Community groups are celebrating a recent court ruling that affirms Measure J, a ballot measure requiring 10% of Los Angeles County’s funds to be dedicated to community investments and alternatives to incarceration. The ruling has garnered praise from the Re-Imagine LA Coalition, a coalition of over 100 organizations, who held a press conference to highlight the importance of the court’s decision and to call on county supervisors to fully fund Measure J and adopt a “care first budget.”
The California Court of Appeal upheld Measure J on July 28, 2021, which was initially approved by 57% of LA County voters in 2020.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, co-chair of the Re-Imagine L.A. County campaign, emphasized the need for all allocated funds now that Measure J’s permanency has been confirmed. She stated, “We’ve only received a fraction of what Measure J should be providing to the community. It should amount to close to a billion dollars.” Hernandez also expressed that Measure J was a collaborative effort with families directly impacted by the carceral system.
Baba Akili, a member of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, acknowledged the hard work put into getting Measure J on the ballot and approved by voters and emphasized the ongoing fight for change.
Akili stated, “No more hesitation. No more stalling. No more. Do it now. It is good to stand in the light of day and celebrate the success of hardworking people.”
Measure J’s 10% set-aside in the county’s 2023-24 budget amounts to $288.3 million, with an additional $198 million carried over from the previous year, resulting in a total of $486 million available for social services, including housing, mental health treatment, and alternatives to incarceration. However, the Coalition of County Unions, including the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, filed a lawsuit against the county, claiming that Measure J would lead to funding cuts impacting public safety and increasing crime rates.
In June 2021, a judge ruled in favor of the unions and overturned Measure J, citing its limitations on the Board of Supervisors’ authority in deciding revenue allocations. However, the recent court of appeal ruling concluded that counties have the constitutional right to implement budget strategies in their charters.
Richard Pippin, president of the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, expressed disappointment with the ruling, voicing concerns about staffing shortages, the upcoming Olympics, and rising crime rates. He stated, “There couldn’t be a worse time to cut deputies.”
During the legal proceedings surrounding Measure J, the Board of Supervisors took action to establish the Care First Community Investment fund and allocated approximately $400 million to programs and services related to Measure J. Janice Hahn, chair of the Board of Supervisors, affirmed the court’s decision, recognizing the voters’ desire to invest more in initiatives that keep people out of jail.
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