East Los Angeles is home to nearly 119,000 residents, but the community has no mayor or city hall.
So who makes decisions? Who fixes potholes? Who do you call to report illegal dumping?
East LA is not a city, and it’s not part of the city of LA. Instead, it’s an unincorporated part of LA County, and even though it’s the most populous unincorporated area in California, community organizers say many residents are unaware of the problems that raises.
According to the LA County Planning Department, there are approximately 120 to 125 unincorporated areas in the county, which, altogether, represent two-thirds of its total area and one-tenth of its population.
“For the 1 million people living in these areas, the Board of Supervisors is their ‘city council’ and the Supervisor representing the area is their ‘mayor,’” the department website says.
So, what does it mean to live in an unincorporated community?
Let’s break it down:
What is an unincorporated community?
An unincorporated area is land within a county that has not been designated to be a city, meaning that it relies on county services, including for law enforcement, public works and local government.
Instead of being governed by a city council and a mayor, major decisions for East LA residents fall under the authority of the LA County Board of Supervisors.
East LA residents have called for representation that’s more closely tied to their community and financial transparency, saying they want to know how their tax dollars are spent locally.
Who represents East LA?
East LA, located in Supervisorial District 1, has been represented by County Supervisor Hilda Solis since 2014. Her term is set to end this year.
Solis also makes decisions for the nearly 2 million other residents who live in District 1, which covers more than 20 cities, stretching from Silver Lake to Pomona, as well as various neighborhoods of the city of Los Angeles, including Boyle Heights and downtown.
On a state level, East LA is represented by Assemblymember Jessica Caloza and California Sen. María Elena Durazo. Rep. Jimmy Gomez represents East LA in Congress.
Who provides key services for East LA residents?
Independent cities often provide residents with their own municipal services such as law enforcement, firefighting, animal control, trash collection, road maintenance, library services and parks.
Here’s a list of services available to East LA residents:
- First District Field Office – East Los Angeles
- Services: Here’s how you can get in touch with Solis’ office if you have questions or concerns.
- Location: 4801 East Third St., Los Angeles, CA 90022
- Contact: (323) 881-4601
- East LA Sheriff’s Station
- Services: In addition to serving East LA, the station also serves the cities of Commerce, Cudahy and Maywood, as well as unincorporated Belvedere Gardens, City Terrace, Eastmont, Saybrook Park and Union Pacific.
- Location: 5019 E 3rd St, East Los Angeles, CA 90022
- Contact: (323) 264-4151. For emergencies, call 911.
- Website: lasd.org/east-los-angeles
- LA County Fire Department
- Services: The LA County Fire Department serves all of the unincorporated area within Los Angeles County, as well as 60 incorporated cities, 59 of which are in Los Angeles County and one in Orange County.
- Contact: (323) 881-2411. For emergencies, call 911.
- Website: fire.lacounty.gov
- Public Works
- Services: LA County Public Works responds to calls about graffiti, potholes, illegal dumping, homeless encampments, transportation services and building and safety permits, among other things.
- Contact: Reports can be submitted online. Urgent requests can be made by calling the 24-hour line at (800) 675-4357.
- Website: pw.lacounty.gov
- 211 LA County
- Services: 211 LA County provides health and social service resources, including housing support, mental health care, financial assistance and recovery resources. During disasters, like wildfires and other crises, the line provides real-time information and can help people find shelter, food, financial help and emotional support.
- Contact: Dial 211. Those unable to reach 2-1-1 service can call (800) 339-6993. TTY/TDD# (phone for hearing impaired): (800) 660-4026
- Website: 211la.org
For a full list, check out this guide to unincorporated areas services for District 1.
Why isn’t East LA its own city?
Over the decades, multiple efforts to incorporate East LA into a city have failed. A recent fiscal analysis concluded that cityhood remains financially unviable for the region. Residents have continued their calls for more financial transparency and better representation. A new effort on the horizon may allow citizens to directly advise the county on issues unique to East LA.
How can residents make their voices heard?
The report that deemed cityhood unfeasible for unincorporated East LA last year recommended the formation of a Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) — a formal, citizen-led body that would provide residents with a structure for public input and give stakeholders a direct line of communication to county leadership.
At the first of six community forums on Saturday, Feb. 21, some residents deemed the MAC a stepping stone towards proper incorporation down the line. Others asked for better economic investment and access to a localized, itemized budget every year for residents to understand how their tax dollars are spent on improving social services and local businesses.
“Every problem we have, can be solved if we have a local government,” resident Francisco Cardenas. “We have nobody to complain to.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the MAC and the upcoming community forums where residents are invited to weigh in. The next meeting will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26 at East LA Library, located at 4837 E. 3rd Street. Register here.
Reporting for this story came from notes taken by Andrew Lopez, a Boyle Heights Beat contributor and Los Angeles Documenter, at the East LA MAC community forum on Feb. 21. The LA Documenters program trains and pays community members to document what happens at public meetings. Check out the meeting notes and audio on Documenters.org.
