SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) issued the following statement today after the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a motion recently requesting a report from the Los Angeles Police Department about implementing the state’s nearly year-old Feather Alert system. Ramos authored the legislation that alerts the public when a Native American individual goes missing, similar to AMBER alerts. Councilmembers asked that the report identify shortcomings and recommendations to strengthen outreach efforts to local Native American tribes. District 7 Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, chair of the Public Safety Committee, presented the motion. Ramos is the first California Native American elected to the state legislature in its 173-year history.
I commend Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez and her colleagues for helping ensure every tool is used in stopping the increase in missing or murdered Native Americans. More than 70 percent of California Native Americans live in urban areas, so it is critically important for large cities to use tools such as the Feather Alert system to protect potential victims of abduction or violence. Los Angeles is home to the largest Native American population in the nation with more than 270,000 enrolled members from tribes from across the country. That is why I introduced the Feather Alert law, and why we have conducted a series of summits to promote collaboration between local law enforcement and Native American communities about effectively using the new alert system. I hope that other California cities follow this example.
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Assemblymember James C. Ramos proudly represents the 45th Assembly district which includes the Cities of Fontana, Highland, Mentone, Redlands, Rialto and San Bernardino. He chairs the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #6 on Public Safety.