Mayor Eric Garcetti signed an executive directive to “study and promote racial equity” within city of Los Angeles departments, as California considers repealing Proposition 209 in November. 

Prop. 209 was the Prohibition Against Discrimination or Preferential Treatment by State and Other Public Entities, which eliminated affirmitive action programs in the state of California in 1996. On June 10, the California Assembly voted to allow California voters to uphold the affirmative action ban, or repeal it.

Should the law be repealed in the November elections, Garcetti proposed setting a City Charter Amendment to implement affirmative action in the future.

“Our city is hungry for change, and we must knit racial justice and affirmative action into the fabric of our policies, our institutions, and our society,” Mayor Garcetti said in a statement. “With the possible repeal of Proposition 209, we will begin preparing now for affirmative action in City government to open the doors of opportunity to African Americans and anyone too often left out and left behind in our economy. But no matter what happens at the ballot box, my executive directive ensures our city leadership looks at every issue through a lens of racial justice, acts to end structural racism, and brings more black Angelenos and people of color into the halls of government.”

Garcetti also named L.A. Deputy Mayor Brenda Shockley to chief equity officer, a new position that would oversee affirmative action in the city.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.