Los Angeles has secretly allocated $1.4 million in taxpayer money to groups advocating for significant changes, including dismantling the Los Angeles Police Department, halting the 2028 Olympics, and pausing rent and mortgage payments, only to turn around and sue the city.
Strategic Action for a Just Economy (SAJE) isn’t just an advocacy group; it’s a paid entity. The City of Los Angeles lists it as a contractor engaged in tenant outreach and housing-related education.
SAJE’s funding has reportedly exceeded $1.43 million since 2020, primarily from contracts with the Los Angeles Housing Authority and grants from the Department of Water and Power, based on city records analyzed by California Post.
The organization has taken strong stances, calling not just for police defunding but for their total abolition, promoting boycotts of hotel businesses, and opposing the upcoming Olympics.
SAJE has hosted demonstrations, utilized social media platforms, and collaborated with left-leaning City Council members to push for reduced funding for the LAPD, cancel the LA28 Olympics, and implement sweeping freezes on rent and mortgage payments.
Interestingly, much of SAJE’s financing comes via the city’s Systematic Code Enforcement Program, which relies on fees paid by both tenants and landlords, operating separately from the general city budget.
“There were moments when I genuinely feared for my business,” remarked Craig Ribeiro, a landlord in Venice. “Then I realized my taxes were going to support an organization that fights against me. It’s maddening.”
He continued, “When considering all the work the police do in our neighborhoods, it’s frustrating to see groups funded by the city dismiss their role.”
SAJE holds multiple contracts with LAHD, including a three-year, $600,000 agreement aimed at offering tenant assistance and education related to housing enforcement programs.
In 2023, the city approved another contract worth up to $125,000, allowing SAJE to create evacuation risk analyses and mapping tools for housing issues.
“It’s disheartening to see groups like SAJE receiving taxpayer money,” expressed Megan Briceño, who rents out single-family homes. She feels the pressure of keeping her tenants secure while facing opposition from activists who are funded with public dollars.
This situation isn’t just a debate over policy; for her, it feels deeply personal and unsettling.
SAJE has also received various permissions from LADWP that broaden its public funding beyond just housing enforcement.
Interestingly, despite receiving city funding, SAJE has launched a lawsuit against Los Angeles regarding plans for a luxury hotel on public land. This development has led to settlement negotiations by the City Council in 2023.
That same year, the city renewed an existing contract with SAJE, originally established in September 2020, to cover mobility risk analyses and mapping related to the 2021-2029 housing element.
This update was officially certified on June 6, 2023, and despite the ongoing lawsuit, their funding connection remains secure.
Records available to the public do not clarify how revenue from structured enforcement fees is allocated for inspections, tenant education, or staffing, leaving some transparency issues unaddressed.
Moreover, SAJE operates outside the city’s lobbying rules, which means they aren’t required to disclose details of their interactions at City Hall, which raises further questions about accountability.
In response to claims of misuse of funds, Elizabeth Hamilton, SAJE’s deputy director, stated that the group has contracts from various sources with distinct reporting obligations.
She assured that they can trace spending linked to projects and won’t employ funds for advocacy against the stipulations set by funders.
Hamilton acknowledged that although SAJE cooperates with the city when objectives align, there are instances where the organization has taken legal action against the city.
She also noted that, while there is no financial connection at present with a nonprofit called LA Forward, SAJE has subcontracted with them before. There are concerns regarding LA Forward’s ties to candidates supported by the Democratic Socialist Party of America and how that impacts the city’s housing policy.
No illegal activities have been reported, as city regulations permit nonprofits to receive public funds while engaging in advocacy. However, this raises serious questions about transparency, given the presence of contractors with strong ideological views and their undisclosed lobbying activities.
The California Post reached out to the city for a response but has yet to hear back.
