City Council recognizes volunteer 'Clean With Me LA' and founder Juan Naula

The Los Angeles City Council on Jan. 1 recognized Juan Naula, founder of Clean With Me LA, for organizing volunteer cleanups across the city and asked city staff to coordinate with the group on service improvements.

Councilmember Rodríguez introduced Naula and described the movement as a grassroots response to illegal dumping and neighborhood blight, saying the effort "organizó más de 300 limpiezas... incluyó más de 250 voluntarios... movió 4000 bolsas de basura" (as reported to the council). The council cited the volunteer work as an example of civic action that helps neighborhoods amid tightening budgets.

Naula told the council he began cleaning in November with "bolsas, guantes y mis manos" and urged residents and councilmembers to participate regularly; he said he hopes the movement will reduce the need for him to continue full time. "No se trata de mí... se trata de Los Ángeles," he said.

Councilmembers praised the group's social-media reach and pledged cooperation: staff were asked to provide contact information for office employees so they can be notified when Naula organizes cleanups, and the clerk noted a joint meeting on Feb. 3 of operations and public works to discuss 311 app updates and related service coordination. Councilmembers also announced a planned cleanup with Project Pastoral at 135 Mission Road and a citywide goal the council described as 52 cleanups for the year.

Why it matters: Council members framed volunteer cleanup as a practical way to help neighborhoods when municipal budgets are constrained and to improve public spaces ahead of major events. The council characterized the work as complementary to city services rather than a replacement.

Next steps: Councilmembers invited Naula to participate in the Feb. 3 joint operations/public works meeting and asked staff to coordinate logistics for anticipated collaborative cleanups.