To the Honorable Members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
500 W. Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Petition to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Agenda Item 58 and budget related items 63 and 64.

Dear Chair Kathryn Barger, and Members of the Board of Supervisors:

We, the undersigned community members and organizations, applaud Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath for their leadership in defending Measure J and urge the Board to pass an ordinance that cements the voters’ will by ensuring 10% of the County’s budget is dedicated to community investment.

We also appreciate Supervisor Holly Mitchell for ensuring community input regarding the proposed $8 million reallocation of funds for rental assistance. This dialogue underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in how Care First, Community Investment (CFCI) funds are managed.

Together, their commitment demonstrates that preserving and protecting community investment is an essential County priority. We call on the full Board to restore reallocated funds, move the Measure J ordinance forward, and strengthen the authority of the CFCI Committee to safeguard these dollars for the long term.

Yet we also recognize that more than $100 million in Care First, Community Investment (CFCI) funds have already been reallocated, with additional recommendations to divert critical dollars to cover budget shortfalls. This sets a troubling precedent and leaves Measure J vulnerable to further erosion.

Therefore, we call on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to:

Restore all previously reallocated CFCI funds

Freeze any further reallocations that weaken Measure J

Establish a dedicated funding mechanism to guarantee long-term protection and ensure CFCI resources stay rooted in our communities

Community-based organizations employ thousands of Los Angeles County residents and support hundreds of thousands more through essential services — health, housing, youth programs, reentry support, alternatives to incarceration, and more. To sustain and expand this work, Measure J funding must remain stable, protected, and untouchable.

We stand in solidarity with Supervisors Hahn and Horvath. Let the Board act boldly to protect, restore, and strengthen Measure J for the future of our communities.

The Problem

Measure J protections are vulnerable due to Measure G.

Over 300 million in CFCI funds remain unspent. (this number could be higher)

Supervisors have approved reallocations of over 100 million without any public knowledge or input, cutting programs. This does not follow legal structure and the spirit of Measure J.

Some JCOD Programs have been cut due to reallocation of funds.

The Board of Supervisors is currently considering relocating $8 million out of CFCI into general rent relief. Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell delayed this for two weeks so the Advisory Committee and community could weigh in. We thank her for upholding the participatory process.

The CFCI Committee does not have term limits and other protections to ensure transparency are in place.

The CEO’s office is using CFCI funding as a slush fund to make up for budget shortfalls.

We are respectfully asking the LA County Board of Supervisors to:

Funding & Integrity

1. Sustaining Our Work Through Continued Support
We rely on ongoing funding to scale and sustain the proven programs our communities depend on. With this support, we can expand services and meet the rising needs of those we serve on the frontlines. Right now, over 300 of us receive CFCI Funds, allowing us to provide a wide range of services that put CARE FIRST at the center of our work. But without sustained funding, our ability to continue this work is at risk. Some of our contracts will begin to expire in February 2026, and we need assurance that resources will remain in place so we can keep serving our communities without interruption.

2. Return Reallocated Funds to the CFCI Fund
We call for the Board to pass a motion amending the County budget so that previously diverted CFCI dollars are returned to the CFCI Fund. LA County voters should not lose access to vital services supported by CFCI simply because funds were not spent.

The CFCI Committee should have made a recommendation to collaborate with JCOD, Amity, and other departments that have not used their allocations, ensuring a concrete plan to put these resources to work in our communities. Furthermore, Measure J does not provide clear guidance regarding the relocation of funds or specify that unspent dollars must remain within the CFCI Fund—leaving critical services at risk.

3. End Reallocation of Funds
We call on the Board to adopt a permanent policy that prohibits CFCI dollars, once appropriated, from being diverted away from Care First purposes. These funds must stay dedicated to their original intent—supporting programs and services that put care, equity, and community well-being first.

At the same time, we believe reasonable measures can be put in place to review how departments are spending down funds. For example, JCOD is a new department responsible for supporting hundreds of agencies and launching innovative programs. It takes time to build out this kind of programming, and punishing JCOD or other departments by pulling their funds is not the right solution.

If we are truly investing in second chances and the work of community-based organizations, we must recognize the time and effort it takes to create sustainable change. Redirecting funds away from agencies doing the work undermines progress. Instead, we should ensure transparency and accountability while keeping every dollar committed to Care First where it belongs.

4. Budget CFCI Annually
Require full allocation and spending each fiscal year, with regular public reports on spending, to avoid underspending.

5. Keep the $8 Million for Rent Relief Within CFCI
Rent relief must remain targeted to justice-impacted and system-impacted residents, not diluted into general programs. There is a severe shortage of housing for individuals and families who are justice-impacted. Approximately 70% of those who are homeless are justice-impacted.

6. Provide JCOD with Stable Funding
We have faith in the leadership of Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.) and the JCOD team. To ensure their innovative programs can continue and grow, JCOD must receive a dedicated allocation of funds. A set, stable investment will allow the department to sustain the progress it has made, expand second-chance opportunities, and strengthen the community-based services that put Care First into action.

7. Strengthen Partnerships with Third-Party Administrators
We support continued partnership with third-party administrators like the Amity Foundation to provide nonprofit training, accountability systems, and dashboards that cut red tape and speed up contracting. Amity has developed an effective system to get funds out to the community quickly while also equipping agencies with the training and support they need to succeed. These partnerships are essential to ensuring that resources reach the frontlines efficiently and that community organizations have the tools to sustain their work.

8. Strengthen the CFCI Advisory Committee
Introduce a Board motion titled “Strengthening the CFCI Advisory Committee for Accountability and Equity.” This motion must direct JCOD to:

Update bylaws to establish term limits for members.

Adopt conflict-of-interest policies for members tied to CFCI-funded organizations.

Revise procedures to expand public speaking time at meetings, past 1 minute.

Establish standing mechanisms for ongoing community engagement, including quarterly forums.

Why Investing in our Agencies and Partners Matters

Gun violence, homelessness, incarceration, and racial inequities are interconnected crises in Los Angeles County. Voters created CFCI because they understood that punishment alone does not create safety , investment in community-based organizations does.

Our work addresses these issues head-on:

1.Housing & Justice Are Intertwined
Nearly 70% of LA’s unhoused residents have had contact with the justice system. Our organizations provide supportive housing and homelessness prevention programs that stabilize families and reduce the likelihood of incarceration or re-incarceration. Every dollar spent on housing through CBOs saves the County many more in jail costs, shelter beds, and emergency services.

2.Children & Families
Children of incarcerated parents are 60% more likely to be incarcerated themselves, and foster youth face a 60% higher risk of incarceration than their peers. Our nonprofits offer mentorship, after-school programs, family reunification services, and youth development opportunities that break these generational cycles and give children safe pathways to thrive.

3.Recidivism & Cost
More than 65% of people released from prison return within three years, at an annual cost of $127,000 per person. CBOs directly reduce recidivism by providing reentry services, job training, and supportive employment. These second-chance opportunities keep people from returning to custody and instead contribute to safer communities and a stronger workforce.

4.Workforce & Local Economy
Community-based organizations themselves are major employers, providing thousands of jobs for case managers, mental health providers, youth mentors, and outreach workers. Collectively, we contribute ______ in wages and economic activity to LA County. At the same time, we create career pipelines for justice-impacted residents, turning potential system costs into long-term community assets.

5.Gun Violence & Safety
Homicide remains one of the leading causes of death for LA County residents aged 5–44, with firearm violence disproportionately affecting Black and Latino youth in under-resourced neighborhoods. Our agencies run violence interruption programs, restorative justice initiatives, and trauma-informed mental health care that stop shootings before they happen, deescalate conflicts, and help young people build safer futures.

Our work does not exist in silos. Workforce development strengthens housing stability, housing supports mental health recovery, and violence prevention keeps young people on pathways to jobs and education. These interventions reinforce each other, creating a web of support that keeps individuals, families, and communities safe, healthy, and thriving.

We commend Supervisors Hahn and Horvath for introducing a motion to pursue a Charter amendment that restores the binding authority of Measure J and closes the loopholes created by Measure G. We also appreciate Supervisor Mitchell’s leadership in ensuring community input throughout this process.

We bring this petition in a spirit of collaboration and respect. We acknowledge the responsibility of the Board and the progress that has been made. But we must be clear: voters demanded Care First, and CFCI funding cannot be treated as a backstop for budget shortfalls.

As community-based organizations, we pledge our support for this effort and commit to working alongside the Board, legal partners, the CFCI Advisory Committee, and residents to ensure this amendment is adopted and fully implemented.

The County must not punish JCOD, community organizations, and other CFCI recipients by reallocating much-needed funds. JCOD is a new department with strong leadership that is building a true Care First village. Instead of destabilizing this work, the Board must restore diverted funds, strengthen governance, and provide robust support to JCOD, trusted third-party administrators such as Amity Foundation, and community-based organizations so that Measure J’s promise is fulfilled.

In Solidarity
Bridge Forward Alliance
www.bridgeforwardalliance.com