As a small-business owner myself, I know firsthand how difficult it is to navigate permits, inspections, fees, and inconsistent enforcement in Los Angeles. Too often, entrepreneurs spend more time dealing with bureaucracy than serving customers.

District 13 should be the most business-friendly district in the city. That means cutting red tape, speeding up permitting, supporting commercial corridor revitalization, and ensuring that small operators aren’t buried under rules designed for corporate chains.

We need a City Hall that sees small businesses as partners in revitalization — not revenue streams to fine and regulate.

PAIN POINTS

• Slow, unpredictable permitting and inspection timelines
• Excessive fees for small operators
• Lack of coordinated support during build-outs
• Empty storefronts dragging down corridors
• Inconsistent enforcement between large chains and small businesses

SOLUTIONS

• Establish a District 13 Small Business Fast Track Desk
• Create predictable, published permitting timelines
• Reduce penalties for first-time administrative violations
• Activate vacant storefronts with temporary pop-up permits
• Expand small-business grant navigation assistance