Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo’s Push for East Los Angeles Financial Study And Transparency Moves Forward

Sacramento, CA – (Wednesday, July 3, 2024) – This afternoon, Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo’s AB 2986 passed out of the Senate Local Government Committee with a unanimous 5-0 vote. With Senate amendments the policy requires the County of Los Angeles to report to the Legislature on, among other things, the fiscal viability of East Los Angeles, how tax dollars in East Los Angeles are being spent, as well as the feasibility of forming a Municipal Advisory Council, a local Town Council, or a Coordinating Council that could represent the comprehensive interests of the entire East Los Angeles community. Committee Chair, Senator Maria Elena Durazo, who also represents East Los Angeles, supports the policy and urged opposition to review amendments. The bill asks LA County to provide this report by or before March 1, 2025.

"AB 2986 is necessary to ensure that East Los Angeles residents can access pertinent local information through transparent communications. In response  to AB 2986, the LA County Board of Supervisors adopted two motions which require the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer to complete an analysis related to East LA. This community’s nearly 120,000 residents have sought a stronger civic voice for decades. Despite being the largest unincorporated area in LA County, East LA residents have only one locally elected and locally serving representative — one County Supervisor whose district includes 2 million people. We can do better. We can help this community without placing any undue burden on LA County, LA LAFCO, or the State. I look forward to working with the County to better serve the residents of East LA,” said Assemblywoman Carrillo.

"Residents currently do not receive annual financial reports or budgets, leaving us in the dark about how much tax revenue our community generates and how our tax dollars are being spent. The last financial report specific to East LA uses 2008 data, and does not accurately reflect the community's current financial status. It is imperative that we have access to up-to-date financial reports to understand how our tax dollars are being allocated and ensure we are receiving our fair share of funding for services and infrastructure maintenance,” said Kristie Hernandez, Chair of the Maravilla Community Advisory Committee in East Los Angeles who also testified in committee.

"The financial study for East LA is crucial for ensuring fair distribution of resources and services, as the largest unincorporated community we contribute more tax revenue into the general fund. The study can help to promote equity in service distribution and inform our community about spending patterns. We are tired of being told we are too poor, we want to see a plan that improves economic conditions and the quality of life for our families. East LA is more than a campaign stop. We are a globally recognized community with a rich history of culture and activism. Sadly, misinformation, fear-mongering, and false claims have been spread, leading to conflicts resembling David versus Goliath. We don't want to be silenced or bullied. We simply want transparency,” she added.

East Los Angeles is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County. The community is 7.5 square miles (4,783 acres) in size and has a population of 118,786, 95.5% of whom are Latino. East Los Angeles is the most populous unincorporated census-designated place (CDP) in California of the 1,136 CDPs and would be the 10th largest city of the 88 cities in Los Angeles County if incorporated. Yet, East Los Angeles is currently without a city council or mayor, and has limited influence over planning and economic development, revenue generated, public services, community beautification efforts and other aspects of daily quality of life issues.

In 2012, following a four-year campaign to incorporate, the effort was rejected by LALAFCO and LA County, and residents were denied the opportunity to vote on the issue in this new era. At the time, residents of East Los Angeles were promised by then-Supervisor Gloria Molina, annual financial disclosure reports to see how their tax dollars were being used and their tax base towards improving the community. That commitment has never been fulfilled.

To add your support to AB 2986 bill, please click here. ### About Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo: Assemblywoman Carrillo was elected to serve in the State Assembly in December 2017. She represents the 52nd Assembly District, which includes East Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, and South Glendale. She serves on the Assembly Committees on Appropriations, Emergency Management, Health, Labor and Employment, and the Joint Committee on Climate Change Policies. She also serves as the Chair of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities, Vice Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, Commissioner for the California Film Commission, Commissioner for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and Member of the California Cultural and Historical Endowment Board.