STATEMENT: LA County Board of Supervisors Unanimously Adopts Park Equity Policies
Over 300 residents attend Board of Supervisors meeting to successfully advocate for the adoption of new Measure A implementation guidelines
On March 5, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a set of policies to ensure Measure A parcel tax revenue, expected to generate $92 million annually, will be implemented equitably in support of park-poor communities across LA County. The Board responded to the demands of a diverse coalition of community-based organizations by including a 30% funding floor for park projects in the highest-need areas, a robust technical assistance program to create a pipeline of successful projects in high-need areas, and displacement protections to ensure that residents currently living in high-need areas are able to stay in their homes and enjoy the benefits of new investment. Taken together, Measure A sets a national standard by creating a need-based investment framework to eliminate park access disparities.
“Yesterday, communities of color claimed a historic victory. Their tireless efforts over the past three years galvanized the Board’s unanimous vote, sending a clear signal that LA County is ready to end the status quo of inequitable park spending by ensuring new Measure A funds are distributed to communities where parks will have the greatest impact,” stated Anisha Hingorani, policy & research analyst at Advancement Project California and member of the Park Equity Alliance.
“The groundswell of support for park equity does not end here, and we look forward to partnering with the Board of Supervisors and community-based organizations to ensure the implementation of the grant administration guidelines translates into concrete benefits for communities of color.”
Advancement Project California thanks all coalition partners involved to achieve this important win for park equity, the more than 300 community residents from across the county who attended Tuesday’s hearing, and the 110 individuals who testified in support of park equity. We thank Supervisor Hilda Solis for her leadership in authoring the motion and commend the Board of Supervisors for taking bold action to center equity by focusing dollars in communities that have borne the brunt of past disinvestment. With proper oversight and implementation, these new guidelines will ensure Measure A investments are maximized to create more healthy, sustainable communities for all residents, especially for children and older residents in park-poor areas.
As part of this campaign, Advancement Project California conducted a budget analysis of LA County’s implementation of Proposition A, the county’s previous main revenue source for park acquisition and development, which revealed low-need areas received two to three times more per resident compared to high-need areas. Click here to learn more about our analysis of the county’s previous park funding spending patterns. To stay up to date on Advancement Project California’s campaigns, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter below or by clicking here.