Hahn – JusticeLA

It's Time to Turn Out On July 21st, at the Board of Supervisors.

Hello, i’m Janice Hahn.

And I am secretly blocking funding for mental healthcare that I promised to my constituents publicly.

TELL ME TO KEEP MY PROMISES

underserved constituents

Million Dollars

In Mental healthcare blocked

6 years lost. Hundreds of people dead. Billions of taxpayer dollars wasted. Countless promises broken.

LA County Is Killing People with Taxpayer Money

Supervisor Janice Hahn was delaying $28 million in public health and safety investments, but because of OUR campaign has now agreed to move the presentation for this funding BACK up to June 30th, and has made a verbal commitment to fund it. Instead of building a Los Angeles County where people with treatable mental illnesses can thrive, the County would rather continue funding millions in settlements and litigation related to the deadly and decrepit Men's Central Jail, and LA Sheriff Gangs. Over 300 people have died in custody since the Board of Supervisors voted to close Men's Central Jail, most of them pre-trial and legally innocent of their charges. Hahn has promised to invest in alternatives to incarceration that keep communities healthy and safe, and we are going to hold her to it!

Where Tax Dollars Should Be Going

Public Defender's Office

Our Public Defender's Office get a fraction of the funding that is given to the District Attorney. Part of the $24 million would pay to expand the Public Defender’s (PD) Holistic Early Assessment and Linkage Program (HEAL) to courts in Lancaster, San Fernando, Van Nuys, Pasadena, Pomona, Norwalk, Airport, Compton, Long Beach, and Torrance.

Funding is needed to conduct behavioral health screenings as early as arraignment to expedite access to treatment, instead of caging those who need the most help.

Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD)

Once funding is secured, JCOD can establish two new courthouses annually for five years. Part the $24 million would be MAINTAINING funding for these JCOD programs that is slated to go away, jeopardizing important diversion pathways for those experiencing a behavioral health episode.

Department of Public Health

The $24 million in funding will expand access to diversion and treatment for people with low to moderate-acuity and substance abuse disorders (SUD) needs.

Department of Health Services (DHS)

Part of the $24 million will go to expanding the most effective housing and mental health supportive services: the Office of Diversion and Re-entry. This is will result in 140 new clients per month.

Countdown for Accountability: Show Up on June 30th!

How Did We Get Here?

LA County Doesn't Care About In-Custody Deaths

On March 30th, 2021, the County, community, and the Sheriff’s Department collaborated to produce the Men’s Central Jail Closure Report which outlined how to close the jail in 18-24 months. Since then, there have been endless reports outlining why increasing mental health and substance abuse services is absolutely urgent and necessary for public safety—and to close Men’s Central Jail.

The Board & Their Broken Promises

Los Angeles County has spent the last five years promising to invest in robust and cost effective social services, instead of building a multi-billion dollar new jail to warehouse impoverished community members who are most susceptible to mental illnesses. But as the June phase of the budget cycle approaches, the Board of Supervisors is attempting to delay their own publicly endorsed plan with behind the scenes politics, which is delaying the very investments needed to make the ‘Care First vision’ a reality.

Public Safety Experts & the Community Are Being Ignored

Supervisors Hilda Solis and Janice Hahn have demanded the plan for a massive rollout of vital community-based services, including mental health care and housing, as part of the County’s ongoing effort to reduce reliance on incarceration and close Men’s Central Jail. On March 3rd, Supervisor Hahn herself set forth a motion to demand timelines and benchmarks for the implementation of these services. But in an effort to avoid scrutiny, is pulling strings behind the scenes to push funding out of this year's budget cycle.

Care First Solutions Are Not a Priority

Instead of allowing the county’s Jail Closure Implementation Team to present the required report before the end of the budget presentation, (the report was set to be presented on May 5th, but the county has delayed the presentation three times), Supervisor Hahn herself is now delaying the presentation to July 21, 2026 in order to avoid including it in this year’s $50 billion budget cycle.