Legacy Business Program Expansion

At a glance

What: an Economic Development and Jobs Committee report (Council File 25-1180) on a motion by Hutt, Soto-Martinez and Hernandez to widen the Legacy Business Program to restaurants and other small businesses and to develop a Citywide Restaurant Protection Ordinance.
Where it stands: adopted by the City Council on 2026-10-13 by 13 ayes, 0 noes (Nazarian and Yaroslavsky absent).
Next: the report is due to the Economic Development and Jobs Committee within 90 days.

The Office of Wage Standards and the Community Investment Department, with the City Attorney and in collaboration with the Restaurant Equity Alliance, and taking feedback from small and independent restaurants, BusinessSource Centers, chambers of commerce, the California Restaurant Association and labor stakeholders, are to develop:
Recommendations to extend Legacy Business Program eligibility to restaurants and small businesses that have operated continuously in the City for at least 10 years with a record of complying with local labor standards and that meet at least three of the existing criteria, and any updates to criteria or a tiered model.
An analysis of why legacy businesses close and targeted interventions, with staffing needed.
Succession planning training and resources for worker-owned transitions.
Recommendations for a Citywide Restaurant Protection Ordinance: education, outreach and technical assistance for small and immigrant-owned businesses; expedited processing for restaurants with strong labor and health-and-safety records; partnerships with community groups supporting immigrant entrepreneurs and restaurant workers.
During public comment, per the video record, a speaker for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce supported the item and thanked Rodriguez for her amendment to seek input from business stakeholders (see 2026-10-13 - City Council).

Item 3. Adopted, 13 ayes, 0 noes.