Youth Justice LA Rallies to Demand LA County Invests in Youth and Releases Millions in Unspent Funds
Los Angeles, CA — Community members and activists led by Youth Justice LA (@youthjusticela) are turning up the heat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, demanding immediate action to release millions in unspent Measure J and Care First Community Investment (CFCI) funds. With a powerful rally held April 15, 2025 at City Hall, advocates are sending a clear message: Invest in care, not cages.
Measure J, passed in 2020, promised to allocate taxpayer dollars toward care-based initiatives like mental health services, workforce development, and violence prevention—but as of now, millions remain locked behind bureaucratic red tape while communities continue to suffer from housing insecurity, unemployment, and systemic criminalization.
The Community’s Demands:
- Release unspent Measure J/CFCI funds NOW – LA can’t afford more delays. The money is there—get it into the hands of the people.
- Cut the red tape – Grassroots organizations need direct access to resources without jumping through endless hoops.
- Invest in girls and gender-expansive youth – True equity means deep, targeted investment in often-overlooked communities.
- Transparency and community input – Decisions must include the people these funds were meant to serve.
Measure J was never just a policy—it was a promise. A promise to divest from punishment and incarceration, and reinvest in care, opportunity, and equity. But today, advocates argue that the county is failing to deliver on that vision.
In the words of Youth Justice LA, “These funds belong to the people. We demand a seat at the table.”
Read More: https://youthjusticela.org/
