A motion authored by L.A. County Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis would place a charter amendment on the November ballot requiring the county to commit a minimum of 10% of the unrestricted general fund to community programs like mental healthcare, rental assistance and alternatives to incarceration. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, that amounts to about $800 million.
The measure was developed by the Re-Imagine L.A. County coalition, including the United Way, L.A. Community Action Network, Abundant Housing and more.
Supervisors passed the measure in a 4-1 vote Tuesday following debate. Once the charter amendment language is drafted, a final vote to place it on the ballot is expected August 4.
As KPCC's Robert Garrova reports:
The lone dissenting vote was cast by Board Chair Kathryn Barger, who argued that the proposed change to the charter "will nullify any meaningful dialogue or policy deliberations for years to come." She said that before placing the measure on the ballot, the supervisors should subject it to "ample analysis ... unfortunately, that was not the case in this instance.”
Wednesday on AirTalk, guest host Libby Denkmann talked with Kuehl and Barger about the measure and what comes next.
With guest host Libby Denkmann
Guests:
Sheila Kuehl, Los Angeles County Supervisor representing District 3, which stretches from the ocean to Los Feliz, and from Venice up to San Fernando; she tweets
Kathryn Barger, L.A. County supervisor representing the 5th district, which includes the Antelope, San Fernando, San Gabriel and Santa Clarita Valleys; she tweets