Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell urged colleagues Tuesday to allow a community advisory committee to weigh in before diverting $10 million in voter-approved justice reform funding toward rent relief programs.
The Board of Supervisors considered redirecting money from the Care First Community Investment program, which was established through the 2020 passage of Measure J. Mitchell said the proposal bypassed input from the CFCI Advisory Committee, which oversees how the justice reform funds are allocated.
"I believe we can establish a rent relief program without pitting the compounding needs of our communities against each other," Mitchell said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the motion presented today diverted funds in a way that bypasses the necessary input from the CFCI advisory committee, undermining the participatory process that Measure J was designed to uphold."
Mitchell supported an amendment to delay the decision for two weeks, allowing the advisory committee and public to provide meaningful input through the county's cluster process. She emphasized her continued support for rent relief while advocating for sustainable long-term funding sources that don't compromise community-led justice reforms.
The supervisor noted her previous work on rent relief, co-authoring a 2023 motion that distributed over $81 million in funding for housing assistance programs.
Measure J, approved by Los Angeles County voters, redirects a portion of county funds from law enforcement toward community-based alternatives and social services. The measure requires community advisory committees to have input on how the redirected funds are spent.
Mitchell stressed the importance of maintaining the collaborative governance structure that Measure J established, calling for "strategic and intentional discourse" rather than rushed decisions that sidestep community participation.
The supervisor said she looks forward to working with advocates, residents and county departments to identify sustainable rent relief funding without compromising the community input process central to Measure J's implementation.
The delayed vote will allow time for the CFCI Advisory Committee to review the proposal and provide recommendations before the board makes a final decision on the funding allocation.
Edited by SMDP Staff