Supporters of Measure G declared victory this week, eking out a win with roughly 51% help. Whereas the Los Angeles County constitution modifications 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 the most transformative decision county voters have made in a long time.
By 2026, the county will for the primary time have an ethics commission to manage 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 recent investigation triggered by the federal corruption case in opposition to former Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas discovered vital issues within the county’s contracting course of, prompting investigators to suggest a brand new ethics and compliance officer and different measures to stop conflicts of curiosity.
As well as, in 2028, voters will elect an govt to steer the county authorities. The place — in impact a county mayor — can also 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 individuals. 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 govt who can handle departments and make choices will probably be clearly accountable to the general public. That ought to inspire progress on long-standing wants comparable to closing the dangerously decrepit Men’s Central Jail and diverting certified inmates to rehabilitation amenities; addressing issues within the little one welfare system; and offering satisfactory substance abuse and psychological well being remedy.
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 variety. Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s fifth District at present stretches from Los Feliz to Lancaster, for instance; it’s an unattainable job to grasp and act on behalf of communities with such divergent wants.
With a county govt in place, the supervisors’ jobs will change too. The board will primarily be accountable for delivering providers 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 probably 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 Occasions’ editorial board — have lengthy been pushing for. 4 instances since 1962, voters have rejected poll measures to increase the board of supervisors or add an elected county official. The state Legislature thought-about payments to make related modifications in 2015 and 2017, however neither bought sufficient help.
Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn deserve credit score for co-authoring Measure G. They acknowledged that with a well-liked L.A. city governance reform package 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 way in which for the federal government overhaul, most of the particulars nonetheless must be labored out. A governance reform task force will probably be appointed within the coming weeks to make suggestions to the Board of Supervisors on methods to implement the governance and ethics reforms. This will probably be essential in laying the groundwork for achievement — and guaranteeing that the particular pursuits that opposed Measure G, together with county employee 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.
