The Los Angeles City Council has officially approved the results of the L.A. Civil Rights Department’s second cohort of the city’s groundbreaking participatory budgeting pilot program, Los Angeles Reforms for Equity and Public Acknowledgement of Institutional Racism (L.A. REPAIR).
This historic program, aimed at addressing a legacy of institutional racism, has allocated $5.4 million to 14 nonprofit organizations selected by local voters out of a total $8.5 million designated for community improvements.
L.A. REPAIR, which empowers nine city areas most affected by institutional racism, had previously allocated $3.1 million in its inaugural cohort to projects in Boyle Heights, Mission Hills – Panorama City – North Hills, and Southeast Los Angeles.
For its second round, proposals were submitted by local nonprofits in response to over 1,000 ideas generated from community members across six new REPAIR Zones: Arleta – Pacoima, Harbor Gateway – Wilmington – Harbor City, Skid Row, South Los Angeles, West Adams – Baldwin Village – Leimert Park, and Westlake. Voting took place online and at in-person proposal fairs from March to April 2024.
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Participatory budgeting, a democratic process used in over 7,000 cities worldwide, allows community members to decide how a portion of the public budget is spent. This process is fully community-led, with Advisory Committees in each REPAIR Zone guiding idea gathering and voting, open to anyone aged 15 and older who lives, works, studies, or is a guardian of a student in the Zone. The approved proposals will be implemented by local community-based organizations, ensuring that funds are utilized within the REPAIR Zones.
Capri Maddox, executive director and general manager of the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (L.A. Civil Rights), expressed gratitude for the City Council’s support, stating, “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.”
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield (CD3), chair of the City Council’s Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee, also praised the initiative, saying, “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.”
Councilwoman Heather Hutt (CD10) emphasized the program’s role in promoting equity, stating, “The City is taking monumental steps towards healing and equity for everyone. 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.”
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez (CD13) highlighted the program’s potential as a model for future resource allocation, adding, “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.”
The proposals receiving the highest number of votes and set to be implemented over the next year include a range of community-focused initiatives. In Arleta – Pacoima, El Nido Family Centers will offer fresh fruits and vegetables, along with yoga, Zumba, gardening, and other wellness activities at the Pacoima Farmers Market, as well as large-scale events.
In Harbor Gateway – Wilmington – Harbor City, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor will deliver postsecondary advising and supportive services for youth and young adults, while the Harbor Community Development Foundation will implement education and job-success programs for youth.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles will provide weekend family camps and monthly nature and cultural excursions.
For Skid Row, Chrysalis will offer job readiness training and transitional job opportunities for residents, and the Downtown Women’s Center will provide comprehensive health and wellbeing services for women.
In South Los Angeles, the Girls Club of Los Angeles will focus on health education, mental health services, and case management, the Los Angeles Urban League will create a structured learning experience for job seekers in media and production, the Social Justice Learning Institute will run programs for college persistence, career readiness, and leadership development, and the South Los Angeles Community Foundation will offer on-the-job training for youth.
Finally, in West Adams – Baldwin Village – Leimert Park, NDICA will provide filmmaking vocational training for at-risk youth, and Teapot Gardens will establish a community garden and offer art education.
This milestone in participatory budgeting marks a significant step forward in ensuring that Los Angeles’ most marginalized communities have a direct hand in shaping their futures and driving positive change in their neighborhoods.
For more details on the approved proposals and the full report, visit L.A. Repair Online https://repair.lacity.gov/.
This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.org.
