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LA WATCHDOG - The Charter Reform Commission will meet on Saturday at 10 AM at the Encino Community Center for a “study session on government structure.” Areas to be discussed at its sixth meeting include the size of the City Council, regional districts, a two-year budget cycle, ranked choice voting, democracy vouchers, relevant expertise for the members of City commissions, the elimination of undated resignation letters for commission members, empowering neighborhood councils, and the establishment of a Public Advocate.
Of particular interest will be the presentation of Rick Cole who recently resigned as Deputy Controller in July and served as Deputy Mayor for the Budget in the Garcetti administration. His presentation includes many recommendations which revolve around accountability, transparency, improved services, attention to our infrastructure (streets, sidewalks), and the rebuilding of trust in City government.
He calls for the establishment of a Chief Operating Officer to ensure accountability and the efficient delivery of services and of a Chief Financial Officer to consolidate the oversight of the City’s disjointed and messy finances. He is also calling for a two-year budget cycle, a five-year capital plan, an independent Controller with a predetermined budget, and civil service reform.
In the past, Cole and Controller Mejia have publicly criticized Mayor, the budget process, and recurring deficits and the recent fiscal crisis; the Structural Deficit; the lack of a long-term financial and capital plans; the failure to maintain and repair our infrastructure; and the need for reform. While the breath of fresh air was not well received by the Mayor and the City Council, Angelenos appreciated their objectivity and honesty.
Hopefully, this upcoming meeting will be an improvement from the previous, sparsely attended meeting held on July 30th at the Baldwin Hills Library. This included a depressing presentation from the Mayor’s office outlining dysfunctional planning and delivery of capital projects. There were also professional presentations by well-funded proponents of densification and their need for more resources (read higher taxes). There were no representatives of the many neighborhood organizations, including United Homeowners, homeowner associations such as the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, and the Neighborhood Councils.
Equally disturbing was the lack of insightful questions by most of the Commissioners, implying they did not review the presentations in advance and wanted to be spoon fed, or lacked the necessary expertise to understand the problems, issues, and solutions.
Another major issue is the conflict of interest of Chair Ray Meza who is Deputy Chief of Staff for SEIU 721, the union that represents thousands of City employees at the bargaining table with our elected officials who have benefited from the support of the SEIU. This begs the question of why Mayor appointed Meza, possibly because she and the union do not embrace desperately needed budget and financial reform and the elimination of the $500 million Structural Deficit.
The Commission has scheduled 28 meetings that last through March 28, 2026, focusing on Planning and Infrastructure, Good Government, Government Structure, and Personnel. But it does not include the most important issue facing the City: its budget and finances, so much so that the City declared a State of Financial Emergency in June because it is facing an “unbalanced balanced budget” this year, inadequate reserves, and a $500 million Structural Deficit over the next four years.
If they are serious, the Commissioners need to do their homework before each meeting and provide adequate time to address the need for the reform of the City’s budget and finances.
(Jack Humphreville writes the LA Watchdog column for CityWatch, where he covers city finances, utilities, and accountability at City Hall. He is President of the DWP Advocacy Committee, serves as the Budget and DWP representative for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and is a longtime Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate. With a sharp focus on fiscal responsibility and transparency, Jack brings an informed and independent voice to Los Angeles civic affairs. He can be reached at [email protected].)
