Supporters of Measure G declared victory this week, eking out a win with roughly 51% help. Whereas the Los Angeles County constitution adjustments didn’t get as a lot consideration as different high-profile measures on the poll, make no mistake: This wonky governance reform package deal could also be essentially the most transformative determination county voters have made in a long time.
By 2026, the county will for the primary time have an ethics fee to control conflicts of curiosity and lobbying and examine misconduct by elected officers and county workers. That is lengthy overdue for a authorities with a $45-billion finances and 100,000 workers. A current investigation triggered by the federal corruption case towards former Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas discovered important issues within the county’s contracting course of, prompting investigators to advocate a brand new ethics and compliance officer and different measures to forestall conflicts of curiosity.
As well as, in 2028, voters will elect an government to steer the county authorities. The place — in impact a county mayor — can be lengthy overdue. For greater than a century, L.A. County has been ruled by a five-member Board of Supervisors, which was tremendous when the area had extra cows than folks. However at present the county has a inhabitants and geographic footprint bigger than these of many states. Think about attempting to run New Jersey with a five-member legislature and no governor.
An independently elected chief government who can handle departments and make selections will probably be clearly accountable to the general public. That ought to encourage progress on long-standing wants equivalent to closing the dangerously decrepit Males’s Central Jail and diverting certified inmates to rehabilitation amenities; addressing issues within the baby welfare system; and offering enough substance abuse and psychological well being therapy.
And in 2032, 9 members will probably be elected to the Board of Supervisors, which ought to permit for extra illustration of the county’s geography, politics and ethnic range. Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s fifth District at present stretches from Los Feliz to Lancaster, for instance; it’s an inconceivable job to know and act on behalf of communities with such divergent wants.
With a county government in place, the supervisors’ jobs will change too. The board will primarily be liable for delivering companies to the unincorporated parts of the county, legislating and holding the manager accountable.
This could guarantee a greater, extra clear authorities. Numerous failures and inefficiencies have by no means come to gentle as a result of the county lacked even essentially the most fundamental checks and balances which might be important to democracy.
This will probably be a monumental shift for L.A. County that good-government advocates — together with The Instances’ editorial board — have lengthy been pushing for. 4 instances since 1962, voters have rejected poll measures to develop the board of supervisors or add an elected county official. The state Legislature thought of payments to make related adjustments in 2015 and 2017, however neither obtained sufficient help.
Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn deserve credit score for co-authoring Measure G. They acknowledged that with a preferred L.A. metropolis governance reform package deal already on the November poll, this 12 months introduced a uncommon alternative to beat voters’ historic skepticism about increasing county management.
Whereas Measure G clears the best way for the federal government overhaul, most of the particulars nonetheless should be labored out. A governance reform job drive will probably be appointed within the coming weeks to make suggestions to the Board of Supervisors on easy methods to implement the governance and ethics reforms. This will probably be essential in laying the groundwork for fulfillment — and guaranteeing that the particular pursuits that opposed Measure G, together with county worker unions, don’t attempt to weaken or stall the formidable plans.
County voters lastly embraced change. They deserve a authorities that may ship on its guarantees.
