Today, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez announced the launch of two new “CD1 Clean Teams” that will provide ongoing cleanup services and neighborhood improvements in Chinatown and Pico Union.
Funded through The California Department of Transportation Clean California Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway (CCEP) grant program, the new teams will provide litter and weed abatement, illegal dumping removal, and neighborhood beautification services in areas heavily impacted by debris and dumping.
“Every community deserves clean, safe, and accessible public spaces, and every person deserves meaningful access to work and opportunity,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “Through our partnership with Center for Employment Opportunities, these new Clean Teams allow us to invest directly in neighborhoods while creating pathways to stability and long-term employment for justice-impacted Angelenos. This is about improving quality of life, strengthening community pride, and making sure our residents see real investment in their communities.”
The initiative combines community beautification with workforce development by creating paid transitional employment opportunities for justice-impacted Angelenos. In partnership with Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), participants will receive on-the-job training, career coaching, industry-recognized certifications, and pathways to long-term employment.
Each Clean Team consists of three crew members and one supervisor working full-time over a year-long period. Participants receive daily pay while gaining job experience and access to supportive services, workforce development programs, and industry-recognized certifications.
“Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is grateful to partner with Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez to launch two new Clean Teams in Pico Union and Chinatown. With support from the Clean California CCEP grant, this investment creates paid, transitional job opportunities for people returning home to build skills and contribute to their communities. We look forward to continuing this work together and expanding access to opportunity across Los Angeles,” said Sam Schaeffer, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Employment Opportunities.
The Chinatown Clean Team will focus on corridors impacted by increased litter and illegal dumping, while the Pico Union-Downtown Gateway team will target freeway underpasses and heavily trafficked corridors connecting Pico Union to Downtown Los Angeles.
“As a small business owner in Chinatown, I am excited to see our streets and sidewalks get the care they deserve to better serve our community members and visitors to the neighborhood,” said Jessica Wang, owner of Gu Grocery in Chinatown. “Thank you to Councilmember Hernandez for launching the CD1 Clean Team initiative to not only improve the quality of sanitation in our community’s public spaces, but to beautify our community as well.”
The two teams will operate five days a week and focus on areas identified through community feedback, constituent requests, and ongoing field assessments. Together, the crews are expected to remove hundreds of thousands of pounds of debris, address illegal dumping hotspots, and improve heavily used public spaces throughout Chinatown and Pico Union.
"The CD1 Clean Teams represent the kind of integrated approach Pico Union Project advocates for: addressing immediate neighborhood conditions while creating real economic pathways for residents," said Serena Oberstein, Interim Executive Director of Pico Union Project. "Councilmember Hernandez's initiative delivers exactly what our community needs and deserves: concrete investment that improves conditions and creates jobs with genuine workforce development."
The initiative builds on broader efforts by Councilmember Hernandez to strengthen neighborhood infrastructure, expand beautification services, and increase investment in historically underserved communities. Councilmember Hernandez already deploys seven clean teams covering the entire district through partnerships with Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Koreatown Youth + Community Center, Chrysalis, Central American Resource Center - Los Angeles (CARECEN), and Victory Resources. With the two new CEO teams, there will be 9 crews serving Council District 1.
The launch event was held Wednesday morning at Pico Union Project and included remarks from Council District 1, CEO, community stakeholders, and neighborhood partners.
Media assets, including photos and b-roll from today’s event, are available here.