It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Start, LA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“Always Best Care is a commendable agency specializing in placing reliable caregivers in the homes”
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“Angela Powell is the best! She wears her scrubs, comes right in my mother’s home”
“This agency is very caring and professional. If an issue arises they make sure it”
“Other Always Best Care has allowed my dad and step-mother to stay in their home. These”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care started helping me in July,”
“By far the best personality for this job. Plenty of patience and a bubbly attitude.”
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“Current employer I love the staff everyone is very understanding and the clients are nice”
“My husband and I will be gone on a 50th anniversary vacation trip for 14”
“Summer has always been excited about new homes and it shows in her work. She”
“Always Best Care was a GOD send for me. I did not worry about my”
“I am a current client of this provider We've been extremely pleased with Always Best Care”
“These are skilled professions that give wonderful care. Thank you! Special thank you to Patricia and McKinsey for you attention to detail on multiple occasions!❤️”
“Always Best has been amazing in helping me with my father who has Alzheimer's and he had a stroke so he has limited mobility. They even go the extra mile and I'd like to mention Cynthia and Tracy for their outstanding service! It truly takes a hero to do what you guys do, as this is a very difficult job that requires amazing patience.”
“My family and I love Always Best Care!”
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“I love their caring services and would recommend them to anyone wanting to age in place. Thank you Always Best Care!”
“The company is TOP TIER, very flexible with my son’s school hours, always very nice. I love them! A HUGE help for me!”
“The company is an amazing company! The staff is wonderful, and the pay is great! I would highly recommend this company.”
“Always best care caregivers are very dependable and very hard workers goes above and beyond for their clients”
“I've been working with Always Best Care for over a year now, and I can honestly say it's been an incredible experience. The support from the office staff is top-notch - they're always available to answer questions, provide guidance, and help with any issues that arise. The clients I've worked with have been wonderful, and I appreciate the care and attention the company puts into matching caregivers with clients who are a good fit. I highly recommend Always Best Care to any caregiver looking for a supportive, flexible, and rewarding work environment. Keep up the great work & thanks so much!”
“Always best senior care is a great company to work with. I've been working with Always best for a little over a year now and I absolutely love it. My clients are so sweet The company is very family oriented They don't just care about the clients they also care about the workers. My daddy was in the hospital and ended up passing away the company allowed me to take off so I could be at the hospital with my daddy, and after he passed away they allowed me to be off rest of the week.”
“Always Best Care is a commendable agency specializing in placing reliable caregivers in the homes of elderly patients. Recently, I engaged their services to find a caregiver for my grandmother, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome. Cyndi Williams from Always Best Care was instrumental throughout the process. Her dependability and understanding made the entire experience smooth and reassuring. From our initial consultation to the caregiver placement, Cyndi and the staff at Always best Care ensured that my grandmother's needs were prioritized, which greatly eased what could have been a challenging transition. Thanks to Always Best Care, my grandmother is not only well cared for but also genuinely happy with her caregiver. This has brought immense relief and peace of mind to our family, knowing that she is in capable hands. Overall, I highly recommend Always Best Care for their professionalism, compassion, and commitment to providing excellent elderly care services. They have truly made a positive difference in our lives during a time of significant adjustment. Claire Breslow”
“We have been very pleased with services from Always Best Care. They are awesome! They are very thorough, punctual, caring and helpful group. Shout out to Cynthia for going the extra mile to facilitate VA help for my step father. If your loved one is in need for in home care I highly recommend this company.”
“Angela Powell is the best! She wears her scrubs, comes right in my mother’s home and gets busy doing whatever my mother needs her to do. She just takes it upon herself to do things that she sees that needs to be done. Angela has a great disposition. I can tell she loves what she does. Our family absolutely loves and appreciates Angela. Thank you to Always Best Care!!!!!”
“This agency is very caring and professional. If an issue arises they make sure it gets solved.”
“Other Always Best Care has allowed my dad and step-mother to stay in their home. These ladies quickly learned the routine that they like and take very good care of them. The office staff are so helpful and quick to find a replacement sitter if someone calls in sick. I highly recommended this agency for your loved ones”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care started helping me in July, 2022. My husband needs daily care and we have been more than pleased with the caregivers that they have provided. The Staff is so professional and efficient, yet like family at the same time. Their focus is on their patients and the families. They have made my life so much easier. Highly recommend!!”
“By far the best personality for this job. Plenty of patience and a bubbly attitude. I will definitely be using her again when I’m ready to sell. I highly recommend her.”
“Summer Riggs made new homeownership a reality for our family. I highly recommend Summer Riggs!”
“Current employer I love the staff everyone is very understanding and the clients are nice and you will never find a better place to work and they are very respectful, understanding and caring bosses. They pair you up with clients that matches your personality. I really love working for this company and how they treat their employees.”
“My husband and I will be gone on a 50th anniversary vacation trip for 14 days. During that time our wonderful caregiver has agreed to be “on-call”. We are so grateful for her and there is no way we could take this trip without the peace of mind that her presence gives me! Thank you ABC for the service that your company provides and for the personal touch that you and your sister provide. Marilyn Get Outlook for iOS”
“Summer has always been excited about new homes and it shows in her work. She loves her job because she gets to find the perfect home for her clients. I highly recommend Summer to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.”
“Always Best Care was a GOD send for me. I did not worry about my Mother . I could go to work and know she was in excellent hands Very professional. Came on time. Treated us like family”
“I am a current client of this provider We've been extremely pleased with Always Best Care of Monroe. They've been very helpful and the caregiver that we have working for us is fantastic. I would give them a very high recommendation. They started in July and have done exactly what we wanted them to do for our needs, and met those needs.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Milford Wampold Memorial Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar or visit Louisiana's Old State Capitol, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Start, LA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Start, LA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Start, LA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The New York Mets took care of the White Sox and Rockies accordingly last week, and were rewarded with a return to first place in the NL East.Now, they’ll look to ride that momentum into a four-game series with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The same Dodgers the Mets took two of three from in Flushing just over a week ago.They’ll look to keep up that momentum and upset the Dodgers again, and this time with righty Paul Bl...
The New York Mets took care of the White Sox and Rockies accordingly last week, and were rewarded with a return to first place in the NL East.
Now, they’ll look to ride that momentum into a four-game series with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The same Dodgers the Mets took two of three from in Flushing just over a week ago.
They’ll look to keep up that momentum and upset the Dodgers again, and this time with righty Paul Blackburn making his season debut.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
TV: SNY
Run Line: Mets +1.5, O/U 9.5
Pitching Matchup: Paul Blackburn (Season debut) vs Dustin May (3-4, 4.20 ERA). It’s officially go time for Blackburn, who missed the first two months of the season with a knee injury. The 31-year-old righty was acquired from the Athletics at the trade deadline last year and…wasn’t great. Blackburn was 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA in five starts with the Mets and didn’t really underachieve.
Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see how both pitchers match against each other. May leans heavily on his sinker and sweeper while Blackburn is a fastball/cutter guy who also throws a variety of breaking and offspeed pitches. May’s sample size against the Mets is too small (6.2 innings in two games), and Blackburn has never faced the Dodgers.
Truly tough to call!
X-Factor: Brandon Nimmo. Juan Soto has homered in two straight games, so he gets a break today while we turn the spotlight onto Nimmo. The fan favorite is having a rough go of 2025 thus far, batting .231 with only 17 walks in 219 plate appearances. His walk rate (BB%) is 7.8%, down almost four percentage points from last season.
This time, however, the Mets will need Nimmo in top form. He’s a .302 lifetime hitter against the Dodgers, but only managed one at-bat against them in the recent series. A stiff neck kept him on the bench. The Mets really need him to get going if they want to stay in first place.
Prediction: If you find yourself browsing New York sports betting apps today, I’ll make it easy for you: Dodgers run line and the over, plus hitting parlays for Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. The defending champs are just too aggressive on the fastball and could easily come out swinging against the returning Blackburn. Sorry, folks, but this could be an ugly one.
Xabi Alonso is set to begin his journey as Real Madrid manager without one of his most important players.According to The Athletic, Jude Bellingham is expected to undergo surgery after the 2025 Club World Cup.The surgery is aimed at fixing a shoulder injury that has been troubling the midfielder since late 2023.The recovery process is expected to keep ...
Xabi Alonso is set to begin his journey as Real Madrid manager without one of his most important players.
According to The Athletic, Jude Bellingham is expected to undergo surgery after the 2025 Club World Cup.
The surgery is aimed at fixing a shoulder injury that has been troubling the midfielder since late 2023.
The recovery process is expected to keep the England international out for up to 12 weeks. He could miss the opening two months of the 2025–26 La Liga season.
It is a big blow for Madrid, who rely heavily on the 21-year-old in their midfield. Bellingham first suffered the injury during a league match against Rayo Vallecano.
He dislocated his shoulder and missed the next four matches before returning with a protective strap.Bellingham has been playing through discomfort, using a shoulder support in every match.
The medical team had recommended surgery earlier, but a packed football calendar delayed the procedure.
He joined the club from Borussia Dortmund in a high-profile transfer in 2023 and settled in quickly.
Despite the ongoing shoulder problem, Bellingham has been one of Madrid’s best performers this season.
He bagged nine goals and nine assists in 31 La Liga appearances, but was unable to help Madrid retain the title.
His absence at the start of the new campaign will test Madrid’s squad depth.
Fans will hope he recovers in time to make a strong return by October or early November.
Alonso now faces the tough task of reshaping his midfield without Bellingham for the early fixtures.
By David Zahniserand Suhauna HussainMay 13, 2025 3 AM PTPerched high above the Cahuenga Pass, the 24-story Hilton Los Angeles Universal City Hotel is positioned to be a prime gathering spot for visitors arriving for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games....
and Suhauna Hussain
May 13, 2025 3 AM PT
Perched high above the Cahuenga Pass, the 24-story Hilton Los Angeles Universal City Hotel is positioned to be a prime gathering spot for visitors arriving for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Sun Hill Properties Inc., which manages the 495-room hotel, has already signed a “room block” agreement with the LA28 organizing committee, reserving hundreds of rooms for Olympics fans. The City Council recently approved a plan to let the Hilton add a second, 18-story tower, which would open just in time for the Olympics.
Now, the future of the $250-million expansion is in doubt. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council is set to vote on a requirement that hotels with 60 or more rooms pay their workers at least $30 per hour by 2028, along with a new $8.35 per hour healthcare payment.
If the council approves the proposal without significant changes, Sun Hill “absolutely will be pulling out of the room block for the Olympics,” said Mark Davis, the company’s president and chief executive. The hotel’s investors will also kill the 395-room expansion, he said.
“Our board was very adamant that if [council members] go forward with this nonsense, that it’s dead,” Davis said. “They’re going to move the project somewhere else.”
The council voted 12-3 last year to instruct City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto to draft the package of minimum wage hikes, which would apply not just to hotels but also private companies at Los Angeles International Airport, such as airlines and concessions. The minimum wage would be the highest in the country, according to Unite Here Local 11, the hotel and restaurant workers union, which has championed the proposal.
Backers of the higher wage say L.A.’s tourism workers are struggling to pay for food and rent, and deserve to benefit financially from the Olympics just as much as private corporations. They dismiss the hospitality industry’s dire warnings, including the notion that increased wages will scuttle the development of new hotels.
City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez said the Sheraton Universal Hotel, a nearby competitor of the Hilton, has already been paying a higher wage to its unionized workforce. The real threat to the development of new hotels, he said, is higher interest rates and the economic uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s trade policies.
“So, I just don’t buy it,” said Soto-Martínez, a former hotel union organizer, as he referred to Davis’ warning.
Under the city’s proposal, the hotel and airport minimum wage would reach $22.50 on July 1. It would jump to $25 in July 2026, $27.50 in July 2027 and $30 in July 2028. On top of those increases, the $8.35 per hour healthcare payment would go into effect on Jan. 1.
Business groups point out that two hotels have closed in the past year — Four Points by Sheraton next to LAX and Mama Shelter in Hollywood, for a loss of 270 jobs. They say Trump’s trade wars are driving down tourist activity from other nations, with visitors from Canada especially lagging.
Once the increases are in effect, business leaders say, hotels with on-site dining won’t be able to compete with non-hotel restaurants, which will have a much lower minimum wage.
May 7, 2025
L.A.’s political leaders have enacted a number of wage laws over the last few decades. The hotel minimum wage, approved by the council in 2014, is currently $20.32 per hour. The minimum wage for private-sector employees at LAX is $25.23 per hour, once the required $5.95 hourly healthcare payment is included. Then there’s the minimum wage for nearly everyone else in L.A., which is $17.28 per hour — 78 cents higher than the state’s.
The hourly minimum wage for hotel and airport workers was already slated to go up this year, as part of regularly scheduled increases in the city’s wage laws. Once the council showed interest in the much larger increases, business leaders began warning that hotel developers would take their business elsewhere.
Few were as dramatic as Davis, who told council members that their proposal, as drafted, would “likely kill” the Universal City Hilton’s 395-room expansion.
Davis, whose company has hotels in Simi Valley, Colorado Springs, Colo., and the greater Denver area, said his board instructed him last year to look at acquiring property outside of California, in markets that “make more sense financially for an investment of $250 million.”
“The owners investing this money, they have to look at the numbers,” he said in an interview. “Any project survives only by its numbers.”
The Universal City Hilton already pays most of its workers more than $25 per hour, while also offering healthcare coverage, Davis said. If those health plans have a financial value lower than the $8.35 per hour, the company will need to make up the difference, he said.
Davis said he, too, is looking at scaling back restaurant operations, which would likely require layoffs.
At one point, Davis’ project drew support from the city’s political leaders.
The Universal City Hilton reached an agreement early on with construction trade unions, promising to pay a higher prevailing wage to the estimated 1,000 construction workers who would work on the new tower.
In August, the council voted unanimously to seek an economic analysis that would determine whether the city should provide taxpayer assistance to the project. The analysis, requested by Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Soto-Martínez, would have explored whether to allow the hotel to keep a share of the tax revenues generated by the new tower.
Raman, whose district includes a portion of Universal City, did not respond to questions from The Times about the project — or the potential impact of the higher tourism wage.
In recent days, the Hotel Assn. of Los Angeles has been appealing directly to Mayor Karen Bass, purchasing digital ads that ask her to intervene on the minimum wage issue.
Bass, in an interview earlier this year, said she wants hotel workers to “make a decent living” while also ensuring that their employers “are able to survive.”
“We have to make sure that we can address both — that we can address the needs of the workers without crippling the industry,” she said.
LOS ANGELES -- Dalton Rushing was 7 years old in 2008, and as he put it, "probably still playing with toys and trying to figure out exactly where my next 8U baseball tournament was."In May of that year, a 20-year-old Clayton Kershaw took the mound at Dodger Stadium for his big league debut.Flash forward to Saturday, when Rush...
LOS ANGELES -- Dalton Rushing was 7 years old in 2008, and as he put it, "probably still playing with toys and trying to figure out exactly where my next 8U baseball tournament was."
In May of that year, a 20-year-old Clayton Kershaw took the mound at Dodger Stadium for his big league debut.
Flash forward to Saturday, when Rushing was behind the plate in just his second big league game to catch the first start of Kershaw's 18th season with the Dodgers. It was a memorable evening -- but both were left wanting more.
"It's a special thing to get to go back and pitch at Dodger Stadium," Kershaw said. "Obviously, I wanted to pitch better. I need to pitch better going forward."
Kershaw allowed five runs in four innings in an 11-9 Freeway Series loss to the Angels, taking the mound for the first time after completing his rehab from offseason surgeries on his left toe and left knee.
The veteran southpaw joined Zack Wheat and Bill Russell as the only players in franchise history to play 18 seasons for the Dodgers, an accomplishment that has taken on even more meaning for Kershaw in recent years.
Following a delayed beginning to the year due to left shoulder surgery, Kershaw's 2024 season lasted all of seven starts, coming to an early end after he injured his left big toe. He had to watch from the sidelines as the Dodgers took home the eighth World Series title in franchise history, which was a source of motivation as he worked his way back.
Not that he needs any additional hardware to go down as an all-time great. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP -- who's 30 strikeouts shy of 3,000 for his career -- has nothing left to prove.
"I know how special he is. I know how good of a pitcher he is. No one has to tell him that; no one has to get confirmation for that," said Rushing, the Dodgers' top prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 15 overall. "It's just tough. I want my pitchers, no matter who it is on the mound, to succeed more than anybody on the field. It hits me a little harder than anyone else."
Rather than dissect Kershaw's outing, Rushing put much of the onus for the night on himself.
"I'm a rookie. That's my job," Rushing said. "Essentially, I'm gonna take blame for every little thing that happens on the field, whether it's good, bad, ugly, everything. … It's going to be a long night looking at some things and figuring out what we can do to move forward and be better."
Kershaw allowed three runs to the Angels in a 38-pitch opening frame, which was prolonged by one at-bat due to a rundown gone awry. But the Dodgers wasted no time responding in the bottom of the first, with Andy Pages leaving the yard for the ninth time this season with a game-tying three-run blast off Halos starter Tyler Anderson.
That wiped the slate clean for Kershaw, who breezed through a 1-2-3 second before allowing another two runs. He surrendered a solo homer to Taylor Ward in the third, and Pages helped limit the damage in the fourth by making an impressive grab at the right-field wall, turning a deep drive from Zach Neto into a sacrifice fly.
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There were flashes of vintage Kershaw in that clean second inning, but command issues were a common thread in the others.
"That’s the old Clayton," manager Dave Roberts said. "He’s a strike-thrower. He’s efficient and that typified his typical inning. … I thought he did a really good job of settling in, certainly after that first inning where the pitch count got up there really quickly."
In addition to his work behind the dish, Rushing was a key contributor at the plate, smacking a game-tying ground-rule double that was smoked at 112 mph off the bat in the sixth. One inning later, after the Angels put up a five-spot to stun the Dodgers, Rushing helped his team respond quickly with an RBI single.
When all was said and done, Rushing was hard on himself. But his venerable batterymate had a different view.
"Rush did great. Obviously, I didn't give him a lot to work with tonight," Kershaw said. "He's going to be good. He cares a lot, prepared a lot, did a lot of homework, and he's learning on the fly. I didn't give him a lot of help today."
Highly-touted Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki has landed on the injured list with right shoulder soreness, in the latest blow to his MLB career.He told the team his arm was sore after his last start in which he pitched on five days rest for the first time in the majors. Sasaki threw four innings and gave up five runs on 61 pitches Friday at ...
Highly-touted Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki has landed on the injured list with right shoulder soreness, in the latest blow to his MLB career.
He told the team his arm was sore after his last start in which he pitched on five days rest for the first time in the majors. Sasaki threw four innings and gave up five runs on 61 pitches Friday at Arizona.
'Physically he was a little bit sore afterwards and that's something that we're still trying to figure out, what's normal and what's not normal,' manager Dave Roberts said before the team announced Sasaki was sidelined. 'We want to make sure that he's in a good spot physically.'
The right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts. He has 24 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .225 average. Sasaki was scheduled to make his next start Thursday against the Athletics.
The 23-year-old from Japan joined the Dodgers in January after spending the last four years with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball League.
Sasaki was known for throwing 100mph in Japan and in his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo in March he repeatedly reached 99 mph in the first inning.
Roki Sasaki walks off the field in Phoenix after giving up five runs in four innings
The young Japanese pitcher has now been placed on the injury list with shoulder soreness
In Japan, his fastball regularly reached 100mph but he has struggled to find that zip in LA
But he's struggled to find that same zip on his fastball since, with his velocity dipping to the mid-90s.
'We're still trying to have conversations to see where he's at,' Roberts said. 'At the end of the day we want to make sure that he is performing up to his capabilities and up to our capabilities and our expectations.
'There's a lot of kind of things that we're trying to suss out right now with Roki.'
Sasaki was pulled from his Dodger Stadium debut in the second inning because of control issues. His sad face and teary eyes were shown on a Japanese TV feed.
His injury is the latest blow to the Dodgers' rotation. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are on the injured list, although Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to make his season debut Saturday after starting the season on the IL.
Right-hander J.P. Feyereisen was recalled for his second stint with the Dodgers this season.
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