ONE BIG THING: WHO MAKES LAPD POLICY?
What Happened?
Most Angelenos assume that Los Angeles City Council – the people elected to make laws – set LAPD policy.=
But that’s not how our system is structured.
Under the City Charter (our city’s constitution), LAPD policy is set by the Police Commission, an unelected body appointed by the Mayor.
This week, the Charter Reform Commission voted to advance a proposal that would change that and give City Council the authority to set police policy, just like we do for every other issue in the city.
Why it Matters
We constantly hear from constituents concerned about issues like LAPD’s relationship with ICE, the use of tear gas on peaceful protesters, and pretextual traffic stops that disproportionately impact Black Angelenos. But under our current system, we don’t actually have the authority to take action.
This would change that. Policy decisions would no longer be insulated from public accountability, while maintaining strong civilian oversight.
Importantly, our current policy makes Los Angeles a major outlier. No other city – big or small – prevents its legislators from making police policy.
What’s Next?
Now, City Council will vote whether to put this reform on the ballot so voters can weigh in.
For decades, City Hall has been fine with the status quo, but this is a rare opportunity to rethink how accountability works in Los Angeles.
Follow LA Forward for opportunities to get involved and the best ways to plug in!
Three More Quick Hits
- K Line & Rail Access to LAX!
Metro just approved the K Line northern extension, bringing rail service north through West Hollywood and into Hollywood! Construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2041, with earlier timelines possible through alternative financing.
For our communities, this will mean better connections to jobs, less traffic, and a way to get from Hollywood to LAX in 30 minutes.
- Solar Street Lights Coming Soon!
City Council just approved a $65 million investment to begin converting at least 60,000 of LA’s streetlights to solar power.
Our streetlight system is at a breaking point — with repairs in other areas of the city taking over a year. Solar lights aren’t just environmentally-friendly, they’re more reliable, and they have no copper wire so they’re less susceptible to theft.
In District 13, we’ve already invested $1 million in a dedicated streetlight repair team to speed up fixes and reduce the backlog, and we also installed our first solar lights last year in Historic Filipinotown!
- Economic Development for LA
LA hasn’t had a coordinated, comprehensive economic development plan to bring jobs into the city, and it shows.
This week, City Council approved our motion to change that and develop a strategy to attract new businesses, grow our local economy, and increase City revenue. City staff will now report back with recommendations to unlock our city’s full potential, drawing on successful models from other jurisdictions, better use of existing city properties, and industry best practices.