PUBLIC COMMENT TOOLKIT
The role of our government—at the local, state, and federal levels—is to represent the people they serve. It is our civic duty to keep our elected officials accountable to our voices and concerns through public engagement.
From joining grassroots coalitions to contacting your elected representatives, as community members, your civic participation can go far beyond the ballot box. You do not need to be a policy expert to make a public comment—you just need to be a community member who is committed to honest government and better change. A public comment is a written or verbal statement community members can make at the meetings of legislative and/or governing bodies’ meetings; these statements can range from voicing your support for a particular policy your elected representative is considering to communicating the need for action on an issue you observe in your community.
Learning how to get started in this form of civic participation and make a public comment can be overwhelming. This toolkit is designed to help you understand the public comment process at all levels of government.
In 2040, one in ten Americans will be Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Americans. Despite our growing power as an electorate, rates of voting and other forms of engagement continue to lag behind. Beyond coalition-based advocacy to overcome systemic barriers to civic engagement, the AAPI community must commit to showing up, increasing our visibility, and communicating our needs. Public comments let our elected officials know what we care about, what’s important to us, and how to represent the AAPI community accurately and intentionally.
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BACKGROUND
The Brown Act protects the right of the public to participate in the meetings of government bodies—from local city council meetings to committee meetings at the state level to hearings at the federal level. In addition to the public’s right to attend, record, broadcast, and participate in public meetings, the Brown Act also requires that meaningful agendas are posted at least 72 hours in advance of meetings in a freely accessible location to allow community members to anticipate and prepare organizing efforts or comments. The Brown Act balances participation of the public and integrity within the decision-making process with the effectiveness of government action and business.
The purpose of the Brown Act is to empower community members with a way to keep their elected officials in check. Lack of civic participation on the part of communities can lead to corruption and lack of transparency within governing bodies. In the City of Bell scandal in the late 2000s, public funds were misappropriated, granting elected officials significantly higher salaries. As a result, eight city officials were arrested on corruption charges. This controversy was a key turning point in the public perception of government, as communities continue to be increasingly distrustful of their elected officials. Public comments are just one way in which we as community members can keep our elected officials in check and to ensure that they continue to accurately and honestly represent us.
From logistical information to what goes into a meaningful comment to a guiding template, this toolkit shares the ways in which you can make public comments at each level of government.
LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles and is made up of 15 council members, each one representing the 15 council districts of the City. The City Council can enact ordinances subject to the approval of the Mayor, levy taxes, authorize public improvements and development, vote on budget proposals, and more.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10AM
John Ferraro Council Chamber, Room 340, City Hall
making a public comment in person
When the meeting is opened up to public comment, members of the public who wish to speak on the agenda can speak for up to one minute per item and up to a total of three minutes per meeting.
Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or of a negative COVID-19 test within the prior 72 hours is required for entry into the City Hall building. Proof of a negative test can be a printed document, email, or text message from a test provider showing the results of an antigen or PCR test (Municipal Code Section 200.123).
SUBMITTING A WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ONLINE
Submit written public comments on here.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is the governing body of Los Angeles County and is made up of 5 supervisors, each one representing the five supervisorial districts of the County. The Board of Supervisors holds executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial power over the County. They oversee county departments—including those related to mental health, health services, public works, and sherrif—manage the budget, and pass laws.
Tuesdays at 9:30am
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, ROOM 301B
500 W. Temple Street, Room 301B, Los Angeles, 90012
4th Tuesdays of the month are reserved for public hearings on zoning matters, fee increases, special district proceedings, and property transactions.
See the calendar of Board meetings here.
Meetings are live-streamed and can be virtually attended here.
CALLING IN A PUBLIC COMMENT remotely
Participants may call in to make a public comment beginning at 9 AM.
To address the Board and make a public comment, call (877) 226-8163.
Enter the participant code shown here, and press #.
The operator will ask you for your name and what items you wish to speak on and then place you in a waiting lobby.
Answer, then press 1 then 0 to be placed in the queue to make a public comment
The moderator will call your name when it is your turn to speak.
MAKING A PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON
Electronic Speaker Forms can be filled out in kiosks located in and around the Board Room and in the lobby of the Executive Office Room, Room 383.
The chair will call you to make your comment when the Board takes up the item you wish to speak on or when the Board takes up general public comments.
You may speak for one minute if you are speaking on one agenda item, two minutes if you are speaking on multiple agenda items, and three minutes if you are speaking on multiple items and making a general comment on an item not on the agenda.
SUBMITTING A WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT ONLINE
Submit written public comments here by 12 PM on the Monday preceding the Board meeting you wish to speak on.
COMMISSIONS
Visit here to see the list of commissions and their respective meeting schedules.
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature and is made up of 80 assembly members, each one representing the 80 assembly districts in California. As legislators, assembly members introduce, vote, and pass bills. Assembly members serve on different committees, from Appropriations to Health to Public Safety.
Submitting a public comment to a committee
resources and links
See the legislative calendar here.
See information about bills including content, analysis, and votes here.
See the Assembly Daily File, which includes the agenda of business for each legislative day and committee hearing schedules, here.
View live streams and past streams of the Assembly Floor here.
california state senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature and is made up of 40 senators, each one representing the 40 senate districts in California. As legislators, senators introduce, vote, and pass bills. Senators serve on different committees, from Environmental Quality to Human Services to Transportation. Key differences exist between the State Assembly and the State Senate, including the jurisdiction of their respective committees, the rules of their Appropriations Committees, and more.
Teleconferencing A PUBLIC COMMENT AT A POLICY COMMITTEE HEARING
At the level of the State Senate, policy committee hearings are where you can communicate your thoughts, concerns, and ideas with the State Senate and your California State Senators.
Visit committee websites here to find their respective hearing schedules and plan to call in a public comment.
If you are interested in a particular bill, find out where it has been assigned on here or by calling the office of the Senator that authored the bill.
Bills are not heard at policy committee hearings until at least 30 days after they are assigned to the committee, allotting time for the public to organize and prepare comments.
Bills to be considered appear in the Daily File four days before they are heard in a policy committee hearing.
Call the number listed and enter the access code listed, found on the committee website.
When prompted for your position in “Support” or “Opposition”, dial 1 then 0.
The Operator will give you a line number.
Wait in the queue until the moderator calls your line number for you to address the committee.
For more information, see here.
RESOURCES AND LINKS
See the legislative calendar here.
See information about bills including content, analysis, and votes here.
See the Senate Daily File, which includes the agenda of business for each legislative day and committee hearing schedules, here.
View live streams and past streams of the Senate Floor and Committee hearings here.
U.S. House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress and is made up of 435 congress members, each one representing the 435 congressional districts of the United States. Per the Constitution, as the legislative branch, the House of Representatives can make and pass federal laws, initiate revenue bills, and impeach federal officials.
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress and is made up of 100 senators, with each state electing two senators. Per the Constitution, as the legislative branch, the Senate can make and pass federal laws, confirm presidential appointments, and provide advice and consent to ratify treaties.
city councils in los angeles county
Click below for information about the meetings of city councils within Los Angeles County. This document is being continuously updated.
Forming a public comment
For a guiding template on how to plan to submit a written public comment or present a verbal public comment, please see the graphic below.
