Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo Lauds Senate Appropriations Committee Support for Bill to Address A Historic Housing Injustice in City of Los Angeles

Sacramento, CA – (Thursday, August 15, 2024) – Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (AD-52, Los Angeles) issued the following statement regarding today’s decision by the California State Senate Appropriations Committee to advance AB 1950.

“I’m grateful to my legislative colleagues for their support of AB 1950, the ‘Chavez Ravine Accountability Act’ to address the City of Los Angeles’ displacement of predominantly Mexican American families in the communities of Palo Alto, La Loma, and Bishop in the 1950s. These neighborhoods were labeled by the Los Angeles Housing Authority as ‘slums,’ ‘shantytowns,’ and ‘eyesores” in an effort to make way for public housing projects, which were later abandoned and never built. More than 1,800 families and countless businesses were impacted. Some left willingly, some were promised a return, some may have received compensation for their land at below market rate, but the communities that once thrived in Chavez Ravine never returned. It’s a history of redlining, housing, discrimination, ugly McCarthyism era politics and ultimately, the use of eminent domain, all of which is documented as a somber chapter of Los Angeles history. It’s a past wrong that this bill seeks to address and represents first steps towards achieving accountability for this historical injustice,” said Assemblywoman Carrillo.

Specifically, if enacted into law, AB 1950 would result in: 

• Historical Accountability: Mandates a comprehensive report detailing events surrounding the land acquisition and displacement, and makes it publicly available to foster transparency and education about this pivotal moment in Los Angeles' history.
• Reparative Measures: Proposes various forms of compensation, including offering City-owned real estate comparable to the original Chavez Ravine landowners or providing fair market value compensation adjusted for inflation. It also creates pathways for displaced non-landowning residents to receive relocation assistance, healthcare access, employment support, educational opportunities, and other forms of compensation deemed appropriate by a newly established Task Force.
• Permanent Memorial: Requires the construction of a memorial on Chavez Ravine or adjoining property to honor the displaced residents and their legacy.

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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.