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BUDGET ADVOCATES - While it has become fashionable to say that people have lost interest in government, hundreds of Angelenos proved exactly the opposite on Saturday, June 27. They voluntarily spent their weekend inside Los Angeles City Hall not for a concert, a rally, or a celebration but to better understand one of the most important and complex responsibilities of local government: the city budget.
That should send a powerful message to City Hall.
Residents are not apathetic. They simply want to be included in the decisions that shape their neighborhoods, determine the services they receive, and affect their quality of life.
The annual Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates Budget Day once again demonstrated that meaningful civic engagement is alive and well when government invites the public into the conversation. More than just an educational event, Budget Day has become one of Los Angeles' premier forums for transparency, accountability, and public participation.
Hundreds of Neighborhood Council members, community leaders, and stakeholders from across the city gathered to learn how Los Angeles develops and manages its multi-billion-dollar budget. They listened, questioned, debated, and participated in thoughtful discussions about the challenges facing their communities and the priorities that should guide future spending.
This is democracy at its best.
The event brought together an impressive group of city leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, EmpowerLA General Manager Carmen Chang, Board of Neighborhood Commissioners Chair Len Shaffer, Controller Kenneth Mejia, Chief Administrative Officer Matt Szabo, former Chief Deputy Controller Rick Cole, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Ben Ceja, former Controller Ron Galperin, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, and many other elected officials and department leaders.
Their participation reflected an important principle: government works best when it listens as much as it speaks.
One of the most inspiring additions to this year's Budget Day was the inaugural Youth Breakout Session.
For the first time, young Angelenos had a dedicated opportunity to discuss the issues that directly affect their generation from parks and recreation to transportation, public safety, housing, education, and community services. Rather than simply observing government, they became active participants in shaping conversations about their city's future.
That investment in young people may prove to be one of the day's most lasting accomplishments.
After all, today's youth are tomorrow's elected officials, civic leaders, department heads, business owners, and community advocates. Giving them a voice today strengthens Los Angeles for decades to come.
Equally valuable were the regional breakout sessions, where participants discussed the specific needs of their own communities. Every neighborhood faces different challenges, and these conversations allowed residents to identify priorities that reflect local realities rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
Budget Day also highlighted something often overlooked: the extraordinary commitment of the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates themselves.
These volunteers devote countless hours throughout the year interviewing department leaders, analyzing city finances, preparing detailed white papers, developing policy recommendations, and advocating for greater transparency, fiscal responsibility, and improved public services. Their work receives little public attention, yet it contributes significantly to informed decision-making across Los Angeles.
The day concluded with the election of the Budget Advocates and Executive Committee who will serve during the next two-year term, guiding the work of the organization's 36-member committee as it continues representing Neighborhood Councils throughout the city.
As Los Angeles faces growing fiscal pressures, aging infrastructure, public safety concerns, homelessness, and increasing demands for city services, public engagement has never been more important.
Government cannot solve these challenges alone.
The best ideas do not always originate inside City Hall. They often come from residents who experience these problems every day and are willing to offer practical solutions.
That is precisely why Budget Day matters.
It reminds us that democracy is strongest when government welcomes public participation rather than viewing it as an obstacle. It demonstrates that transparency builds trust, collaboration produces better policy, and informed citizens become valuable partners in solving difficult problems.
The Neighborhood Council system was created to bring government closer to the people. The Budget Advocates have strengthened that mission by ensuring residents have a meaningful voice in one of government's most important responsibilities, how public dollars are spent.
Budget Day proved one thing beyond any doubt: Angelenos are not waiting for someone else to solve the city's problems. They are ready to be part of the solution.
When residents are invited to the table, they show up.
When they are heard, better ideas emerge.
And when government and citizens work together, Los Angeles becomes stronger, more accountable, and better prepared for the future.
That is exactly what Budget Day accomplished and why its success should inspire even greater participation in the years ahead.
(Mihran Kalaydjian is a seasoned public affairs and government relations professional with more than twenty years of experience in legislative affairs, public policy, community relations, and strategic communications. A respected civic leader and education advocate, he has spearheaded numerous academic and community initiatives, shaping dialogue and driving reform in local and regional political forums. His career reflects a steadfast commitment to transparency, accountability, and public service across Los Angeles and beyond.)
(Jay Handal is a veteran community advocate and longtime CityWatch contributor who plays a central role in holding Los Angeles City Hall accountable. He serves as treasurer of the West LA–Sawtelle Neighborhood Council. With decades of grassroots organizing and civic leadership, Jay is a relentless voice for transparency, fiscal reform, and empowering neighborhoods to challenge waste, mismanagement, and backroom decision-making at City Hall.)
