Citizen Input on Charter Reform

* The 15 dedicated and non-compensated elected charter reform commissioners have devoted thousands of hours and attentively listened to hundreds of residents, business and labor leaders, elected officials and other citizens concerned with the provisions of a new charter for Los Angeles. At recent meetings, large numbers of “special interest” representatives testified as to their preference for neighborhood councils. Some demanded elected, some supported appointed, while others favored participatory neighborhood councils. The commissioners compromised and decided to have Los Angeles voters choose between an elected or a participatory model.

Now some of those “special interest” representatives have encouraged the voters to boycott the Nov. 7 elected charter reform convention being held at the L.A. Convention Center. The worst thing they can do to their communities is boycott the event.

I urge all Valley and city residents to attend the Charter Convention and voice their concerns.

DENNIS P. ZINE

Commissioner and Vice Chair

Elected Charter Reform

Commission, Los Angeles

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Kevin Starr’s account of charter reform (“The Lure of Politics as Therapy,” Opinion, Oct. 25) is the most sweeping attack on self-governance that I’ve read for awhile. Starr doesn’t just reject this or that model of neighborhood participation in city government. He describes citizens as confused narcissists using government for personal therapy while business struggles valiantly to build the economy.

I’m completely fed up with the dogma that the private sector creates value while the desires of ordinary people get in the way. Who pays the taxes that subsidized and helped develop every single successful industry in the state?

Starr’s point seems to be to defend partnerships between government and business, which are in no danger whatsoever. But what about partnerships between government and its citizens?

CHRIS NEWFIELD

Santa Barbara