---
[ BUDGET ADVOCATES ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget)
# Neighborhood Councils: Your City Budget Voice
April 03 2017
Written by Adrienne Nicole Edwards.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
BUDGET ADVOCATES--The Budget Advocates of Los Angeles have been in existence for 13 years … a group of citizens dedicated to the people of Los Angeles and watchdogging the city's budget.
The Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates know the City Budget is the one issue that touches every person, company, and life in Los Angeles and affects such things as tree trimming, pot hole filling, sidewalk repair, police and fire protection, parks and arts, and all other services provided by the City.
Among this group are two legendary budget advocates, Jay Handal and Jack Humphreville.They are also the two longest serving Budget Advocates. Both have been BAs for 6 years. Jay is currently the Co-Chair of the Budget Advocates Committee. Jack is currently the Budget Advocate for Region 5 …Central Los Angeles.
Here’s a quick Q and A with Jay Handal and Jack Humphreville:
Q: What made you want to get involved with NC Budget Advocates?
Jay Handal: As someone interested in budgets, it was apparent to me that the City was not being good stewards of our money. I wanted to be able to dig in and change the direction of the existing Budget Advocates so that we were not just reporting on how to spend each portion of a dollar, by department, but rather to looking at efficiencies, waste, fraud, abuse and long term forecasting.
Jack Humphreville: City’s finances were a mess. City Hall was misleading us. Concern about policies that neglect our streets and infrastructure. Diverting funds to the personnel. Inefficient operations. Felt that I could make a difference.
Q: What are some of the changes the budget advocates have influenced?
Jay Handal: By far the biggest change was the formation and hiring of the Revenue Inspector General. In his first year he found more than $43 million due the city. Our second biggest accomplishment was getting the City Council to recognize our work and to formally give us a seat at the table to present and have our recommendations analyzed.
Jack Humphreville: Ask Jay. He has a better handle on it. But the major change is that City Hall knows we are there and they have become more open and transparent, in large part because of Miguel Santana.
Q: What can people in the community do to get more involved and be more supportive of the budget advocates?
Jay Handal: Stakeholders should read our report and comment to us. Stakeholders will see how money is actually being spent and how very limited dollars may be reapportioned in order to bring more services to them. Stakeholders should contact their council members and demand that recommendations for change be accepted and enacted.
Jack Humphreville: People need to tell their representatives that the City’s finances are unacceptable.
*(Adrienne Nicole Edwards is a Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate. She can be reached at:* [*A.Edwards@NCBALA.com*](mailto:A.Edwards@NCBALA.com)*.)*
-cw
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/115 "Brian Goldsmith Vertical R. Col")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/114 "McKinney Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Website
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/113 "Rhonda Haymon campaign")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know")
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
### [Prosecutor, Democrat, City Attorney? McKinney Makes His Case to Los Angeles Voters](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33624-prosecutor-democrat-city-attorney-mckinney-makes-his-case-to-los-angeles-voters)
ELECTION 2026 - The race for LA City Attorney has been laced with political accusations and allegations that when close…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
### [The LA Watchdog’s 2026 Voter Guide](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/la-watchdog/33544-the-la-watchdogs-2026-voters-guide-2)
LA WATCHDOG - My recommendations are influenced by the need for truly balanced budgets, fiscal responsibility, long ter…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
### [The Fools’ Blame Game](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33626-the-fools-blame-game)
THE VIEW FROM HERE - Angelenos do not use elections to plot a wiser course of conduct for Los Angeles, but rather they…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
### [California Film Tax Credits Aren’t Enough. The Guilds Need to Change Too.](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33619-california-film-tax-credits-arent-enough-the-guilds-need-to-change-too)
LONNIE’S VIEW - California used to be the center of the movie and television universe. If you wanted to make movies, yo…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
### [Here’s What Zionism’s Got To Do With It](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it)
ICAN - The anonymous website “BHUSD Watch” recently published a long, detailed article about the current BHUSD board an…
---
## [ BUDGET ADVOCATES ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/30989-city-budget-advocates-respond-to-las-2025-2026-budget-approval)### [City Budget Advocates Respond to LA’s 2025–2026 Budget Approval](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/30989-city-budget-advocates-respond-to-las-2025-2026-budget-approval)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/24815-what-do-your-tax-dollars-buy-you)### [What Do Your Tax Dollars Buy You?](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/24815-what-do-your-tax-dollars-buy-you)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/24691-budget-day-you-are-invited)### [Budget Day: You Are Invited!](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/24691-budget-day-you-are-invited)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/21855-cho-stands-for-city-health-officer)### [CHO Stands for City Health Officer](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/21855-cho-stands-for-city-health-officer)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/21821-spot-zoning-in-los-angeles-initial-approval-is-only-the-tip-of-the-cost-iceberg-for-angelenos)### [Spot Zoning in Los Angeles: Initial approval is Only the Tip of the Cost Iceberg for Angelenos](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/budget/21821-spot-zoning-in-los-angeles-initial-approval-is-only-the-tip-of-the-cost-iceberg-for-angelenos)