Earlier this year, CAUSE raised concerns that Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) perspectives were missing from key stages of the Los Angeles City Charter Reform process. In a January 28 letter to the Commission, we asked how AANHPI communities were being engaged and requested a meeting with commissioners to ensure these perspectives were included moving forward.
That request led to a February 23 convening hosted by CAUSE, bringing together AANHPI community leaders and members of the Charter Reform Commission to discuss how city governance impacts our communities.
White Paper: https://causeusa.box.com/s/z7i5awirr4jusz5gds8x2b38ekpjlc6c
Leaders shared experiences across a range of issues, including representation, language access, economic opportunity, worker protections, and public safety. The conversation helped highlight how city structures affect diverse AANHPI communities across Los Angeles.
Two structural issues emerged from the discussion:
COUNCIL EXPANSION
Community leaders emphasized that Los Angeles City Council districts are currently too large for meaningful engagement with the many communities that make up the city. In subsequent deliberations, commissioners considered proposals up to 29 districts and ultimately advanced a proposal for 25 council districts, moving Los Angeles toward smaller and more responsive representation.
LANGUAGE ACCESS
Participants also described how language barriers limit participation in civic life. Following the meeting, the Commission advanced language access in several areas of the Charter reform framework, including the Charter preamble, a guiding principle in Article I, and additional provisions throughout the Charter.
Motion: https://causeusa.box.com/s/853es0nfqi5lfpakg5nw9m6kw9crzhxo
Charter reform does not happen often. The Los Angeles City Charter has not been comprehensively updated since 1999, and the decisions made through this process will shape how city government works for decades.
CAUSE is grateful to the commissioners and community leaders who participated in this conversation and remains committed to ensuring that AANHPI voices help shape the future of Los Angeles.