One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Heading To A Ballot Near You: Should LA County Dedicate Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars To Community Investment?
(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)
This November, L.A. County voters will decide whether to divert hundreds of millions of dollars from law enforcement and other programs to community investment initiatives.
On Tuesday, County Supervisors voted to place a charter amendment on the November 3rd ballot to require the county to spend a sizeable chunk of its budget on programs such as housing, youth development, mental healthcare and criminal justice diversion.
If voters give it the green light, the county would be required to designate at least 10% of its locally-generated, unrestricted annual revenue to community investment initiatives. The County CEO’s office projects this could mean reallocating $360-496 million from other budget priorities, including a $110 million cut to the Sheriff’s budget.
Supporters have dubbed this the “Reimagine L.A. County” charter amendment. It was developed with groups pushing for criminal justice reforms and greater spending on social services.
Board Chair Kathryn Barger was the only “no” vote. She cited concerns about how moving the money could result in county worker layoffs or reductions in the sheriff’s department budget.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
