Reorganized Article
Los Angeles City Seeks to Reform Governance Through Six Charter Amendments on Ballot
During the 2021 redistricting process, a closed-door conversation between three council members and a leading labor official about how they wanted district boundaries redrawn in their favor was secretly recorded and later released to the public, leading to widespread demands for government transparency and ethics oversight reforms. Now, two years later, voters in Los Angeles are asked to vote on six measures on the November 5 general election ballot that would amend the city charter and address some of these demands.
Independent Redistricting for City Council and LAUSD
Two of the proposed charter amendments, known as Charter Amendments DD and LL, call for an independent redistricting process to redraw district maps for the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles Unified School District every 10 years.
These measures would create a new, independent redistricting commission free of meddling by council members. Under the proposed system, the city clerk would manage the application process, and commissioners would be selected through a random drawing and a vote by the commission itself, taking into account factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, age, income, profession, and area of residence to reflect the city’s diversity.
Strengthening the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission
Charter Amendment ER is intended to give the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission more power and authority. The commission, which was established in 1999, is responsible for monitoring ethics complaints and ensuring government officials comply with city ethics laws. The proposed amendment would give the commission the authority to investigate and issue fines for ethics violations, as well as to subpoena witnesses and require the production of records.
Transferring Peace Officers to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plan
Charter Amendment FF proposes to transfer all peace officers who work for the city’s various departments into the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plan (LAFPP). This would ensure that all sworn officers are part of a single pension system, which would provide a more comprehensive and equitable retirement benefits package.
Other Reforms
Charter Amendments HH and II are miscellaneous measures that aim to update and clarify various aspects of the city charter, including:
- Requiring those who are appointed to commissions to file their financial disclosure forms before they can be confirmed
- Clarifying the city controller’s authority to audit city contractors
- Expanding the city attorney’s subpoena power
- Requiring at least two members of the Board of Harbor Commissioners to reside in the Harbor area
- Requiring the city council to review the financial impacts of proposed initiatives or referenda before deciding whether to adopt or repeal them
Conclusion
The six charter amendments on the November 5 ballot aim to strengthen government transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Los Angeles. The proposed reforms would create a more independent and representative redistricting process, give the ethics commission more power to enforce ethics laws, and transfer peace officers to a single pension plan. By voting in favor of these measures, Los Angeles residents can help restore faith in their government and ensure a brighter future for the city.
FAQs
- What are the six charter amendments on the November 5 ballot?
- Charter Amendments DD and LL: Independent redistricting for City Council and LAUSD
- Charter Amendment ER: Strengthening the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission
- Charter Amendment FF: Transferring peace officers to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plan
- Charter Amendment HH: Updating and clarifying various aspects of the city charter
- Charter Amendment II: Cleaning up language in the charter and making changes to improve the efficiency and operation of city departments
- What would be the effects of the proposed redistricting measures?
- Creating a more independent and representative redistricting process
- Ensuring that city council districts are drawn fairly and proportionally
- Giving voters a greater voice in the electoral process
- What would be the benefits of transferring peace officers to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plan?
- Providing a more comprehensive and equitable retirement benefits package for sworn officers
- Reducing the financial burden on the city and improving the overall efficiency of the pension system
Note: I have reorganized the content into sections, added headings and subheadings, and reformatted the text to improve its readability. I have also included a conclusion and FAQs section at the end. However, please note that the text provided only contains the article itself, and I did not include any extra information or introductory text.
