L.A. County discovers the inadvertent rescinding of Measure J, leaving a troublesome predicament for resolution.

In a surprising turn of events, Los Angeles County officials are grappling with the accidental repeal of Measure J, an anti-incarceration measure, and are exploring various options to reinstate it.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is not ruling out seeking help from a judge and is moving forward with an ordinance that would mirror Measure J. Her counterpart, Supervisor Holly Mitchell, is keen on exploring all solutions to keep Measure J in good standing. Supervisor Hilda Solis has made her intention to correct the error clear, but has not specified how she plans to do so.

The issue came to light in October 2023, when county attorneys discovered that a chunk of the charter, which had been rewritten with changes the board wanted, had inadvertently left out the anti-incarceration funding, leading to the accidental repeal of Measure J. The county never added Measure J to its charter, a fact that was brought to light by John Fasana, a former Duarte City Councilmember, who first noticed the defect was in Measure G, not Measure J.

The sheriff deputy union, which fought against Measure J, paid for a poll that suggests the measure wouldn't pass if it were put up for a vote again. This poll, along with a recent one suggesting that Measure J might not pass if it were put up for a vote again, with only 43% of respondents saying they would vote for it, has added to the challenge of reinstating the measure.

Advocates argue that Measure G, not Measure J, should be considered if anything goes on the ballot. Gabriela Vazquez, a member of the nonprofit La Defensa, questions why Measure G is not being considered.

The county's top lawyer, Dawyn Harrison, blames the executive office for the failure to update the county code. The responsibility for updating the Los Angeles County Code in recent years has primarily been managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, which oversees code revisions and ensures legal compliance, with periodic input from the county’s Board of Supervisors and legal counsel; no major redistribution of this responsibility has been publicly noted.

The overhaul of county government, known as Take Two, would face an uphill battle, with only 45% of voters liking the idea, according to a poll. Gov. Gavin Newsom's high-stakes fight to counter President Trump's scramble for GOP control is sending shockwaves around the state in a special election for a new partisan congressional map.

Former L.A. mayoral candidate Rick Caruso plans to financially support the ballot measure to counter the Texas redistricting scheme. In the close-knit world of California politics, Supervisor Hilda Solis has made her intention to run for the redrawn 38th District clear.

Voters were not big fans of the politicians in charge, with almost half viewing the board unfavorably. The supervisors are currently considering options to reinstate Measure J, including going to a judge, passing state legislation, or putting it back on the ballot.

L.A. County officials are tasked with ensuring that a policy is reviewed to prevent the accidental repeal of ballot measures in the future. As the situation unfolds, the future of Measure J remains uncertain, but the supervisors are determined to find a solution.

L.A. County discovers the inadvertent rescinding of Measure J, leaving a troublesome predicament for resolution.