Councilmember David Ryu announced the release of ‘CD4 Checkbook’ – a data analysis of discretionary spending by his office, noting that he is the first amongst City Hall officials to make discretionary spending public.
You can view the CD4 checkbook here: http://davidryu.lacity.org/cd4_checkbook. In addition, and even more useful, residents can view the line item spending, at the following: FY 2015-16 & FY 2016-17 Spending Breakdown
Councilmember Ryu issued the following statement yesterday:
“I am excited today to announce the release of our CD4 Checkbook. This interactive data shows how my office has disbursed it’s discretionary funding since 2015 – delivering on a pledge to open up our books and bring a new standard of transparency to City Hall.
Since entering office in 2015, Councilmember Ryu’s office has disbursed over $2.5 million, with most funding going toward infrastructure, traffic & transit and beautification projects.
“Combined with the Discretionary Funds Task Force, a citizen panel created by my office to review discretionary spending, I am committed to fighting for transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent, prioritizing community input and putting neighborhoods first.” Councilmember Ryu said.
In 2016, Infrastructure projects received the most funding, or $583,207, followed by $265,730 spent on Beautification. This is in contrast to 2015, when traffic & transit projects received the most funding, or $500,000.
“I want to thank City Controller Ron Galperin and his office for turning our data into clear and understandable graphs, creating a new way for Angelenos to understand how their government works. Let this be a model for our city and our elected officials to make spending more transparent and empower citizens to have a voice in how taxpayer dollars are spent.”
Councilmember Ryu worked with Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin’s office and his pioneering ControlPanel.LA to organize and display the data. Controller Galperin made the following statement:
“As we put tools in the hands of Angelenos to help them understand and engage with City Hall, we’re also putting tools in the hands of other City leaders to help them share information with their constituents,” Controller Galperin said. “Through our new partnership with Councilmember Ryu, we’re taking transparency to the next level by making it simple for anyone to view — and understand — how his office spends its discretionary funds.”
Shortly after taking office, Ryu formed a Discretionary Funds Task Force to advise him on the use of discretionary funds. The Task Force only makes recommendations, the final decision rests with the council member. According to the CD$ website general funding guidelines “include traffic & transit improvements, neighborhood beautification projects, neighborhood or community events (e.g. block parties), and infrastructure improvements within the district boundaries.”
Local residents Owen Smith of Brookside and Julie Stromberg of Windsor Village are members of the Task Force.
Information on applying for discretionary funds can be found at http://davidryu.lacity.org/discretionary_funds_task_force.
