Advance Notice of Public Meetings

Once again, with the rush of last-minute legislation, the people of California are robbed of fundamental constitutional rights by the California Legislature. Two years ago the initiative process was undermined by shortening the time limit for petitioning and doubling the number of signatures required.

Now it is due process--eliminating the Brown Act’s required 72 hours advance agenda notice for local government actions. The Legislature claims we can no longer afford due process to let the people know what our government is doing. Since when is there a price tag associated with constitutional rights?

Next year, perhaps they will decide to eliminate the judiciary with its costly trials. Where do we draw the line to safeguard democracy?

The Los Angeles City Council can spend millions of dollars in contracts with public relations firms to improve the image of the city. Why can’t it afford a box of thumb tacks and a ream of paper to post notices of critical actions that will permanently affect our lives? Its 1987 claim of $12,000 for posting notices is totally ridiculous.

We know about “Item 53,” the infamous 1986 pay increase the council secretly voted for itself. But why stop with secret pay increases? What about new taxes, public works contracts, CRA projects condemning land, user fees, and zone changes?

Every sector of our society will be in jeopardy if we fail to make it clear to Sacramento that due process notice and fair hearings have no price tag. This is our birthright. We cannot afford secret government.

LAURA LAKE

Friends of Westwood Inc.

Los Angeles