“Pomona’s Measure Y is a smart, positive investment in youth and social services – and the establishment is fighting to stop it.” Including a hedge fund owned media outlet, but it’s understood they’re also a part of the establishment.

LA Forward:

Measure Y – dubbed the Pomona Kids First Initiative – would amend the City Charter to require that the city spend a minimum of 10% of its general revenues on children and youth programs and create a city Department of Youth & Children to administer the funds. Proponents say it will create or expand youth services, such as child care, housing and rental assistance for families with young children, after-school programs; sports, arts, and educational programs at public venues such as parks, our public library, and community centers. 

The organization leading the opposition, “Save Our Pomona Public Library,” warns Measure I will reduce police services, close fire stations, decrease library hours, and reduce park services. The opposition has been misleading voters about details of the measure, and have  been decrying the major funders of Prop Y – the California Community Foundation and the Children’s Funding Accelerator (a national organization) – as “Bay Area special interest groups pushing their political agenda at (Pomona’s) expense.” The opposition campaign is backed by Mayor Tim Sandoval and City Council members Victor Preciado, Steve Lustro and Nora Garcia. 

Ballot box budgeting is often dicey, but this measure is similar in spirit to Measure J, which county approved overwhelmingly in 2020, mandating a certain percentage of county funds be spent on health, jobs, and other investments in the community. Government can be so slow and so resistant to making the deep investments in the services residents want, voters have no choice but to take matters into their own hands and assert their will at the ballot box.

We recommend a Yes vote.

IMPACT

LA Forward is proud to have become a major player in local progressive organizing here in Los Angeles County. We’ve been a critical part of securing numerous victories for candidates and policies that support our values, working alongside a coalition of partners.

2023 was LA Forward's most powerful year to date. We’re so proud and grateful for what our community – a growing team of staff, volunteer leaders, and members have achieved together. Some of the highlights:

* Progressive Campaign Leadership Academy: Our Progressive Campaign Leadership Academy is recruiting and training a diverse cohort of LA County residents to be candidates and campaign staffers in 2024 and beyond.

* Judicial Leadership Academy: Our Judicial Leadership Academy, a collaboration with La Defensa, equips a cohort of progressive attorneys and community members with the skills they need to run for and win seats as LA County Superior Court judges. These leaders are public defenders, civil rights attorneys, and community advocates who are committed to transforming the criminal justice system.

*District-by-District LA City organizing: In almost every LA City Council District, we organized community convenings to grow a progressive base and build political power that puts the issues that matter most to our members at the forefront. Thanks to these efforts, we formed an Unarmed Crisis Response Working Group, which champions unarmed crisis response that will shift resources and responsibilities away from police, and expand compassionate, people-centered responses for our most vulnerable residents. We helped win $15 million extra in the City budget for unarmed crisis response and we’re just getting started...

* Housing Justice Action Team: This year, we launched our Housing Justice Action Team, a six-month cohort for dedicated LA residents eager to sharpen their organizing skills, deepen their housing policy knowledge, and take collective action. 

* Advocacy Actions: We’re empowering our communities with ways to take action on the issues they care about. Thousands of you are using our online tools press for policy change – fighting for affordable housing at Venice Dell, telling the LA City Council to expand unarmed crisis response, creating fair LA City Council districts and more.    

And don't sleep on our 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner nonprofit, LA Forward Institute (LAFI)! If LA Forward isn't working on something, LAFI probably is... a few highlights

* Report Forward: LAFI launched Report Forward as a platform dedicated to highlighting the work of movement groups and emerging progressive policies. Spearheaded by journalist Alissa Walker, Report Forward is a monthly newsletter that shines a spotlight on policy proposals from LA County's vibrant social justice groups. Each issue also tracks the real-world impact of these efforts. We’re going to continue expanding our efforts to drive storytelling that empowers and equips our communities in 2024 and beyond.

* SGV Housing Justice Academy: This year, LAFI proudly introduced a six-month leadership development cohort in the San Gabriel Valley. Our goal is to nurture committed and skilled advocates in the fight for affordable housing and housing justice in the SGV and beyond.

* Cleaning Up LA City Hall:  In the wake of multiple corruption convictions, and leaked audio of Nury Martinez and Kevin de León that put an international spotlight on their racist and anti-renter efforts to gerrymander the City Council, it’s long past time for clean house at City Hall. LA Forward Institute is deeply involved in coalition efforts to end gerrymandering by creating an Independent Redistricting commission to determine district boundaries, create publicly financed elections, and many more anti-corruption pro-democracy reforms. We are helping lead two key coalitions — OUR LA and Fair Rep LA.

* LA City Council Candidate Forums: LAFI hosted the first set of LA City Council candidate forums of the 2024 cycle. These nonpartisan forums offered a chance for Angelenos to engage in robust, community-driven conversations with candidates running to represent them. LAFI hosted forums for City Council districts 2, 4, 10, and 14 – while over 600 of you attended, you can watch the videos on LAFI's website. 

* Best Start: LAFI worked with Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) to advance the housing justice knowledge of dozens of community members primarily across Southeast LA – many of whom are monolingual Spanish-speaking residents. In 2024, participants will build on their workshops from 2023 with direct application to local housing justice work meaningful to them! 

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