saturday, June 27, the City of Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates will host Budget Day 2026 inside the historic City Council Chambers at Los Angeles City Hall bringing together city leaders, financial experts, community advocates, and residents for a direct public conversation about the current state of Los Angeles’ budget and where the city is heading financially.
At a time when many Angelenos feel disconnected from government decisions, Budget Day offers something increasingly rare: transparency, accountability, and public participation.
This year’s in-person event will feature a Plenary Session with keynote speakers and panel discussions focused on the city’s financial condition, budget priorities, long-term fiscal challenges, and the future of public services across Los Angeles.
Participants will hear directly from top city officials and budget leaders, including Los Angeles City Council Budget and Finance Committee Chair Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo, Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, former Chief Deputy Controller Rick Cole, and additional city leaders and experts expected to participate throughout the day.
But what may make Budget Day 2026 truly historic is something even bigger.
For the first time, the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates will feature a special youth component inside City Council Chambers giving young people a direct voice in conversations about the future of Los Angeles.
That matters enormously.
Because today’s youth will inherit every major financial decision being made right now.
They will inherit the city’s infrastructure challenges, housing affordability crisis, transportation systems, public safety policies, environmental priorities, economic opportunities, and long-term fiscal obligations.
The future of Los Angeles belongs to them.
And this year, their voices will finally have a seat at the table.
At a time when many young people feel disconnected from government and civic engagement, Budget Day 2026 sends a powerful message: the next generation matters now not someday in the future.
The inclusion of youth participation may become one of the most meaningful and forward-looking aspects of this year’s event.
Because strong cities are not built simply by politicians and bureaucracies.
They are built when communities invest in civic participation across generations.
These are not abstract conversations.
The city budget determines whether roads are repaired or neglected.
Whether sidewalks get fixed.
Whether parks, libraries, sanitation services, and emergency response systems improve or continue struggling under mounting pressure.
Every major issue confronting Los Angeles homelessness, public safety, housing affordability, traffic congestion, infrastructure failures, and neighborhood quality of life eventually comes down to budget priorities.
Yet for too long, many residents have felt shut out of the process.
Budget Day changes that.
One of the most important components of Budget Day 2026 will be the Regional Breakout Sessions, where attendees will have the opportunity to directly share the concerns, frustrations, and priorities affecting their own neighborhoods.
Those concerns will help guide the work of the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates as they bring community priorities directly to City leadership.
The breakout sessions will also include elections for the next term of the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates further reinforcing the organization’s mission of grassroots civic participation and neighborhood representation.
And in a particularly important step forward, Budget Day 2026 will also include expanded accessibility efforts, including language interpretation services and free parking for attendees.
Perhaps most importantly, Budget Day represents a reminder that democracy does not only happen during elections.
It happens when residents show up.
It happens when communities demand answers.
It happens when taxpayers ask difficult questions about where billions of dollars are going and whether City Hall is truly delivering results.
Los Angeles cannot afford public disengagement right now.
The city is entering a period of enormous financial, political, and structural uncertainty. Decisions made over the next several years will determine whether Los Angeles stabilizes itself or continues sliding deeper into dysfunction, declining services, and public distrust.
Residents deserve a voice in those decisions.
And Budget Day 2026 gives them that opportunity.
The Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates invite all Angelenos to attend Budget Day 2026 on Saturday, June 27, at Los Angeles City Hall.
☕ Networking Breakfast: 7:30 a.m.
🕘 Program Begins: 9:00 a.m.
📍 Los Angeles City Hall — Council Chambers
🅿️ Free Parking Available
🌎 Language Interpretation Available
Budget Day 2026 is free to attend, but registration is required.
Register here:
Los Angeles stands at a defining moment.
The decisions being made today will determine what kind of city future generations inherit tomorrow.
Budget Day 2026 is more than a public meeting it is a call for residents, communities, and young people to step forward and help shape the future of Los Angeles before others decide it for them.
(Mihran Kalaydjian is a seasoned public affairs and government relations professional with more than twenty years of experience in legislative affairs, public policy, community relations, and strategic communications. A respected civic leader and education advocate, he has spearheaded numerous academic and community initiatives, shaping dialogue and driving reform in local and regional political forums. His career reflects a steadfast commitment to transparency, accountability, and public service across Los Angeles and beyond.)
(Jay Handal is a veteran community advocate and longtime CityWatch contributor who plays a central role in holding Los Angeles City Hall accountable. He serves as treasurer of the West LA–Sawtelle Neighborhood Council. With decades of grassroots organizing and civic leadership, Jay is a relentless voice for transparency, fiscal reform, and empowering neighborhoods to challenge waste, mismanagement, and backroom decision-making at City Hall.)
