The Symbolic Importance of L

The mundane business of running a city provides few opportunities to make declarations on human rights. Next week, however, Angelenos will get a rare chance, when they vote on Charter Amendment L, the Anti-Apartheid Contracting Policy.

Four years ago, Los Angeles adopted an historic law barring city contracts with firms that do business with South Africa. That ordinance has since become a model for other municipalities, and has been singled out for praise by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel peace laureate, and other leading figures in the anti-apartheid movement.

Current provisions of the Charter, however, have put 90% of municipal contracts beyond the reach of the original law. Those provisions require that all pacts with a value in excess of $25,000 must be put out for competitive bid and awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, contingent only on price and ability to perform. No other factors may be considered.

Measure L would amend the Charter so that any bidder on any contract could be disqualified if the firm does business with Pretoria’s racist regime. A number of carefully drawn exemptions are provided, including one for companies that are the sole provider of an essential good or service. City officials say L will have no impact on the quality or cost of contracts.

As a rule, city governments ought not to involve themselves with issues of foreign policy, most of which are beyond the scope of their competence and legal mandate. The inescapable moral challenge posed by apartheid’s persistent evil justifies an exception to that rule. Charter Amendment L gives Angelenos of every race and persuasion an opportunity to declare their continued solidarity with those South Africans who are so close to victory in their struggle against racism.

Passage of L should not be read as a rebuff to the government of President Frederik W. de Klerk, which has made significant strides toward dismantling the system. It should be read as a reaffirmation that the people of Los Angeles have no intention of diminishing their opposition to apartheid until that crumbling system of racial oppression is ancient history.