The Central City Association of Los Angeles released a report Monday outlining ideas it contends could improve city decision-making and processes, as a council committee continues to consider changes in the aftermath of federal indictments and a leaked, racist audio recording involving council members.
The report is intended to be an informational resource while the City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform prepares to put possible changes before voters in 2024. The Central City Association of Los Angeles began advocating for governance reform following corruption lawsuits against former city staff and council members.
“Making structural changes and shifts in legislative processes can help restore the public’s trust and fundamentally improve the way our local government services its constituents,” said Nella McOsker, chief executive officer of the association. “This is a moment of opportunity that certainly includes a more independent redistricting process but extends beyond that to having a clearer and fairer decision-making process for land use and mobility issues in the city.”
The report provides extensive background on the redistricting process, compares other cities and governmental agencies’ redistricting processes to that of the city of L.A., and it includes several ideas to support governmental reform, including developing a “truly” independent redistricting process that empowers residents and does not involve elected officials; improving processes for planning, land use and transportation approvals; expansion of the City Council; strengthening mayoral powers over legislation, department and commission appointments; and outlining a process for removing elected officials who are no longer able to do their job for legal or ethical reasons.
“CCA continues to bridge the public and private sectors by producing useful research like this report,” said Edgar Khalatian, partner at Mayer Brown and chair of the association’s board.