November 29, 2018 

City News Service 

 

A proposed civil and human rights measure prohibiting discrimination and other forms of bigotry in Los Angeles was moved forward today by the City Council, along with a recommendation on the makeup of a commission that would oversee the ordinance.

 

The commission would investigate violations of residents' civil rights, with the power to levy fines of up to $125,000 per standard violation and cumulative penalties of up to $250,000 per violation as a result of violent or harassing acts.

 

``We will have an infrastructure set up so that people's human and civil rights are protected here in the city of Los Angeles. We can't speak for the rest of the country, but we can speak for the city of Los Angeles,'' Councilman Gil Cedillo said.

 

The council's 15-0 vote directs the City Attorney's Office to draft the ordinance, which will come back to the City Council again for another vote.

 

The commission would have 15 members, with one member appointed by each of the 15 City Council members and approved by the full council.

 

The motion to create the ordinance says the proposed law ``must provide remedies easily accessible to victims of discrimination and include severe penalties to discourage the exploitation of and discrimination against the city's residents.''

 

The ordinance was proposed by Cedillo and council President Herb Wesson. 

Category: Community