LOS ANGELES — Today, Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Tim McOsker announced the one year extension of the City of Los Angeles Gang Injunction Curfew Settlement and a renewed push to identify and connect class members to services and benefits.
Also known as the “Rodríguez vs. City of Los Angeles” settlement, this class action represented 6,000 Angelenos impacted by the creation and enforcement of gang injunctions in the late 1980s and 1990s. As part of the settlement, the City agreed to payments not to exceed $7.5 million per year, totaling no more than $30 million over a four-year period from 2017 to 2021, to assist plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit with resources such as educational and vocational training, paid work experience, work clothes, tools, transportation, license and certification support, and related resources.
However, City data shows that less than 25% of the 6,000 class members have been assisted and less than half of the $30 million settlement amount has been spent. The Councilmembers and the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department today announced an extension of the settlement agreement and new efforts to address recruitment and retention issues.
“The Rodriguez Gang Injunction Settlement is ultimately about addressing and repairing a history of harm,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “There are still thousands of Angelenos who have not been able to access the benefits and services that they are entitled to through this settlement and the City must continue to work together with our community partners to ensure that all eligible class members receive the assistance they are owed.”
“Today we’re repairing some of the wrongs done to the folks who were improperly targeted by injunction orders and experienced unjust enforcement,” said Councilmember Tim McOsker. “As we atone for this city’s sins of overreaching gang injunctions, those who were impacted will now have more time to claim the expanded benefits rightfully owed to them.”
“The extension of this program provides an opportunity for the City to continue its effort to identify and enroll as many eligible class members as possible,” said Carolyn Hull, General Manager of the Economic and Workforce Development Department. “If you are a settlement class member, we encourage you to visit an EWDD WorkSource Center which can guide you through the process of accessing program benefits and services.”
Repairing a history of harm
In the late 1980s, the City of Los Angeles began the practice of establishing gang injunctions referred to as Safety Zones with the goal of deterring gang activity and violence. Injunctions aimed to control behavior such as when and where someone could be and the types of clothing a member of the community could or could not wear. By the end of 2016, there were 46 gang injunction cases filed on behalf of the City of Los Angeles. Several cases named more than one gang in each petition to the court for the injunction.
On March, 21, 2016 the City Council adopted a recommendation by the City Attorney (CF 16-0081) to accept a court settlement in the case entitled Christian Rodriguez, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al. United States District Court Case No. CV11-01135 DMG (JEMx). This settlement arose from incidents involving members of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office between October 2007 and March 2013. The class action represented 6,000 Angelenos impacted by 26 specific gang injunctions with unconstitutional provisions upheld by the court.
The City agreed not to enforce the unconstitutional curfew provisions as well as other provisions that have been invalidated in subsequent appellate decisions for the City’s gang injunctions. The City also agreed to payments not to exceed $7.5 million per year for four years totaling no more than $30 million to non-profit organizations that assisted plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit with resources such as job readiness programs, apprenticeship programs, vocational counseling, and mentoring.
The City centralized the services under the Los Angeles Reconnections Career Academy 2.0 with the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD).
Expanding LARCA 2.0
On February 2, 2022 the Council adopted a third extension of the program by having the City Attorney modify the settlement agreement to extend its term for one year, until June 27, 2023 and to modify the settlement agreement to allow class members until March 27, 2023, to sign up for benefits under the settlement agreement (CF 17-0026). However, recent City data indicates that as of June 2023 only 1,078 of the 6,000 class members or their eligible relatives had been assisted and only $13.3 million of the $30 million settlement amount had been spent.
In order to ensure that as many class members are able access services and benefits as possible, Councilmembers Hernandez and McOsker introduced a motion (CF 17-0026-S1) which extended the settlement for one year by moving the end date to June 27, 2024 and modifying the agreement to allow class members to sign up for benefits until March 27, 2024. The Councilmembers also requested an expansion in the allowed settlement benefits to include services such as childcare, housing, rental and utility assistance, food, and other essential living expenses.
Accessing Services and Benefits
Angelenos who were served with one or more gang injunctions should contact the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) to determine whether they are eligible to receive settlement benefits. Class members who are unable to participate in the program, or are not in need of the program, may transfer their benefits to a close relative such as a child, parent, sibling, or spouse. This includes class members who are incarcerated, living out of state, or otherwise unable to participate in the LARCA 2.0 program.
Contact Juan Romero, Program Manager & Ombudsman at 213-744-9008 or LARCA2.0Advocacy@lacity.org.