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County releases progress update on State of Black Los Angeles report; recommends targeted universalism and reparative steps
Summary
The CEO presented a biennial progress update on outcomes in Black Los Angeles, highlighting worsening life expectancy and rising homelessness and poverty, while recommending a targeted universalism framework, repair of harms and expansion of mobile services.
Los Angeles County officials presented the 2023–25 progress update to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, documenting persistent disparities for Black Angelenos and recommending both policy changes and program investments.
Arturo “Arty” Scorsa, the Chief Executive Office’s equity lead, reviewed the State of Black Los Angeles County report and an interim progress analysis. The presentation cited several concerning trends: life expectancy for Black residents declined in the most recent annual interval, the county saw an increase in the number and share of unhoused Black residents, and the share of Black households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level rose. The report also noted some bright spots, including a rise in high-school graduation rates and median household income in recent years, which county analysts attributed partly to pandemic‑era investments and post‑pandemic economic shifts.
The report adds a new chapter on Black aging and caregiving and flags several programmatic recommendations drawn from community engagement: 1) adopt targeted universalism as the county’s organizing policy frame (set universal goals and tailor strategies to populations and geographies); 2) pursue harm‑repair efforts and explore reparations; and 3) expand mobile services so that health, food and social supports reach residents where they live.
Scorsa and regional staff said the Chief Executive Office will provide webinars and tools so county departments can use the report and its interactive data maps to align programs and budgets. He described work already under way: the Homeless Initiative’s retrospective review of Measure H spending, a Homekey pipeline and interim housing sites in South Los Angeles, collaboration on equity and infrastructure in Public Works, and plans to standardize demographic data collection across departments to improve tracking.
Supervisors asked detailed questions about the drivers of the trends and how departments will translate findings into budget decisions. Supervisor Holly Mitchell emphasized the report’s urgency, noting disproportionate effects on older Black residents and the need to invest now to prevent further harm. Departments including the Homeless Initiative and DHS briefed the board on investments, including a large Exodus Recovery safe‑landing and Homekey housing projects, and described the county’s work to align targeted investments with neighborhoods most affected.
Public commenters and community groups urged the board to move from study to sustained investments, to prioritize Black‑led organizations and to adopt clear timelines and funding commitments. Several speakers urged lineage‑specific data collection for descendants of enslaved people and proposals for direct cash reparations, while others urged pairing short‑term emergency responses with long‑term structural change.
The board received and filed the report; supervisors and staff said they will use the findings to guide departmental briefings and future budget priorities.
