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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 2986, as amended.
“I’m grateful to my legislative colleagues for their support of AB2986, the ‘East Los Angeles Feasibility Study Act’ to determine if East LA could become a ‘special district’ or its own municipality. After working with Senate Appropriations, I’m grateful the legislature recognizes the importance of extending the discussion about East Los Angeles’ future,” said Assemblywoman Carrillo.
“I amended the bill to ensure the conversation could move forward and that the County of Los Angeles understood the urgency of being transparent to the unincorporated community of East Los Angeles, which lacks a local governing body. Despite the County of LA opposing AB2986, the study it commissioned following the introduction of the bill, allows for some level of transparency that will determine next steps and I’m looking forward to reviewing it. The overall objective has never been a passive approach to the future of East LA, but rather, an assertive transparent assessment of financial data and the creation of a real and vibrant ‘East Los Angeles Community Development Plan’ that supports housing, public safety and increasing East LA’s business revenues and tax base. The goal has always been to include the voices of local residents in the decision making process, improve the lives of East Los Angeles families and allow small businesses to thrive. Thank you to Voice of East LA, all the residents, small businesses and nonprofits who worked on this policy and who believe in a better future for East Los Angeles,” she added.
East Los Angeles is an island unto itself without a city council or mayor, surrounded by cities with local elected leaders who work to improve their residents' daily quality of life. Previous attempts to incorporate occurred in 1931, 1933, 1961, 1963, 1975, and 2012. In 2012, following a four-year campaign to incorporate, the Local Agency Formation Commission for the County of Los Angeles rejected the effort, denying residents the opportunity to vote on the issue. According to community leaders who worked on that effort, then County Supervisor Gloria Molina promised to deliver an annual financial report detailing tax collection and expenditures for the community as well as the creation of an East Los Angeles Advisory Committee, composed of local leaders, which the County established. Unfortunately, the financial reports never materialized, and the Committee was dismantled. Ultimately, the last time East Los Angeles residents had the opportunity to vote for the future of East Los Angeles was fifty years ago.
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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.