ONE BIG THING: COUNCIL VOTES TO LIMIT “PRETEXTUAL STOPS”
What Happened?
City Council voted 14-0 to limit pretextual traffic stops by the LAPD.
A pretextual stop is when an officer uses a minor violation like a broken taillight as the pretext to look for evidence of a more serious offense.
Why it Matters
Data indicates that this practice is ineffective, with 70-90% yielding no evidence or arrests — taking a significant amount of police officer time and resources that could be focused on serious crime.
Black and brown Angelenos are disproportionately subjected to these stops, even though data shows searches of white drivers are more likely to actually uncover evidence. And just four council districts — CD8, CD9, CD14, and CD15 — account for nearly half of all pretextual stops citywide.
Perhaps even more importantly, pretextual stops erode trust in our communities. When people are pulled over for minor issues and feel they’re being targeted because of their race, they talk about those experiences with family, friends, and neighbors. Over time, that damages the relationship between communities and law enforcement, making it harder to build the trust and cooperation true public safety relies on.
What’s Next?
The proposal now heads to the Board of Police Commissioners for implementation, a process expected to unfold over the coming months.
While City Council is currently limited in its ability to directly set LAPD policy, this week’s vote marks a major victory made possible by years of organizing from communities most impacted by these stops.
Two More Quick Hits!
- 30 New Apartments for Young People Experiencing Homelessness
Our team joined Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and county partners for the (re)opening of the Hollywood Downtowner – a former motel converted into 30 apartments for young people experiencing homelessness.
Hollywood has one of the highest concentrations of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, along with many young people aging out of the foster care system with nowhere to go. Projects like this are a critical step, and we’re working to expand this kind of housing for the communities that need it most.
2. Volunteer Opportunity
This year's Echo Park Pride is just around the corner & we’re looking for community members to get involved🌈
Join in on creating a safe, welcoming space for Angelenos to celebrate and uplift their LGBTQIA+ community right here in the heart of Echo Park!
CD13 Pet of the Week
Meet Russell, our pet of the week!
His breed may be Bulldog but to us he is our little Russell potato…🥔🐾
Russell is a short, stubby sweetheart with what can only be described as sweet baby eyes…and lucky for you he’s looking for a best friend!
Visit North Central to meet this cutie and see if it’s a match!
