C. Response to Social Conditions and the Unrest

Many government, private sector, and community organizations and agencies were working to improve conditions in the disadvantaged areas prior to the outbreak of the riots. Following the civil unrest, a significant number of new efforts were undertaken, with a new sense of urgency. It is not the goal of the Senate Task Force to describe all of these efforts, but rather to paint a broad picture of the public response in its various In taking this approach, the Senate Task Force will fail to mention individuals and organizations that e important contributions to the recovery in Los Angeles. Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department and Amendment F Following the Rodney G. King beating, Mayor Tom Bradley formed the Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department to examine all aspects of the law-enforcement structure in Los Angeles that might cause or contribute to the problem of excessive force. The commission's findings led to Los Angeles -Charter Amendment F on the June 2, 1992, ballot in Los Angeles. That measure, which passed by a two-to-one margin, increases the accountability of officers who abuse their authority and makes the chief of police more accountable to City Hall. The measure: Allows the mayor to appoint the chief of police with approval of the Los Angeles City Council, Limits the police chief to two five-year terms; Gives City Hall more power to remove the chief of police; Increases the staff of the Police Commission; Establishes a three-person board of rights, including at least one civilian, to consider disciplinary actions against officers; Adds demotion to the list of possible punishments for office misconduct; Extends the period of time in which misconduct complaints can be investigated; and Allows disciplinary boards to consider old complaints against officers, even if they were not substantiated. Gun Sales Increased After Riots During the 11-day period following the riots, gun shops sold over 20,000 guns, of which 15.000 were handguns. Unknown thousands of guns were stolen by looters during the riots. One store, for example, lost 1,500 guns; another store lost 1,700. From May 1 to May 22, gun sales in California were 46 percent higher than during the same period in 1991. The more than 3,000 licensed gun dealers in Los Angeles County sold 64 percent more guns during this period in 1992 than in 1991. Federal and State Disaster Assistance Programs Governor Wilson declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles City and County. President Bush declared a federal emergency. The president's emergency declaration set in motion federal and state programs designed to assist communities in disasters (such as fire, flood, earthquake, and civil disturbances). Following the riots, persons could obtain information and applications for emergency assistance from 11 centers in the Los Angeles area. These centers were set up by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) after the riots. The emergency assistance programs, coordinated and implemented by the FEMA and the state Office of Emergency Services (OES) consisted of: Disaster Housing Assistance, Federal Emergency Management Administration (FENLA): FEMA provides financial assistance to people when a disaster has either damaged their housing or reduced their income necessary to pay mortgages or rents; (Victims of the riots could obtain assistance from the FEMA by calling 818-405-7296.) Disaster Loans to Individuals and Businesses, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Based on the type and extent of uninsured disaster-related losses and damages, the SBA may provide low-interest loans to individuals for home damage up to $100,000 and for personal-property losses up to $20,000. The SBA also provides low-interest loans to businesses for damages up to $500,000. (Victims of the riots could obtain assistance from the SBA by calling 818-405-7867.) Individual and Family Grant Program (IFGP), State Department of Social Services (DSS): The DSS administers a joint federal/state grant program for persons and families who are unable to meet disaster-related necessary expenses and serious needs for which assistance from other means is not available or for which the applicant cannot qualify. State/federal grants are up to $11,500. State supplemental grants are available up to $10,000. (Victims of the riots can obtain assistance from the DSS by calling 800-759-6807.) Bridge Loans, State Department of Commerce (DOC): The DOC provides short-term loans to persons awaiting approval and receipt of loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Disaster Unemployment Assistance. California Employment Development Department (EDD): The EDD provides weekly disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) benefits to persons that lose work because of disaster. Unlike normal unemployment insurance, DUA benefits are also available to self-employed persons. The EDD also helps people find work after a disaster. (Victims of the riots can obtain assistance from the EDD by calling their local EDD office.) Disaster-related Regular Unemployment Insurance Assistance (EDD): Persons who became unemployed as a direct result of the civil unrest were also eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits. Food Stamps: Special provisions were put into place to grant food stamp assistance to those affected by the riots. (An initial denial of these benefits resulted in a suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture by the ACLU. A release of the benefits was later granted.) The following table summarizes the status of applications received by these programs as a result of the riots. Federal and State Disaster Relief Programs (as of October 5, 1992) Program Applications Approved $ Approved Pending Temporary Housing   408A   408B 1212 9493 399 2906 $322,794 $9,380,842 4 66 SBA Loans   Home/Personal Property   Business   Economic Injury 459 3613 2575 130 2148 1434 $684,700 $193,422,500 $34,095,200 47 137 727 Individual and Family Grants   Applications   Appeals 5784 169 962 20 $3,359,419 $29,873 749 64 State Supplement 97 97 $391,100 0 Department of Commerce Bridge Loans 206 103 $7,170,930 31 Disaster Unemployment Assistance 3596 3160 $4,197,521 Regular Unemployment Assistance 6416 3958 $2,989,893 Food Stamps Applications 40392 35492 $4,100,000 Total $260,154,772 Other Short- and Long-Term Federal, State and Local Disaster-Assistance Programs Governor's Task Force: On June 12, California Governor Pete Wilson issued an executive order creating a cabinet level task force to coordinate state activities and programs for relief and recovery in Los Angeles. State Commissioner of Corporations Thomas Sayles was named chair of this task force. The governor designated several state agencies to play major roles for the state in the recovery effort - the Office of Emergency Services, the Employment Development Department, Department of State Banking, Department of Commerce, California Highway Patrol, Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Transportation, Department of Savings and Loan. Teale Data Center, and Cal-EPA. Employment Development Department (EDD): The EDD rapidly assumed a major role in the post-riot efforts. This was largely a result of the predictable need for human resource-related policies in the aftermath of such an occurrence. EDD's most immediate role was to make regular unemployment insurance assistance and disaster unemployment insurance available to qualified individuals. EDD formed a departmental team to direct Its efforts and to coordinate these efforts with other state and federal agencies. EDD applied for, and received. special reserve funds from the U.S. Department of Labor in the amount of $15 million. EDD also sought to have $20 million of funds from the Employment Training Panel program moved by means of the state budget process to L.A. recovery efforts. State legislators approved this proposal and the $20 million was put under the jurisdiction of EDD. Money from both of these sources is being used for public service employment, job training, job placement, and entrepreneurial assistance In the riot-affected areas. 'Me Los Angeles Service Delivery Area (SDA) is working with EDD to determine the most effective uses of the funds. EDD is reserving 25 percent of the ETP funds for assistance to local community based organizations. EDD has developed or is participating in a number of additional assistance efforts, some of which involve seeking to leverage a portion of the funds at its disposal by encouraging other organizations and agencies to provide matching funds: EDD is providing funds to the California Conservation Corps for graffiti removal, beautification, painting, landscaping, light construction. The California Conservation Corps (CCC). which has employed over 50,000 persons between the ages of 18 and 23 since 1976, trains and employs young people in various natural resource, community improvement, and disaster response jobs. Immediately following the riots, the CCC hired 75 young adults from the Los Angeles area. 'Me CCC Itself proposes to create a special training and community-service, program of 450 corps members from the Los Angeles area. It would call ' the program the 'Urban Youth Development and Restoration Program." The CCC is exploring ways to obtain the $8 million it would need to fund the program each year. EDD is working with Peter Ueberroth and Rebuild L.A. (see below) to develop strategies to link job training with economic development. EDD is creating a joint project with the state Department of Social Services to qualify for matching funds from the federal government for a new L.A. program to serve Greater Avenues for Independence participants. EDD is committing a portion of the ETP dollars to match L.A. Unified School District/U.S. Dept of Education funds to be devoted to job development. Employment Training Panel: The ETP is expediting job training and development proposals for the riot-impacted areas. State Treasurer: In a May 12 letter to Mayor Bradley, State Treasurer Kathleen Brown offered the resources of her office to explore measures to assist in rebuilding Los Angeles. She also described initiatives she was undertaking that would: Fast Track Bond Programs: The treasurer proposed to assist state departments that administer bond programs in expediting bonds for repairing and rebuilding damaged public facilities. She also proposed to explore ways to expedite bond programs to repair private property. Such programs might involve, for example. the California Housing Finance Agency, Cal-Vet loan program, Department of Housing and Communit3r Development. and the California Health Facilities Financing Authority. Expands CHFA’s Role in Affordable Housing: The treasurer recommended that the California Housing Finance Agency promote self-help (e.g., "sweat equity") housing programs. Tax Credit Priority for Low-Income Housing: The treasurer asked the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, which she chairs, to give priority to Los Angeles projects. Pension Fund Investments: The treasurer is asking the California Public Employees Retirement System and the California State Teachers Retirement System to explore ways to invest in housing and small businesses in the riot area. Department of Insurance: Insurance Commissioner Garamendi announced proposed changes in the California FAIR plan, the inner-city "Insurer of last resort." Managers of the plan agreed to expand coverage to include replacement cost and business interruption protection. Coverage would be increased and payments would be spread out. These changes are designed to more fully and fairly cover policyholders. Garamendi also announced plans to strengthen anti-redlining rules. Federal Urban Aid Package: In addition to the immediate disaster assistance and the reserve funds of the Department of Labor funneled through EDD, other help was forthcoming from the nation's capital. A compromise $ 1. 1 billion package of federal assistance for urban areas was approved by Congress and signed by President Bush on June 22. FEMA was allocated $300 million, SBA was granted $300 million, and $500 million was set aside for summer jobs in U.S. cities and states. According to Congresswoman Maxine Waters' office, California eventually received about $17 million of the summer job funds. Ongoing FEMA and SBA programs in the riot-affected areas have been funded through the urban aid package. A second urban aid package, approved by Congress, was vetoed by President Bush. Ms bill would have created 50 urban enterprise zones, extended various tax deductions, restored "passive loss" deductions for real estate investments, and it included a number of other related provisions. U.S. Department of Agriculture: The federal Department of Agriculture authorized $5.8 million for summer jobs in Southern California's national forests. The department also pledged to set aside $2.8 million in matching funds for urban gardens. The department is working in cooperation with Peter Ueberroth's Rebuild L.A. in attempting to identify appropriate sites and projects for the local gardens. U.S. Department of Energy: This federal agency stated that it would accelerate its efforts to deposit funds in minority-owned banks nationwide, making $250 million available. The likely impact on the Los Angeles is uncertain, and this will have to be monitored. Income-Tax Advice and Assistance: The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Franchise Tax Board M), and the state Board of Equalization (BOE) assist persons seeking tax relief as a result of disaster-related damages. (The IRS can be reached at 800-829-1040. the FTB can be reached at 800-852-5711, and the BOE can be reached at 213-913-7850.) Expediting Delivery of Delayed Social Security Checks: The U.S. Social Security Administration assisted persons in receiving delayed Social Security checks. Emergency Individual and Family Needs: Various public and private agencies provided emergency food. clothing, shelter, and medical assistance. (The Red Cross can be reached at 800-540-2000.) Obtaining Contractor Referrals: The California State Contractors License Board, at 800-962-1125, offers guidance in obtaining licensed contractor services. Insurance Information: The State Department of Insurance, at 800-927-4357, helps claimants with insurance-related problems. Crisis Counseling: The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, at 213-738-4739, provides referral services to persons distressed by the riots. City of Los Angeles Local officials, of course, have played an important part in the recovery. Before the riot was over, city and county officials were directing relief services. Mayor Tom Bradley set up a hot line for those wanting to call for information and assistance. Mayor Bradley announced the creation of the Los Angeles Community Partnership, a consortium of five construction and engineering firms, four of which are minority-owned. The consortium will take part in demolition and rebuilding City officials established an Ad Hoc Committee on Recovery and Revitalization. This committee and other local officials have worked to obtain resources and to coordinate with the numerous public and private entities that have taken part in the overall effort. The Rebuild L.A. Effort Shortly after the riots subsided, Mayor Bradley appointed entrepreneur Peter Ueberroth to coordinate an effort to rebuild the community. Ueberroth has established administrative offices and appointed a board of experts for his "Rebuild L.A." undertaking. He has named 80 prominent local and state leaders to the board, including Governor Wilson, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, actor Edward James Olmos, USC President Steven B. Sample, many business executives, and leaders of the African American, Asian, and Latino communities. Ueberroth indicated that Rebuild L.A. will be addressing many issues, including education, entrepreneurship, environment, insurance, human relations, job training. land use, law, real estate, social services, and transportation. State Legislation The Legislature considered 26 bills related to the Los Angeles disaster. Eight of these bills were approved by the Legislature . and signed into law by the governor. One of them was approved by the Legislature but vetoed by the governor. The eight new laws are summarized below: SB 1117 (Roberti) - Extended the deadline for taking a defendant charged with a felony offense before a magistrate from two to seven days. This was necessary to process the exceptionally high number of arrests resulting from the riot. The extension ended on June 1, 1992. SB 2066 (Roberti) - Provides that the crime of looting, second degree burglary, grand theft and petty theft be applicable in any emergency instead of emergencies resulting from earthquake or flood. This bill also lengthens the duration of the emergency under the statute from three to ten days after the proclamation of the condition of the emergency. SB 2067 (Roberti) - Increases the penalties for arson, unlawfully causing a fire, possession or manufacturing of combustible or explosive materials, the possession or manufacture of a fire bomb, and arson-related crimes during a state of emergency or insurrection to 3, 5, or 9 years. In addition, probation shall not be granted unless in the interest of justice. SB 2068 (Roberti) - Authorizes the governor to offer a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of looters and arsonists for crimes committed during a state of emergency. AB 38X (Archie-Hudson) - Sets up a Los Angeles Revitalization Zone and offers various types of tax incentives to existing businesses and those seeking to establish businesses within the zone. AB 56 (Moore) - Required municipal courts in Los Angeles County to deem the dates of April 30, 1992, to May 49 1992, court holidays to give tenants an additional five days to defend themselves from evictions. AB 598 (Elder) - Authorizes Long Beach to "fast track" redevelopment procedures for its city after the 1992 riots. AB 3636 (Murray) - Provides interim bridge loan guarantees in an expeditious manner to small businesses affected by the state of emergency in Los Angeles. Requires a report to the Legislature on the loan guarantees approved and rejected by gender, ethnic group and type of business and location. Community-Based Assistance Many community-based organizations, churches, schools, and individuals continue to give untold hours of services and resources to help the riot-tom area recover from the disaster. The local community will continue to heal the wounds long after local, federal, and state agencies end their relief programs. The United Way is helping to coordinate community-based organizations working to rebuild after the riots. Agencies in the United Way network that are involved include:

As the Task Force noted earlier in this document, the above Is not meant to be a comprehensive list. Many other government. business, and nonprofit organizations have played extremely important roles in seeking to rebuild and to transform Los Angeles in the aftermath of the unrest. The State Federation of Labor has contributed thousands of dollars in humanitarian aid and is in the process of making pension funds available for construction plans. General Motors, IBM, Southern California Edison, Mitsubishi Bank are just four of the hundreds of companies that have pledged financial assistance, either through Rebuild L.A. or through independent efforts. The University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, as well as other universities and community colleges, are contributing staff and student volunteer assistance. The AME Church and others continue to offer organizational. humanitarian, and technical assistance. And an independent organization of architects is now working with local residents to help them get more control over the remaking of neighborhoods. Gang Members Submit Proposals It is also important to note that some gangs implemented a truce with competing gangs. Gang members also submitted a ten-page plan to rebuild Los Angeles to the Ueberroth Commission. According to press reports, the plan calls for various new programs, including improvements to schools, structures, and economic opportunities, and would cost appro3dmately .$3.7 billion.

New Inititatives for a New Los Angeles

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