Proposed County Charter Amendment - Community Investment and Alternatives to Incarceration Minimum County Budget Allocation

Summary

A "YES" vote on the Proposed County Charter Amendment is a vote for authorizing an annual allocation of no less than 10% of the County's locally generated and unrestricted revenues in the general fund in order to address racial injustice initiatives via community invesments and alternatives to incarceration, while not allowing those funds for either carceral systems or law enforcement agencies.

A "NO" vote on the Proposed County Charter Amendment is a vote against authorizing an annual allocation of no less than 10% of the County's locally generated and unrestricted revenues in the general fund in order to address racial injustice initiatives via community invesments and alternatives to incarceration, while not allowing those funds for either carceral systems or law enforcement agencies.

Arguments

"Right now, L.A. County spends 42% of taxpayer money on law enforcement and the legal system. It’s time to invest in community counseling, mental health services, youth development programs, small businesses, jobs-creation, and affordable housing. Individual elected leaders come and go. But we have a chance to structurally change the budget and permanently enshrine our values in the county charter., in support of Proposed County Charter Amendment (Learn more)

"Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who championed the measure, said it is about expanded access to safety net programs and pushed back against the idea that it amounts to defunding law enforcement: It’s time to bring our budget into alignment with our actions, intentions, and vision. The supervisors have said we want to move people from custody to care, and our constituents are pleading with us to expand housing and treatment options and stop relying on punitive, outdated law enforcement tactics", in support of Proposed County Charter Amendment (Learn more)

"In unprecedented times, we need structural change. Re-Imagine L.A. County is a coalition of advocates, community organizations, and neighbors calling for a ballot measure to divest from incarceration and policing and invest in the health and economic wellness of marginalized people. For decades, L.A. County’s budget has directed money away from Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities and allocated it in ways that negatively impact these same communities. People in L.A. County—especially Black, Brown, and Indigenous people, those working minimum wage jobs, seniors, young people trying to learn new skills, people without mental health care, and those who are excluded from stable housing—are being crushed by the pandemic and a status quo budget that continues to deny them resources and opportunities.", in support of Proposed County Charter Amendment (Learn more)

"The lone vote against the measure came from Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who said it would unnecessarily restrict future boards and make it harder for the county to manage through economic downturns. Opponents also said they worried the potential for the measure to cause money to be directed away from law enforcement, primarily the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, could have a negative impact on public safety.", in opposition to Proposed County Charter Amendment (Learn more)

"If the county sheriff is forced to reduce the budget that could close stations like Altadena, or restrict services they provide to us, such as (New Year’s) resources, court-related assistance, mutual aid when needed, and other types of resources they provide... The Sheriff’s Department generally provides about 1,000 deputies to help Pasadena police deal with the massive crowds surrounding the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game each year, Perez said. If the department is forced to reduce its budget, there’s a good chance the county will not be able to provide the same level of support in the future. Perez said he agreed with the spirit of the measure, but had concerns that it was too broad and did not involve enough research and planning.", in opposition to Proposed County Charter Amendment (Learn more)

"Sheriff Alex Villanueva told the board the measure would force him to close patrol stations in Altadena and Marina del Rey and make other big cuts to public safety. Villanueva said he would be forced to lay off deputies of color.", in opposition to Proposed County Charter Amendment (Learn more)

"The measure also split the board, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger warning that it could lead to layoffs and unnecessarily restrict the board’s ability to manage through economic downturns. She told her colleagues she believes the amendment violates the law. 'The top issues from 15 years ago are not the issues of today, nor will today’s issues be reflected in what we (will) see in the next 15 years … crime trends fluctuate, populations fluctuate, residents and members of the boards will continue to change. This is not an appropriate way to budget,' Barger said, later adding, 'I actually believe that it’s not even legal for us to move it forward.'", in opposition to Proposed County Charter Amendment (Learn more)

Measure Details