Give the City Back to the People

Reform of the city charter is an important issue that has been a major concern of homeowner associations in Los Angeles. It is likely that both Mayor Richard Riordan and the City Council--working independent of each other--will propose some type of community planning boards. However, unless communities are given decision-making authority on land use, planning, zoning and delivery of services, the planning boards’ inclusion in a new charter will be meaningless.

Charter reform must include the fundamental goal of empowering neighborhoods. As it is now, Riordan is bent on grabbing power from the City Council and the council is determined to keep an iron grip on its 15 dynasties. Decision-making must shift from the council to communities, not simply be shared more with the mayor.

The city’s growth during recent years, orchestrated by developers, has been disastrous for residents. Responsible planning has been eroded case by case in hearing after hearing. While the planning department has some talented and resourceful staff members in its lower echelons, their work is almost always corrupted as it moves up through the planning process.

Is sound planning evident in the Warner Center, Ventura Boulevard in Encino, Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood or the Beverly Center? Was sufficient off-street parking provided and were neighborhoods protected against high-rises towering over residents? These hallmarks of bad planning don’t reflect residents’ needs, but rather developers’ greed.

Each zoning case has become an urban planning battlefield, with residents badly outflanked. Developers seeking to build in already congested areas fire very heavy artillery. They enlist lobbyists, who have already sweetened the waters with liberal campaign contributions. Community plans become twisted and mangled in the process.

What is needed are community planning boards made up of residents with decision-making authority over community plans, zoning matters and the delivery of services. They should be elected, not appointed by anyone.

As we move into charter reform, here are some key concepts that should be considered:

* Each of the 35 community planning areas should have its own elected board, consisting of local residents and members of bona fide homeowners’ associations. Planning department staff members can provide technical assistance.

* Board members should be elected through a simplified process, such as town hall forums where candidates express their views directly to the residents.

* These boards should have decision-making capabilities, not merely be advisory groups. Residents should be able to control their own neighborhoods.

* The boards’ meetings should be open to the public and held at hours conducive to public attendance--perhaps during the evening.

It is time for a change in the planning philosophy of this city and charter reform is a vehicle to do it. Most residents don’t care about living in a “world class” city. Instead they want world-class neighborhoods that are comfortable and safe, free of traffic, congestion, air pollution and noise.

The actual task of charter reform can be as simple or complex as the residents of this city desire. One approach to charter reform could be implemented quickly and easily: It could simply rewrite the charter section that now vests all all legislative power in the council, subject to the mayor’s veto, so that power is vested in the 35 elected community planning boards we propose. The mayor and City Council could serve in an advisory capacity; nobody would have the power of veto.

After this charter reform effort, residents could once again go about living in a community in which they hold the power without a special-interest mayor or developer-driven City Council.