City Council Approves LA Civil Rights’ Final Results for $8.5 Million Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program in Nine Historically Marginalized Neighborhoods
LOS ANGELES - August 13, 2024 - Today, the Los Angeles City Council officially approved the results of LA Civil Rights’ second cohort of the City’s first-ever participatory budgeting pilot program, Los Angeles Reforms for Equity and Public Acknowledgement of Institutional Racism (L.A. REPAIR). In this round, voters selected 14 nonprofit organizations to receive $5.4 million out of the total $8.5 million allocated for community improvement proposals.
L.A. REPAIR is an $8.5 million participatory budgeting program empowering nine city areas most affected by a legacy of institutional racism. Community members from Cohort I, comprising three REPAIR Zones, voted in April 2023 to allocate $3.1 million to projects serving Boyle Heights, Mission Hills - Panorama City - North Hills, and Southeast Los Angeles.
For Cohort II, proposals were submitted by local nonprofits in response to more than 1,000 ideas generated from community members in six REPAIR Zones: Arleta - Pacoima, Harbor Gateway - Wilmington - Harbor City, Skid Row, South Los Angeles, West Adams - Baldwin Village - Leimert Park, and Westlake. Local communities voted online and at in-person proposal fairs held between March and April 2024. Click here to read the entire approved report.
Participatory budgeting is a democratic process that has been implemented in more than 7,000 global cities, including New York City and Porto Alegre, Brazil. Participatory budgeting allows community members to decide how part of a public budget may be spent on services or programs. The entirety of L.A. REPAIR is community-led from start to finish, with Advisory Committees guiding the process in each REPAIR Zone, gathering ideas, and administering the vote, which was open to anyone over 15 years old who lived, worked, studied, or was the parent or guardian of a student in the Zone. Winning proposals will be implemented by local community-based organizations, ensuring allotted funding stays within REPAIR Zones. Click here to learn more about the REPAIR Zones. Following City Council’s approval today, these proposals will be implemented over the next year.
“L.A. REPAIR Participatory Budgeting represents a direct investment in Los Angeles’ most underserved communities, empowering them with real decision-making power over significant funds,” said Capri Maddox, General Manager of the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (LA Civil Rights), which oversees L.A. REPAIR. “We are grateful to the City Council for supporting this innovative approach to budgeting and advancing direct democracy in our city.”
"I’m grateful to Capri Maddox and the Civil, Human Rights and Equity Department for helping make this community reinvestment idea into a reality,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield (CD3), Chair of the City Council’s Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee. “This program helps build a critical bridge between government and underserved communities throughout Los Angeles and I’m excited to see how we can create more positive change together.”
“The City is taking monumental steps towards healing and equity for everyone. The L.A. REPAIR Participatory Budgeting will empower communities to drive the success of their own futures. This budget process is a testament to our commitment to dismantling institutional racism and ensuring that those most affected are leading the charge for change,” said Councilwoman Heather Hutt, Council District 10.
The best way to get things done is to listen to the people who are dealing with these issues every day,” said Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez (CD13), Chair of the Civil Rights Committee. “This landmark program should serve as a model for how we allocate resources to benefit our city and stop our decades-long neglect of working class communities of color.”
With thousands of ballots cast, the following proposals received the most votes and will be implemented:
- Arleta - Pacoima:
- El Nido Family Centers. Access to affordable, fresh fruits and vegetables, yoga, Zumba, gardening, and other health and wellness activities at the Pacoima Farmers Market, plus a large-scale Arleta event, yoga series, and nature outings.
- YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. Nurturing weekend family camps in Big Bear, and monthly nature and cultural excursions to foster community.
- Harbor Gateway - Wilmington - Harbor City:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor. High-quality postsecondary advising and aligned supportive services for youth and young adults to enter college or the workforce.
- Harbor Community Development Foundation. Comprehensive education and job-success program to improve college preparation, career exploration, and academic success for at least 70 youth ages 10-25.
- Skid Row:
- Chrysalis. Job readiness training and transitional job opportunities for at least 110 residents.
- Downtown Women's Center. Comprehensive health and wellbeing services for 2,000 women, including meals, showers, community-building and artistic workshops, outreach and case management, primary health care, mental health counseling, and connections to wraparound services.
- South Los Angeles
- Girls Club of Los Angeles. Primary health education, mental health, case management, health screenings, stress management, mindfulness, and referrals for 450 individuals and families.
- Los Angeles Urban League. A structured, hands-on learning experience for 200 job seekers aged 16-35, creating a pathway into careers “below the line” in media and production.
- Social Justice Learning Institute. College persistence, career readiness, and leadership development programs to lead youth toward educational attainment and greater economic opportunity.
- South Los Angeles Community Foundation. An on-the-job training program for up to 56 youth to receive a living wage, professional training, development opportunities, and community give-back experiences.
- West Adams - Baldwin Village - Leimert Park
- NDICA. Filmmaking vocational training for 100 at-risk, justice-involved youth to direct them into a career focused mindset.
- Teapot Gardens. A relaxing, communal gathering space in an herb garden, and free after-school garden and art education to foster health and creativity.
- Westlake
- Communities in Schools of Los Angeles. Comprehensive (in-school, after-school, summer and post-graduation) programs for 1,400 middle and high school students.
- New Economics for Women. Immediate intervention for 500 individuals and families on the brink of homelessness, including affordable housing referrals, legal services, financial resources and whole-family case management.
MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Simard | Alison.Simard@lacity.org | (213) 718-2979