COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION
1816 S. FIGUEROA STREET
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90015
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90015
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Present:
Hugh Crooks
Jawana McFadden
Raul Barragan
Chi Szeto
Patricia Jackson-Kelley
John Follmer
Rocio Palmero
John Oppenheim
John Gutierrez
Jawana McFadden
Raul Barragan
Chi Szeto
Patricia Jackson-Kelley
John Follmer
Rocio Palmero
John Oppenheim
John Gutierrez
Absent:
County of Los Angeles
Department Military and Veterans Affairs
Jim Zenner, Director
Stephanie Guerrero, Executive Secretary
Department Military and Veterans Affairs
Jim Zenner, Director
Stephanie Guerrero, Executive Secretary
Call to Order
Meeting was called to order by Chairman Crooks at 1:32 p.m.
SAFE Acknowledgement & Pledge of Allegiance
Vice Chair Palmero announced the Salute Armed Forces Everyday S.A.F.E. acknowledgment and requested all active-duty service members and veterans to stand up during the flag salute and led The Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
Nine (9) Commissioners were at the meeting during the roll; a quorum was present.
Public Comments on Agenda Items
Latia Subtle (write-in) – stated concerns with the Department of Children and Family Services and its ability to serve families of veterans who are in the DCFS system.
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Commissioner McFadden to approve the Minutes for June 17, 2026, seconded by Commissioner Barragan. Roll call was conducted and the motion passed with one person abstaining.
Chairman’s Report
Chair Crooks stated that the notice of the meeting was sent out on July 10, 2026, at 09:0 am via GovDelivery from MVA@subscriptions.lacounty.gov. To subscribe, please visit mva.lacounty.gov and click on the mail icon located at the top right of the webpage.
Guest Speaker
Deanna Cooke, Ph.D. – PI and Project Director, Digital Veterans Legacy Project Loyola Marymount University
- Four-year project to help commemorate veterans and service members by supporting students and teachers in Los Angeles.
- Focus on World War II era veterans.
- Field trips for middle school and high school students to the Veterans cemetery.
- Students are drafting biographies and uploading them to the Veterans Legacy Memorial website, over 500 have been uploaded.
Livier Lazaro (SFC Retired), National Chair for League of United Latin American Citizens
- Advocates for civil rights, military sexual trauma, veteran healthcare and military recognition.
- Have successfully repatriated 136 individuals, over eight of them live in LA County.
- Immigrant Defenders offers pro bono immigration services in LA County.
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Report
Jim Zenner, Director – LA County Department of Military and Veteran Affairs provided the following updates:
- The Veterans Homeless Navigator program has over 400 veterans enrolled and over 100 have been housed.
- MVA’s Justice Involved team has made 155 contacts to unique veterans who are currently in veterans treatment courts. Partners, Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse has enrolled 13 veterans into their treatment housing program.
- Director Zenner wanted to publicly thank interim Chief Deputy Kash for his help over the last couple of months.
Future Agenda Items
| 1. | Woodlawn Celestial Gardens Cemetery | Community Support | Palmero |
| 2. | LA Community College District | Veterans Housing Issues Report | Barragan |
| 3. | Department of Children and Family Services | TAY shelters & Veteran Identification Protocol | Follmer |
| 4. | Million Veterans Program | Briefing on Study | Jackson-Kelley |
| 5. | TBD | Homeless Veterans | Crooks |
Commissioner Announcements
Commissioner Follmer reminded the commission of the approaching five-year anniversary of the bombing at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan, he is coordinating a remembrance walk in memory of the service members who lost their lives that day.
Commissioner McFadden informed the commissioner that a recent presenter, Power 2 Workers, had a training class in West Los Angeles and is recruiting more participants.
Vice Chair Palmero expressed her joy and support of the recent Trailblazers event host at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall.
Commissioner Oppenheim shared praise over the treatment he’s received as a patient at the Long Beach VA medical center. He also informed the commission that the VA has opened a brand new community living on its campus.
General Public Comments
Corey Hyde, Power to Workers, highlighted the upcoming training event put forth by his organization for veterans that will begin on July 20, 2026
Harvey (via Director Zenner), voiced concern over the parking challenges veterans face whenever they visit Bob Hope Patriotic Hall for services.
Billy Dennis, veteran, asked the commission if there are any contacts regarding ADU’s
The meeting adjourned at 2:45 pm.
Hayden Velasquez, Staff Assistant II
July 28, 2026
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
213-765-9679
213-765-9679
VETERANS SERVICES
213-765-9680
213-765-9680
ADVISORY COMMISSION
213-765-9679
213-765-9679
MVA FAX LINE
213-744-4444
213-744-4444
