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Keys to the City: Mayor's Office of Community Safety

Published on: 24th November, 2025

On this episode, we’re exploring how Los Angeles is redefining public safety beyond enforcement. The Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, led by Deputy Mayor Karen Lane, is building a citywide network of programs rooted in prevention, healing, and opportunity. We’ll be discussing everything from youth mentorship and violence interruption to reentry support and community-led crisis response.

Karen Lane launched the city’s first Office of Community Safety under Mayor Karen Bass. With deep roots in criminal justice reform and philanthropy, she leads efforts to invest in community-driven safety strategies and sustain programs that strengthen families and neighborhoods.

Gilbert Johnson leads the City’s Strategic Reentry Initiatives, connecting justice-impacted Angelenos with employment, housing, and support services. A South Central native and longtime community organizer, Gilbert’s work centers on helping people rebuild their lives after incarceration and contribute meaningfully to their neighborhoods.

Community Announcements

LA Mobility Plan - www.mobilityactionplanla.org

Justice Fair 2025 - www.justicefair.org

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About the Podcast

MHD Off the Record
Dive into the heart of South Los Angeles with Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson on MHD Off The Record—where culture drives leadership and community voices lead the way!
MHD Off the Record takes you inside Los Angeles City Hall with Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. Each episode explores the culture, politics, and policies shaping life in Los Angeles from housing and homelessness to city planning, public safety, and immigrant rights.

Focused on uniting neighborhoods across the city, the MHD Off the Record podcast blends political insight with community-driven solutions. Listeners hear conversations with civic leaders, activists, and community stakeholders that reveal how multicultural organizing, music, and personal stories influence the direction of Los Angeles.

If you’re curious about how Los Angeles City Council makes decisions, want to learn about city resources, or care about the future of South LA and beyond, this podcast gives you the context and voices behind the policies that impact Angelenos every day.

About your host

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Marqueece Harris-Dawson