In 1976, Shirley Goldinger made history as the first director of the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs – now known today as the Los Angeles County of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA). Her visionary efforts laid the foundation for protecting consumer rights and fostering a fair marketplace in LA County. During the department’s inception, Shirley embraced her role with a mission: to address consumer inquiries, investigate consumer complaints and ensure fairness in business practices.
Her impact endures nearly five decades later. Today, under the leadership of Rafael Carbajal, the Department has grown into a trusted community resource, expanding far beyond its original mandate. In addition to handling consumer complaints, DCBA now operates under an 8-pillar service model, helping Los Angeles County residents in the following areas:
- Consumer Protections,
- Housing and Tenant Protections,
- Financial Empowerment,
- Worker Protection,
- Access to Justice,
- Immigrant Affairs,
- Cannabis Management, and
- Policy and Advocacy
Guided by these core pillars, DCBA’s dedicated team addresses a broad range of issues including, real estate fraud, price gouging, scam prevention, identity theft, elder financial abuse, financial literacy, small claims court navigation, mediation, foreclosure prevention, minimum wage enforcement, and more
Shirley Goldinger’s vision and leadership laid the foundation for DCBA’s mission, and her legacy continues to shape the department’s unwavering commitment to fairness, justice and consumer protection.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we honor Shirley Goldinger’s tireless advocacy; a trailblazer whose work empowered generations of consumers and strengthened the very fabric of our communities.
