With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA Parents Just Got One Step Closer To 18 Weeks Of Paid Parental Leave

New parents in Los Angeles might soon have more support from the city than ever before. In a vote today, City Council moved ahead with a motion that would grant 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave to families welcoming home a new baby.
The motion was introduced in January by councilmembers David Ryu and Nury Martinez. If it makes it through the council's vetting process, it would require employers within Los Angeles to make up the difference between the money employees receive through the state of California's disability insurance and/or paid family leave programs, and the full amount of their salary.
Current state law provides workers with 60 to 70 percent of their salary during the first 18 weeks or parenthood.
Today's vote, which was unanimous, asks the City Attorney to report back with options for turning the motion into an ordinance, as well as with any preemptive concerns. It also instructs the City Administrative Officer and Chief Legislative Analyst to develop recommendations for an independent economic analysis of the proposed program.
Additionally, the vote instructs various city offices to review potential elements of the program, including a timeline for implementation and mechanisms for enforcement. It also instructs those offices to develop recommendations for allowing L.A. to encourage the state to remove the word "disability" from the officially used phrase "Pregnancy Disability Leave," and monitor Governor Gavin Newsom's efforts to implement six months of paid leave at the state level.
"Los Angeles is such a hard place for working people starting a family," said Martinez in a statement. "This is one step to help make the lives our residents slightly less stressful... I thank my colleagues on the City Council for being on the right side of history."
Correction: A previous version of this story's headline said that the proposed parental leave would be 18 months. It is 18 weeks. LAist regrets the error.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
-
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.