L.A. City Council Orders a ‘Racial Equity Audit’ of City Programs and Policies

Los Angeles city council members unanimously voted on Tuesday for its staff to produce a Racial Equity Audit of the city’s programs, policies, and practices, a motion called “long overdue response to generational inequities that perpetuate racial disparities” in a news release.

Council members Mark Ridley-Thomas, Curren Price, and Marqueece Harris-Dawson introduced the “Antiracism motion” on June 18—the eve of Juneteenth {snip}

The motion points out that Black people, who account for 9 percent of the city’s nearly 4 million residents, represent a third of those tragically injured or killed by law enforcement, nearly 34 percent of the population experiencing homelessness, and half of those who filed for employment during the COVID-19 pandemic, which puts them at risk of longterm unemployment.

Before Tuesday’s vote, Ridley-Thomas said he believes the motion will be “the blueprint for establishing an anti-racist Los Angeles … the policy framework.”

“As leaders of a city as diverse as Los Angeles, it is our responsibility to ensure the equitable distribution of city services and resources,” Ridley-Thomas said in a statement. {snip}

The motion instructs the city’s Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, to draft the audit and provide the report to the City Council within 60 days. {snip}

Officials also plan to establish a Racial Equity Task Force within the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department to collect and assess data on an annual basis, and require all city general managers to submit Racial Equity Plans each year.

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Before Tuesday’s vote, Councilman Gil Cedillo said that he wants the city to also audit how its policies impact undocumented immigrants with children who are citizens.

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