A proposal to increase the number of members on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five to nine was backed by two Assembly members on Thursday, July 18.
Rep. Judy Chu, who represents the 28th Congressional District, and Rep. Ted Lieu, who represents the 36th Congressional District, believe the addition of new members could lead to the creation of special districts for the Asian American Pacific Islander community.
The two officials, along with Supervisors Lindsay Holbert, Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis, appeared at a press conference where they spoke about the importance of the proposal to the Asian American community.
“This expansion is not just a structural adjustment, it is a critical step to ensure that our government truly represents the rich diversity of our region,” Chu said. “Los Angeles County is home to more Asian Americans than any other county in the United States, with nearly 1.5 million AAPIs living here.”
She noted that cities such as Monterey Park, Koreatown, Long Beach, Torrance and Santa Clarita saw their Asian American populations grow three-fold, outpacing overall population growth.
“Los Angeles County has 14 suburban areas with Asian-majority populations, many of which are in my district in the San Gabriel Valley,” Chu said, “and yet, despite the incredible growth of the Asian American community throughout Los Angeles County, there is not a single Asian American member of the county’s Board of Supervisors.”
Chu said the Asian American community has been marginalized for too long, citing discriminatory laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Liu welcomed the proposed expansion of the county board of supervisors, adding that it would make it easier for county leaders to respond to the needs of their constituents. Currently, each of the five commissioners represents about 2 million people.
The proposal also calls for creating a budget director and legislative analyst, as well as an independent ethics commission.
Supervisor Hahn reiterated that the county is the largest in the nation, with more people than 40 states.
“I want to ensure that more voices are represented on the board as we decide how to address some of the biggest changes we face as a county,” Hahn said, “and the Asian American community deserves a seat at the table.”
The county Board of Supervisors is scheduled to take its first vote on a draft ordinance that would put the county charter amendment on the November ballot on Tuesday, July 23. If approved, a final vote would then be held on July 30, according to Holbert County Communications Director Constance Farrell.
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Amy Matzold