FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2026
Contact: CAUSE
(213) 269-4639 | info@causeusa.org
LOS ANGELES — The Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) celebrates the Los Angeles City Council's action to advance language access reforms toward the 2026 ballot, while expressing disappointment that City Council expansion was delayed despite broad community support and a recommendation from the Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission.
The action follows months of advocacy and community engagement, including CAUSE's February 23, 2026 convening of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) leaders and members of the Charter Reform Commission. This convening helped shape Charter Reform Commission Recommendation 39, authored and advanced by Commissioner Andrea Mac, which elevated language access throughout the Charter reform package and created a pathway for voters to affirm language access as a core principle of city governance.
CAUSE especially recognizes Commissioner Andrea Mac, a graduate of the CAUSE Leadership Academy, who championed language access throughout the reform process. Her leadership ensured that language access was treated as a fundamental question of equity, participation in government, and public accountability.
"Community leaders made clear that language access is a prerequisite for meaningful participation in government," said Nancy Yap, Executive Director of CAUSE. "We are grateful to the Charter Reform Commission and City Council for recognizing that equitable access to information and services must be part of Los Angeles' future."
While celebrating this progress, CAUSE remains concerned about the decision to postpone consideration of City Council expansion.
During CAUSE's convening, community leaders repeatedly emphasized that Los Angeles' current council districts are too large for meaningful engagement with many of the communities they serve. Smaller districts would create greater opportunities for representation, responsiveness, and accessibility for geographically dispersed communities, including many AANHPI communities. The Charter Reform Commission recommended expanding the Los Angeles City Council from 15 to 25 seats. Despite the Commission's recommendation, City Council declined to place council expansion before voters in 2026 and instead directed the issue for additional study.
"Los Angeles has changed dramatically, and residents are asking for a government that better reflects and responds to the communities it serves," said Charlie Woo, Board Chair of CAUSE. "We are disappointed that the City Council chose not to advance council expansion to voters. The Charter Reform Commission did its job, and we believe Angelenos deserved the opportunity to weigh in on this question."
CAUSE remains committed to advancing reforms that strengthen representation, accessibility, and accountability and will continue advocating for a path forward on council expansion.
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About CAUSE:
The Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1993 to advance the civic and political empowerment of Asian Pacific American communities. Through leadership development, voter education, and policy advocacy, CAUSE builds a more inclusive and representative democracy. Learn more at www.causeusa.org.