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INSIDE LA - The persistent problems of Los Angeles-homelessness, mobility, economic disparity - require collaborative leadership, not just from the mayor but from all segments of the public sector and civic society.
Despite structural limits, cities with a “weak mayor” system—including Los Angeles—have repeatedly shown that meaningful progress on persistent urban problems is possible, provided leaders employ specific, collaborative strategies.
It is appropriate, therefore, as the race to elect the next mayor of Los Angeles is unfolding to consider who is the most qualified person for leveraging and even overcoming the constraints of this governance model, understanding that in politics, talent and photogenic appeal are not enough, that what is required is experience, proven track record, preparation and hard work.
1. Coalition Building and Networks
Mayors in weak systems are most effective when they govern by network rather than command. By cultivating strategic alliances among city council members, civic organizations, business and labor leaders, and county agencies, they can align diverse interests and marshal resources around shared priorities. Effective coalition building allowed leaders in cities like Los Angeles (Tom Bradley), San Antonio (Henry Cisneros, Julian Castro) and Phoenix (Phil Gordon, Greg Stanton) to advance initiatives—such as transit expansion and economic development—without direct executive control.
2. Public Engagement and Agenda Setting
Weak mayors who succeed tend to be visible, persuasive advocates—able to set a public agenda, mobilize citizens, and shape opinion. Through persistent media engagement and active listening tours, a mayor can elevate key issues, focus public attention, and build political pressure that compels council action. Henry Cisneros in San Antonio, for example, used his public platform to champion high-profile development and federal investment, influencing city council priorities despite lacking formal power.Mayor Villaraigosa used the clarion "subway to the sea" to rally public support, vanquish Congressman Henry Waxman`s opposition and secure funding to expand the rail network in Los Angeles.
3. Leveraging Soft Power, Expertise, and Innovation
Textbooks point to the importance of functional capacities: the ability to analyze issues, coordinate across agencies, partner with intermediaries, and innovate solutions. Mayors who professionalize experienced staff, engage trusted advisors, use data-driven decision-making, and encourage learning organizations are more likely to deliver results within fragmented structures. In Los Angeles, the role of the mayor in launching experimental homelessness initiatives—such as Inside Safe—shows the power of pilot programs and interdepartmental collaboration, even when implementation depends on council approval.
4. Strategic Charter Reforms
Historical cases demonstrate that enduring progress sometimes requires advocating for selective charter reforms, a great opportunity in Los Angeles at this time, or new institutional arrangements. Successful mayors have lobbied state legislatures to expand control—over schools (mayor Villaraigosa tried, albeit unsuccessfully), budgeting, or major policy areas—giving the office tools for more effective governance. While such reforms are rare and incremental, cases like New York (Bloomberg’s school takeover) show they can recalibrate power when consensus emerges around the need for change.
5. Civic Leadership Beyond City Hall
Finally, textbook examples highlight the value of mayors acting as catalysts beyond government by partnering with nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, and regional coalitions. This “urban coalition” strategy—often seen in Seattle and other reform-minded cities—can channel external funding for social services, pilot new programs in housing and public safety, and build momentum for citywide transformation.
In sum
While individual executive power is structurally limited, a skilled and strategic mayor can still make substantial progress by mobilizing coalitions, leveraging soft power and expertise, using public engagement to drive the agenda, pursuing targeted reforms, and partnering widely with civic institutions.
(Nick Patsaouras is an electrical engineer and civic leader whose firm has designed projects across residential, commercial, medical, educational, institutional and entertainment sectors. A longtime public advocate, He ran for Mayor in 1993 with a focus on rebuilding L.A. through transportation after the 1992 civil unrest. He has served on major public boards, including the Department of Water and Power, Metro and the Board of Zoning Appeals, helping guide infrastructure and planning policy in Los Angeles. He is the author of the book "The Making of Modern Los Angeles")
