by Jiah Lee
The L.A. City Council’s Budget and Finance Advisory Committee met for the first time this November with the goal of tackling structural financial issues and shifting towards more long-term budget planning by introducing outside expertise. The creation of this committee was proposed by Los Angeles City Council member Katy Yaroslavsky, who now serves as its chair.
Two UCLA graduate students, Golden Bachelder and Prokriti Monolina, are currently serving as fellows on this committee. Bachelder is a second-year Master of Public Policy (MPP) student and Monolina is a second-year Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) student at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Bachelder and Monolina are both fellows in the Office of Councilwoman Yaroslavsky.
“It is an honor being able to help with the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee,” said Bachelder. “As one of the graduate student fellows, I am able to work with inspiring Los Angeles leaders and public servants in the effort to put Los Angeles in the best possible fiscal footing. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to help a cause that could benefit the city and its people for years to come.”
Monolina also shared her experiences with the committee. “As a UCLA Luskin Leadership Fellow, I am committed to supporting the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee (BFAC) in reimagining Los Angeles’s resources through rigorous policy analysis and targeted research in municipal finance and resource allocation. This work also involves in-depth research in real estate development, land use strategy, and the development of sound financial policy frameworks. It’s an incredible opportunity to work alongside experts and learn from them. One day, I hope to bring these insights to Bangladesh, my motherland,” she said.
Outside of the committee, Bachelder and Monolina continue to make a positive impact on policy reform and the future of their communities. Bachelder served as a fellow in the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom where he worked to promote shared goals through research on initiatives, and Monolina is a waste researcher who founded an app called Eco360 that promotes green consumerism.
