Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
There's a newly established city department handling reports of racial discrimination in Los Angeles: the Department of Civil and Human Rights (CHRD).
In February, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced his nomination of Capri Maddox to head the new unit.
Maddox — a local attorney who previously led the L.A. Board of Public Works, created the city's foster care diversion program, and was the executive director of partnerships for LAUSD — is the department's first executive director.
She's leading the core effort to investigate Angelenos' complaints of racism, discrimination, and unequal treatment related to employment, housing, education, and commerce.
The department is also tasked with supporting and advising L.A.'s Civil and Human Rights Commission and enforcing the Civil and Human Rights Ordinance.
Timeline:
- April 17, 2019 — The Civil and Human Rights Ordinance was adopted by the L.A. City Council.
- June 30, 2019 — The Civil and Human Rights Commission was established by the ordinance.
- February 10, 2020 — Capri Maddox is named first executive director of the newly-established Department of Civil and Human Rights.
The commission — which was created prior to recent protests against systemic racism and police brutality — has come into the spotlight as part of the sweeping cultural upheaval that followed the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, and the deaths of so many other Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement.
Maddox spoke at a June 5 press conference about the ongoing protests. She reflected on her time as a student worker with the housing department around the time of L.A. civil unrest in 1992.
"I would have never believed that in the city of Los Angeles, we would have to create a department involving civil and human rights in 2020," she said. "It's time for a change."
The department held its inaugural meeting a week later.
The Process For Getting Help
The commission has jurisdiction over four broad areas: employment, housing, commerce, and education. And it will have some enforcement powers, too.
The process starts with a citizen notifying the department.
Maddox told us that the department will look into reported incidents and disparities. If there is a violation of the Civil and Human Rights Ordinance, they can send an investigation letter of concern. She expects many complaints will end here.
"Sometimes people just need to know that someone's watching, and they can easily correct the behavior," she said.
There's also a mediation process, administrative hearings, a path for appeals, and enforcement powers — including fines up to $250,000 per violation.
Another tool the department has is the power of referrals to other agencies, like the district attorney's office, or attorney general's office.
Maddox and her team will also collaborate with a number of organizations and individuals, including the Commission on the Status of Women, the Human Relations Commission, the Office of Racial Equity, community-based organizations, and more.
And while the Civil and Human Rights Department does not have enforcement powers over public entities like the police, "we will not be silent as it relates to wrongs that are done by folks in law enforcement," Maddox said. "I do want to be clear that we will have a voice as it relates to police incidents, through our various commissions."
The budget for the new department is $2.5 million, and they're looking to have a staff of about 20 people.
"We know that the tide of racism is blatant. ... There are a number of things that send a message that hate is on the rise ... people that believe in justice need to rise up as well," she said during an interview on KPCC's Take Two.
Learn More
Editor's note: Capri Maddox sits on the Board of Trustees for Southern California Public Radio, which publishes LAist.com.
With contributions from Jessica Ogilvie, Brian Frank, Lisa Brenner, and Take Two.
Image Credit (top): Chava Sanchez/LAist
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?