The Pat Brown Institute (PBI) at Cal State LA and the California Community Foundation (CCF) released the results of a survey that reveals how the Latina/o community in Los Angeles views local, state, and national leaders and key issues including pandemic relief, homelessness, immigration, law enforcement in Los Angeles, discrimination, civic participation, and identity. Since PBI’s last survey of Los Angeles Latina/o voters in 2016, the community has experienced the Trump presidency, renewed movements for racial justice, and the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Latina/o voters, who make up an estimated quarter of the L.A. electorate and will likely play a significant role in shaping this year’s LA elections.
The survey of more than 1,500 Latina/o voters was conducted by BSP Research in late 2021 under the direction of veteran researcher Matt Barreto and with support from CCF. The new survey is part of a groundbreaking multiyear PBI project to survey four major racial and ethnic populations in Los Angeles County: the Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latino, Black, and Jewish communities. Results from the AAPI community poll were released during a webinar held on March 15.
The following experts spoke during the virtual event:
- Matt Barreto, president and founding partner of BSP Research, and professor of political science and Chicana/o and Central American Studies at UCLA
- Antonia Hernández, president & chief executive officer, California Community Foundation
- Efrain Escobedo, vice president of public policy & civic engagement, California Community Foundation
- Angélica Salas, executive director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
- Jean Guerrero, opinion columnist, Los Angeles Times
- Los Angeles Times article: Pandemic and homelessness rank among top issues for L.A. County Latinos, new survey says