DId you know that the mayor is the city’s manager?
The Mayor has a leadership role in governing the city, ensuring its smooth operation, representing its interests, and fostering its growth and development. They oversee city departments, implementing policies, ensures public safety during emergencies and crises by working closely with response efforts, and represents the city's interests.
As the official representative of the city, the mayor advocates for its interests at the local, regional, and sometimes national levels. This includes engaging with other government officials, business leaders, community organizations, and the public to promote the city's priorities and address its concerns.
Do you know who Distributes the city budget each year?
The mayor decides how the budget is split up to address issues such as homelessness, policing, and waste diversion in Los Angeles.
Did you know there are 40+ Departments and Agencies which oversee everything from housing and transportation to street lighting?
The mayor has the power to appoint or remove the commissioners and board members in control of these organizations. Groups like the Housing + Community Investment Department (HCID), Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), and the Neighborhood Empowerment Agency (NEA) have historically worked with API communities to address issues like lack of rent control, career training, and local civic engagement.
Did you know the mayor can implement policies like mandating increased language access throughout the city?
Another example: did you know Mayor Eric Garcetti raised minimum wage to $15, which aimed to directly combat poverty in many communities of color, including low-income API communities? Through policies like these, the mayor has a direct impact on the daily lives of Los Angeles residents.
does the mayor care about me?
When interviewed by CAUSE, both Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass discussed the safety of the API community.
“I want to prevent the next crime, which means that we need to have very serious public awareness, public education and a sense of intolerance that is built in the community that says we will not accept this…I've worked with the API community pretty much all my life, and I'm very clear about the diversity and the disproportionate impact in that community.” - Karen Bass
How Can the mayor support api communities and stop asian hate?
“The mayor appoints the planning commission and public works commission to address a lot of the quality of life issues that I’m talking about here…displacement, gentrification, equitable transit development…affordable housing, small business development, access to capital…”
- Chancee Martorell, Executive Director of Thai Community Development Center
The mayor can have a further impact on important API issues like data disaggregation and mental health through funding, particularly:
Funding for API data disaggregation and increased research into Pacific Islander data collection
Funding for culturally competent mental health programs and API-specific outreach, because Asian Americans are the racial group least likely to seek mental health treatment
The mayor can play a crucial role in supporting API communities and combating Asian hate by strategically appointing leaders who reflect the community's diversity and uphold the principles of equity and justice. For instance, Mayor Karen Bass's recent appointments, including Dominic Choi as the Interim Chief of Police and Carmen Chang as the new General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, are steps toward ensuring that those at the helm understand and address the specific needs of API communities.
Additionally, the mayor's authority to approve projects offers another powerful avenue for support. The launch of "LA for All," a multilingual public service announcement campaign introduced by City Councilmembers John S. Lee, Nithya Raman, and Mark Ridley-Thomas and led by the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, exemplifies how the mayor can foster a citywide ethos of diversity, belonging, and inclusion. This initiative not only helps to educate the public about how to report hate crimes but also celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures that constitute Los Angeles.
Through these actions, the mayor not only addresses immediate concerns but also lays the groundwork for a more inclusive and resilient community.
How can API community advocates make their voices heard in the Mayor’s Office?
Contact the Mayor’s Public Engagement team! This includes the Director of Public Engagement and Constituent Services Representatives.
Neighborhood Councils communicate with the Mayor’s Office through Community Impact Statements, which detail the needs of their specific neighborhood community.
