January 23, 2024

Los Angeles, CA –  Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed two motions introduced by Chair Lindsey P. Horvath to strengthen Jewish Community Safety throughout Los Angeles County. The motions begin to implement Chair Horvath’s Jewish Community Safety Plan for Los Angeles County—a comprehensive plan developed with the Jewish community in response to increasing anti-Jewish hate. 

“Just as we prepare for earthquakes and fires, we must also use the same diligence to plan for violent attacks and acts of hate,” said Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. “Today’s motions are important steps in realizing a comprehensive Jewish Community Safety Plan for Los Angeles County, which helps to combat antisemitism in all communities. My hope is that this plan will serve as an inspiring template for other communities to tailor to their specific needs, customs, and practices. We must work together to keep our communities safe.” 

The first motion to increase Jewish community safety (Item 12) does the following: 

• Instructs emergency responders such as the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, and Office of Emergency Management to develop an antisemitism and mass violence attack preparedness plan. 
• Directs Los Angeles County’s Anti-Racism and Discrimination and Inclusion Initiative (ARDI) to create trainings for local law enforcement agencies regarding antisemitism prevention and response 
• Directs ARDI to work with the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission to compile of a list of Countywide public safety, nonprofit and mental health resources for the Jewish community.  

Chair Horvath’s second motion to create emergency response notifications for sensitive sites (Item 60-C) does the following: 

• Requests the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Office of Emergency Management to conduct an assessment of existing alert systems and emergency response notification protocols utilized for faith-based, cultural, and identity-based facilities and locations.  
• Instructs the Los Angeles County CEO and County Counsel to explore the feasibility of enacting “bubble zones” countywide to protect individuals or groups on and around sensitive sites such as libraries, places of worship, or medical facilities.  

These follow-up motions to Supervisor Horvath’s Jewish Community Safety Plan come at a critical time when acts of hate and violence are increasing. Los Angeles County’s Human Relations Commission released its 2022 Hate Crime Report, which showed that 83% of all religiously motivated hate was anti-Jewish. Anti-Semitic hate rose 59% in 2022 compared to 2021.  

Chair Horvath’s motions come as International Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches on January 27, offering a somber reminder of the need to root out hate in all its forms. 

Hate crimes should be reported to 2-1-1. 

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