City of Westchester

Our City. Our Future.

Empowering Westchester, Playa del Rey, and Playa Vista to shape their own destiny through local control.

Learn Why Pledge Support
$0 pledged of $50,000 goal

Why Independence?

Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis of 4 million people and a school district that oversees over 750,000 students. We believe local issues deserve local focus and accountability.

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Zoning & Development

Take control of our neighborhoods. Manage state mandates like SB 9 locally, ensuring development fits our community's character.

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Better Schools

Pave the way for a local, parent involved, dedicated Westchester Unified School District focused directly on our children's success and futures. Something only a local community can provide.

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Public Safety

Contract dedicated law enforcement and form joint powers with neighbors to ensure responsive, community-focused policing with faster response times and local accountability.

Our Proposed Boundaries

Naturally bounded by 405 & 90 freeways, ballona creek, the pacific ocean and LAX.

Inclusive of Westchester, Playa del Rey, and Playa Vista. Exclusive of LAX.

The Perfect Size for a City

At nearly 40,000 residents, Westchester sits in the "sweet spot" for effective municipal governance. We are exactly the same size as the most successful, well-run cities in our region.

40,779
Culver City Population
39,480
Westchester (Proposed)
35,135
Manhattan Beach Population
16,731
El Segundo Population

Myths vs. Facts (FAQ)

Get the truth about cityhood, taxes, and services.

No. Your property taxes are governed by California State Law (Proposition 13). Seceding from Los Angeles does not give the new city the power to arbitrarily raise your property taxes. The difference is that the taxes you already pay will stay in our community rather than disappearing into the massive Los Angeles general fund.

We will not see a drop in public safety. Initially, the City of Westchester will likely contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the LA County Fire Department (a model used successfully by dozens of incorporated cities in LA County). This ensures professional, well-funded emergency services with the added benefit of local accountability. Alternatively, we may explore joint powers agreements with Culver City or El Segundo.

No. The boundaries of the proposed City of Westchester explicitly exclude Los Angeles International Airport. LAX will remain a part of the City of Los Angeles.

To form a new city, the state (via the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO) requires an independent, third-party Comprehensive Fiscal Analysis (CFA). This study proves that our new city is financially viable. LAFCO does not pay for this study—the community must fund it. Our initial fundraising goal is entirely dedicated to paying for this mandatory analysis.

Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) is a state law that allows for the subdivision of single-family lots into multiple units, fundamentally altering neighborhood zoning. While we cannot override state law, an independent City of Westchester will have its own Planning and Development Department. This gives us maximum local control over how these state mandates are implemented, allowing us to enact local ordinances that protect the character of our neighborhoods—something the massive Los Angeles bureaucracy has failed to do.

The proposed boundaries (including Westchester, Playa del Rey, and Playa Vista) contain approximately 40,000 residents. This is comparable in size to Culver City and Manhattan Beach, which are widely considered to be some of the best-run and most desirable cities in the region.

The Path to Cityhood

It's a rigorous process, but together, we can achieve it.

1

Community Support

Building a grassroots coalition across Westchester, Playa del Rey, and Playa Vista to demand local control.

2

Feasibility & LAFCO

Commissioning a financial study and applying to the Local Agency Formation Commission to prove our city's viability.

3

The Vote

Securing a 50%+1 majority vote both within our new city limits and across the entire City of Los Angeles.

Ready to make history?

Join the movement today. Sign up for updates, volunteer, or help fund our feasibility study.

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