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Sources & Methods

Where the information comes from, how it is checked, how figures are calculated, what remains uncertain, and what has changed. Depth for readers who want it; the essential context stays beside each claim and chart.

Five questions

Where does the information come from?

Official records first: City Charter and Clerk pages for roles and officeholders, department pages for services, the County's own documents for County programs. Each office profile on the government graph links its sources; the reference list below groups them with review dates, and the source register keeps the same list with its IDs. Topic pages carry their own sources beside the figures: Measure A (County guidelines, Board letter, Council files, Controller payment data) and the election page (official voter guides and the Legislative Analyst). Where a page quotes commentary or reporting rather than a record, it says so next to the quote.

How is it checked?

Two kinds of checking, and they are labeled differently. Substantive verification is a person reading the source and comparing it with the wording shown: the council roster and term dates against the City Clerk's current list (last done October 24, 2026), the Measure A figures against the cited pages of each document (October 23 and 24, 2026), payment findings against the Controller's dataset by contract and fiscal year. Those dates appear on the page as "checked" or "figures checked". Automated checks run before every release: every page loads, every route forwards, cited links answer, the Measure A splits add up, and nothing on a phone scrolls sideways. They catch broken links and arithmetic; they do not establish that a fact is true, and a passed check is never shown as a verification date. A "reviewed" date on the reference list below records when a source was consulted when the directory was compiled, not a fresh verification. When two sources conflict, the page shows the official record and names the conflict rather than reconciling it. Corrections arrive by email (the Report a mistake link), are checked against the source, and ship with a dated release record.

How were figures calculated?

Figures are whole dollars as printed in the source, with the fiscal year and the fund named beside them. Where a figure is derived, the page shows the inputs and the formula: on the Measure A page, Does it add up? lists each split with its parts, the administration share with both denominators (10% of direct program costs; about 9.09% of the total allocation), the $362 County adjustment the source explains, and the $1 difference it does not. Chart widths are proportional to the printed amounts; nothing is adjusted to make a diagram balance.

What remains uncertain?

Specific gaps, not a blanket disclaimer. Measure A: what remains unknown and which records were not found in the sources reviewed (a missing record is not proof that nothing happened). The government graph: profiles cover selected institutions and relationships; a missing connection means it is not mapped, not that none exists; the Council decisions view is a labeled sample. Directory facts: 221 checkable facts are inventoried (routes, officeholders, phones, office profiles); their dates are review dates between September 18 and October 5, 2026 unless the page shows a later check, and 23 carry no date yet. District boundaries are the 2021 adopted lines; the neighborhood pills are orientation aids, not address-level proof.

What changed?

  • October 24, 2026: Measure A: every "not found" now reads "not found in the public records reviewed"; provider spending reads "records were not found in the sources reviewed"; the 30 percent underspending rule is stated as the County guidelines state it. Homepage trust sentence narrowed to the practice described here after a source audit.
  • October 23, 2026: Measure A payment and reimbursement findings reworded: "No matching payment was found in the reviewed dataset. This does not establish that no payment occurred."
  • October 14, 2026: Council roster re-checked against the City Clerk's list posted October 5, 2026.

Spot an error? Let us know. Corrections are checked against the source and noted here with the date.

How we check sources (scope and review dates)

Profiles and relationship descriptions link to official sources. Rings group types of institutions; they are not a universal chain of command. The graph shows selected documented relationships, not every connection in government.

Review dates record consultation, not a guarantee that information remains unchanged. Some official text was consulted through search results when direct retrieval timed out. This directory was compiled September 27, 2026; that compilation date is not a fresh verification date for each source.

City and County are separate governments. The Council decisions view is a labeled sample, not a complete voting record. District boundaries are dated snapshots; use official lookup tools to confirm your district.

Official sources · 68 references

Reviewed 2026-09-18

City of LA · departments and bureaus

Reference details

Source ID: directory · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Transportation, Department of Aging, Los Angeles World Airports, Animal Services, Department of Cannabis Regulation, City Tourism Department, Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department, Community Investment for Families Department, Bureau of Contract Administration, Department of Cultural Affairs, Department on Disability, Economic and Workforce Development Department, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, Emergency Management Department, Office of Finance, General Services Department, Information Technology Agency, Fire and Police Pensions, Personnel Department, Harbor Department / Port of Los Angeles, Office of Public Accountability, Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System, Bureau of Street Lighting, Youth Development Department, Los Angeles Zoo

Reviewed 2026-09-18

City Planning · planning commissions

Reference details

Source ID: planningboard · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Planning Commission, City Planning, Central Area Planning Commission, East Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, Harbor Area Planning Commission, North Valley Area Planning Commission, South Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, South Valley Area Planning Commission, West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission

Reviewed 2026-09-18

LADOT · department overview

Reference details

Source ID: transport · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Transportation

Reviewed 2026-09-18

LADWP · governance and financing

Reference details

Source ID: water · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Water & Power Board, Sanitation & Environment, Water & Power

Reviewed 2026-09-18

EmpowerLA · department

Reference details

Source ID: empower · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Neighborhood Empowerment

Reviewed 2026-09-18

StreetsLA · report a pothole

Reference details

Source ID: pothole · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Transportation, Street Services

Reviewed 2026-09-18

Board of Supervisors

Reference details

Source ID: county-board · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Board of Supervisors

Reviewed 2026-09-18

Responsibilities of the Board

Reference details

Source ID: county-powers · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Board of Supervisors

Reviewed 2026-09-18

County departments directory

Reference details

Source ID: county-directory · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: District Attorney

Reviewed 2026-09-18

Cities and unincorporated communities

Reference details

Source ID: county-geography · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Supporting reference for educational content or participation guidance.

Reviewed 2026-09-18

Find your voting districts

Reference details

Source ID: county-districts · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Supporting reference for educational content or participation guidance.

Reviewed 2026-09-18

The Works: County service requests

Reference details

Source ID: county-works · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Public Works, Parks and Recreation

Reviewed 2026-09-18

County budget and operations

Reference details

Source ID: county-budget · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Chief Executive Office

Reviewed 2026-09-18

Regional Planning Commission

Reference details

Source ID: county-rpc · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Regional Planning Commission

Reviewed 2026-09-18

Public Health service areas

Reference details

Source ID: county-health-area · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Public Health

Reviewed 2026-09-18

County Parks: about us

Reference details

Source ID: county-parks · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: Parks and Recreation

Reviewed 2026-09-18

County Library: about us

Reference details

Source ID: county-library · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Profile references: LA County Library

Reviewed 2026-09-18

City trash and bulky item reporting

Reference details

Source ID: city-trash-guide · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Supporting reference for educational content or participation guidance.

Reviewed 2026-09-18

StreetsLA: sidewalk reporting and repair

Reference details

Source ID: city-sidewalk-guide · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Supporting reference for educational content or participation guidance.

Reviewed 2026-09-18

MyLA311 service entry point

Reference details

Source ID: city-311-guide · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Supporting reference for educational content or participation guidance.

Reviewed 2026-09-18

Mayor’s official press releases

Reference details

Source ID: mayor-updates · Reviewed: 2026-09-18

Supporting reference for educational content or participation guidance.

Reviewed 2026-09-19

City boards and commissions directory

Reference details

Source ID: commissions-directory · Reviewed: 2026-09-19

Profile references: Board of Airport Commissioners, Board of Animal Services Commissioners, Board of Building and Safety Commissioners, City Ethics Commission, Board of Civil Service Commissioners, Cultural Heritage Commission, Board of Neighborhood Commissioners, Rent Adjustment Commission, Board of Transportation Commissioners, Zoo Commission

Reviewed 2026-09-19

Mayor: role and powers

Reference details

Source ID: mayor-role · Reviewed: 2026-09-19

Profile references: Mayor

Reviewed 2026-09-24

City Controller · role

Reference details

Source ID: controller-direct · Reviewed: 2026-09-24

Profile references: Controller

Reviewed 2026-09-24

Controller · audits

Reference details

Source ID: controller-audits · Reviewed: 2026-09-24

Profile references: Controller

Reviewed 2026-09-24

City Planning · commissions and hearings

Reference details

Source ID: planning-hearings · Reviewed: 2026-09-24

Profile references: Planning Commission, Central Area Planning Commission, East Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, Harbor Area Planning Commission, North Valley Area Planning Commission, South Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, South Valley Area Planning Commission, West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission

Reviewed 2026-09-24

LAFD · Fire Commission

Reference details

Source ID: fire-oversight · Reviewed: 2026-09-24

Profile references: Board of Fire Commissioners

Downloads

The map uses the supplied City Council boundaries adopted in 2021. Basemap attribution appears on the map. Public availability does not establish a license for third-party material.