Community advocates rally for care-based programs as LA County faces budget cuts

As Los Angeles County grapples with a growing budget deficit, a broad coalition of community advocates gathered at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration on Monday, demanding that supervisors prioritize investments in care-based programs over punitive systems.

The action was organized by the Reimagine Los Angeles Coalition, a collective of advocates, community organizations and residents behind the successful passage of Measure J. Approved by voters in 2020, the measure mandates that at least ten percent of the county’s locally generated, unrestricted funds be directed toward addressing the impacts of racial injustice through investments in youth development, job training, small business support, housing services, and alternatives to incarceration.

The coalition includes members from the Youth Justice Coalition, Students Deserve, TransLatin@ Coalition, Young Women’s Freedom Center, Budget 2 Save Lives, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, Arts for Healing and Justice Network, The Social Impact Center, Los Angeles Black Worker Center, Children’s Defense Fund, Social Justice Learning Institute, California Native Vote Project, Brilliant Corners and Los Angeles Youth Uprising. 

Advocates delivered public comments during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting, followed by an open mic event from noon to 2 p.m., where speakers from youth advocacy groups, worker centers and justice-focused nonprofits addressed the crowd and called for sustained investment in community-driven solutions.

“This is not just about funding, but it's about equity, it’s about inclusivity,” said Bamby Salcedo from the TransLatin@ Coalition. “It's about moving our community from–not just surviving–but to also being able to thrive” 

Organizers at the rally emphasized the need to continue supporting initiatives aligned with the "Care First" vision, such as programs that prioritize health, healing, housing and human services over incarceration and law enforcement. They warned elected officials that slashing funding for critical community services would have a negative impact for vulnerable communities. 

Central to their demands is the expedited release of unspent Care First Community Investment (CFCI) funds, alongside a call to cut through bureaucratic red tape by simplifying the county’s contracting and reporting processes. They are pushing for a significant increase in both Measure J and CFCI funding. Transparency is another major concern among constituents, with demands for clearer insight into how the county budget funds are allocated. 

“We have an economy where people are on the edge of poverty and are living through unprecedented attacks on public sector workers,” said Ron Collins, Special Assistant to the Co-Executive Director of Organizing and Programs, LA Black Worker’s Center. 

“We can combat this by investing in pathways that connect our communities to public sector work through programs like the LA Black Workers Center’s ‘ready to work’ program,” they stated. 

The demonstration coincided with the release of the Care First Budget Survey Fact Sheets, which highlight community demands for increased spending in areas such as health and human services, community safety alternatives and capital projects that promote equity. The coalition’s findings reinforce a consistent call from residents: invest in people, not punishment.

As county leaders weigh difficult budget choices, the coalition’s message is clear: real public safety comes from meeting community needs.