LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Chair Holly J. Mitchell and co-authored by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl that launches comprehensive strategies for making the contracting process with the County more accessible for small business and non-profits owned by under-represented populations, including veterans, Black, Ingenious, People of Color, people with disabilities and the LGBTQIA+. The motion establishes a central office for contracting and procurement office that will standardize practices for securing and paying contractors equitably across all County departments. It also directs the Auditor Controller to publicly share data on the percentage of all County contracts that are distributed to small businesses and non-profits.

“When we make contracting with the County more accessible and inclusive, we are ensuring that a wider range of organizations and solutions are available to help meet the needs of our communities. This is about the opportunity for our small businesses and community-based organizations to get an equitable market share of the over $6 billion dollars in contracts that are administered annually to support the County in serving millions of residents,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair, Holly J. Mitchell representing the Second District. “The County is at its best when it is proactively collaborating with local stakeholders, which is why opportunities to work with the County must be accessible to diverse organizations and small businesses that understand and know how to meet the needs of their communities.”

“L.A. County is the largest small business economy in the country with more than 250,000 individual small businesses operating all across the county,” said LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “Historically, most larger businesses, nonprofits, and community-based organizations have greater experience and understanding on how to secure contracts with LA County while smaller businesses, nonprofits, and community-based organizations have had a harder time with access. This motion represents a real commitment to boost our local economy by opening the County door for small businesses, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. They are the vital engines of our local economy, and we want to do our best to help them do business with us!”

This motion actualizes the recommendations garnered over the past year from working groups comprised of small businesses, non-profits, and community stakeholders as part of the Chief Executive Office’s Equity in County Contracting Project Team. It includes solutions like establishing an interest free revolving loan fund for non-profits and a low interest revolving loan fund for small businesses to cover prohibitive start-up costs.

“The Board of Supervisors sought out the insight of non-profits and small businesses of diverse backgrounds and cultural identities that have historically faced barriers to securing County contracts. We’re grateful for the Board’s leadership in helping to make the recommendations of the Equity in County Contracting Project real and for ensuring funding opportunities fairly compensate the services being offered and are more accessible to the small employers within our hardest hit communities. We’ve accomplished a lot as a working group but have some critical work left to do” said Joe St. John, Chief Operating Officer, Koreatown Youth and Community Center.

The motion includes seven priorities for providing a more transparent, streamlined and accessibly process, including a directive for County Counsel to return an ordinance in 90-days that will permanently establish a goal of distributing 25% of eligible contracts to local small businesses.

To read the full motion click here.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved an ordinance drafted by County Counsel, that will allow for a special election this November for an amendment to the County Charter. If passed by voters, the charter amendment would grant the Board of Supervisors the authority to remove a Sheriff for unlawful actions or a violation of statutory duties by a four-fifths vote of the Board.

“Today’s action gives voters the opportunity to decide whether the Sheriff can be removed by the Board of Supervisors for violating the law,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “Under the current system, voters must wait for a grand jury to convene, a quo warranto action, or a recall election to be held. Our Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission and the community have repeatedly asked our Board to explore stronger options for meaningful accountability. The voters deserve a chance to decide whether this is the right way to enhance accountability of the Sheriff.”

The proposed charter amendment preserves the public’s right to elect a Sheriff and does not interfere with the independent and constitutionally designated responsibilities of a Sheriff. Cause for the removal of a Sherriff is detailed in the measure and the measure would allow the Board to implement a process to provide written notice to a Sheriff of the grounds for removal, followed by an opportunity for the Sheriff to be heard, and a public four-fifths vote by the Board in order to approve any removal. Unlawful actions and violations of duties that qualify as cause for the Board to vote to remove a Sheriff, include:

• Violation of any law related to the performance of a Sheriff’s duties;
• Flagrant or repeated neglect of a Sheriff’s duties as defined by law;
• Misappropriation of public funds or property as defined in California law;
• Willful falsification of a relevant official statement or document; or
• Obstruction, as defined in federal, State, or local law applicable to a Sheriff, of any investigation into the conduct of a Sheriff and/or the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department by any government agency, office, or commission with jurisdiction to conduct such an investigation

The Board with support from community advocates and the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, has taken significant steps to create a system of accountability and transparency in which the Sheriff can operate lawfully – this includes granting the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission the power to subpoena the Sheriff. However, this system lacks a sustainable ability to quickly respond to unlawful actions and egregious misconduct within a County that has a history of Sheriff corruption.

In May of this year, after years of hearing testimony regarding a culture of abuse of power by the Sheriff’s Department and from families impacted by Sheriff deputy gangs and violence, the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission issued a resolution urging the Board to place a charter amendment on the November ballot to strengthen accountability for public safety by establishing additional checks and balances on the Sheriff.

“For the Civilian Oversight Commission, the action taken today by the Board of Supervisors is a step toward bringing another means for accountability to an office that wields power and influence over our community” said Brian Williams, Executive Director, Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission.

The Board approved the July 12, 2022 motion, authored by Chair Holly J. Mitchell and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, that directed County Counsel to draft the ordinance to bring the charter amendment to voters.

To read the ordinance, click here.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — As the number of Monkeypox cases increase in our communities, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Holly J. Mitchell has issued a Proclamation of a Local Emergency for Monkeypox to bolster the County’s response to this outbreak. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote to ratify the proclamation of a local emergency.

“This proclamation is critical in helping us get ahead of this virus. By declaring a local emergency, it allows us to cut through the red tape to better dedicate resources and educate residents on how to protect themselves and help stop the spread. It will also allow the County to quickly administer vaccines as more become available and to take the necessary efforts to obtain supplies and enhance outreach and awareness.”

To read the full proclamation click here and for the motion click here.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Chair Holly J. Mitchell to establish a Countywide Anti-Displacement Commercial Property Acquisition Program. The motion directs the Department of Economic Opportunity to develop a strategy for allocating $12 million in funding to support small businesses at risk of displacement – that are led by women, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) – in acquiring the property they are currently leasing to promote community stability and build wealth. The motion will transform tenants into potential owners to preserve small businesses in neighborhoods up against corporate buyers.

Approval of this motion also launches an acquisition pilot led by small businesses in the historic Leimert Park community of South Los Angeles that are part of the nonprofit, Black Owned and Operated Community Land Trust (BOOCLT). The pilot, underwritten by the Community Development Financial Institution, Genesis LA, will administer a $2 million forgivable loan to allow BOOCLT to acquire the building they are currently leasing located in the heart of the Leimert Park Village on Degnan Blvd.

“Our small businesses are the anchors of our local economies. This is about providing long-term strategies to protect small businesses from having to close their doors due to rising rents and real estate speculation” said Holly J. Mitchell, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, representing the Second District. “I am proud to establish a first-of its-kind program to help stabilize our cultural anchors and commercial corridors across the County. It is my hope that the findings from the Leimert Park acquisition pilot enable small business owners throughout the County to be securely planted in the communities they serve.”

“My bike shop is the first one in Leimert Park in over 30 years. This is emblematic of how hard and long it can take for Black small business owners to return to the communities they represent once they are pushed out. We need sustainable investments to stand up to corporate buyers and this pilot and anti-displacement plan is critical to protecting the make-up of our communities” said Adé Neff, Owner of Ride On! and Member of BOOCLT.

In addition to the 55-year covenant requiring below market commercial rent for tenants in the acquired property, the motion includes a provision requiring BOOCLT to implement a robust process for gaining community input before any potential redevelopment of the property can be done. To read the full motion, click here.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved the initiation of the process of amending the County Charter to meet the structural need for increased accountability of the Los Angeles County Sheriff. The motion authored by Chair Holly J. Mitchell and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis directs County Counsel to draft an ordinance for a special election that will allow voters to decide on an amendment to the County Charter that would grant the Board of Supervisors the authority to remove a Sheriff who violates the law or abuses power by a four-fifths vote.

“The State Legislature, the Board and voters have gone to great lengths to create a system of accountability and transparency. However, for decades, the current system has allowed abuses of power to thrive largely unchecked with serious consequences for public safety. It has become painfully clear that the Board must put this question to the voters. The proposed Charter amendment would allow the Board to expeditiously remove a Sheriff who violates the law,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Holly J. Mitchell, representing the Second District. “Under the current system, voters must wait for a grand jury to convene or a recall election to be held. The voters deserve an opportunity to decide whether this is the right way to enhance accountability of the Sheriff and protect the lives and liberties of County residents.”

“Accountability over law enforcement is public safety,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District. “Ensuring our residents have the ability to vote on being free from law enforcement intimidation, harassment, and misconduct and holding them accountable for any ensuing harm and trauma is the Board of Supervisors’ responsibility, specifically over the Sheriff of Los Angeles County. This charter amendment would provide residents with the oversight they expect and the peace from law enforcement abuse they deserve.”

The California Constitution authorizes county charters to provide steps for the removal of county officers, including an elected sheriff. As a charter county, LA County requires a Charter amendment to be approved by voters. With voter approval, the County would create a process by which the Board of Supervisors could vote to remove a Sheriff for cause only, with grounds for removal including: a violation of any law related to the performance of Sheriff duties; flagrant or repeated neglect of duties; a misappropriation of public funds or property; willful falsification of a relevant official statement or document; or obstruction of any investigation into the conduct of the Sheriff by the Inspector General, Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, or any government agency with jurisdiction to conduct such an investigation.

“The county has a history of sheriffs who break the law and ignore — or worse, facilitate — deputy misconduct. The public demanded that the Board act on its duty to supervise the Sheriff and protect people in the most vulnerable circumstances. The Board heard us, and it did.” said Melanie Ochoa, Director of Police Practices at the ACLU of Southern California. “No matter who wins in November, structural change is needed to make sure that we don’t have another sheriff with a $3 billion budget, unlimited weapons, and no real process to achieve accountability while lives are at stake.”

The motion preserves the public’s right to vote and elect a Sheriff and will not impact the independent investigative and prosecutorial function of the Sheriff. The first directive of the motion instructs County Counsel to present a draft ordinance to call a special election on Tuesday November 8, 2022. The draft ordinance will come before the Board for at least two readings before receiving final approval to be placed on the ballot. The first review and vote for approval of the ordinance by the Board of Supervisors will take place at the Tuesday July 26, 2022 public board meeting.

To read the full motion, click here.