IN THE PRESS: Editorial: L.A.’s broken government needs change. Voters shouldn’t have to wait until 2032 to get it
A year ago Los Angeles City Hall was rocked by scandal. A secret audio recording captured three council members making deplorable and racially divisive comments about their colleagues and constituents as they plotted for political power.
Coming on the heels of multiple city leaders indicted for corruption, the leaked audio showed just how toxic L.A.’s political leadership had become and it kicked off a movement to transform City Hall. Two long overdue reforms — adopting an independent redistricting commission and expanding the City Council — are being planned for the November 2024 ballot.
But under the plan being developed by the City Council, the reforms, assuming they are passed by voters, would not take effect until 2032 — a decade after the scandal.
That’s too long. Angelenos should not have to wait eight years after they vote for reforms to take effect. Eight years! Think of how much a city can change in that time. Eight years ago, Eric Garcetti was still the newish mayor of L.A. and the city was beginning to acknowledge its homelessness crisis. Barack Obama was president.