Miracles Can Happen in Government

In recent days, we have been witnesses to a remarkable development in the long struggle over charter reform: the creation of a unified charter combining the work of two competing charter reform commissions. We are civic activists, not politicians. We are not experts in the minutiae of government. But we know a miracle when we see one.

Charter reform has long been held to be a worthy goal, but how to get there seemed certain to lead to nothing but trouble. As a result of disagreement among political leaders over how to pursue reform, the city found itself with two commissions, one elected, one appointed. The situation seemed certain to lead to competing measures and an angry and divisive battle.

Los Angeles has been through a lot of trying times. We faced a devastating civil disorder in 1992. Too often, people have seen Los Angeles as riven by polarization and conflict. With two charter commissions, we feared that we were on the road to another explosive situation.

When the two commissions began to take steps to work together last spring, few held out hope that it would lead to agreement. Indeed, progress was slow. But this past fall, the two chairmen, George Kieffer of the appointed commission and Erwin Chemerinsky of the elected panel, took charge of the process and began moving it forward. The results have been positive and dramatic.

When leaders not only find their way to common ground, but do so in the face of huge political obstacles over very high stakes, we cannot be too cautious in calling it a miracle. Political life in Los Angeles needs miracles. It is too easy to give up on a reform.

Cynicism is a very certain emotion. Cynics believe that things will always happen exactly as they predict: Nothing good will happen. No agreements will be reached. It’s all politics. That very certain belief, that utter predictability of bad things happening, has helped drive down civic participation.

The unified charter proposal represents a significant coming together of major segments of our diversified population around a common purpose, which can serve as a unifying and healing force. A wide range of organizations has provided leadership and achieved a consensus regarding the charter proposal, including the African American-Jewish Leadership Connection, Urban League, League of Women’s Voters, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Business Council and all labor organizations. We are particularly encouraged about our collective opportunity to persuade the voters to approve the charter proposal and at the same time build bridges of cooperation among diverse segments of our city--some former adversaries are now allies. Los Angeles deserves better than the politics of cynicism. Fortunately, we are on the edge of getting better. We hope that the City Council will move the unified charter to the ballot in June. The charter is our city’s constitution and must set forth the principles and legal foundation that will ensure a well-governed Los Angeles. The unified charter proposal offers us a unprecedented opportunity to achieve this goal.

It is a great thing when the unexpected happens, when agreements are reached, and it’s not all politics. Accumulate a few more of these events, and we might actually start thinking that there’s hope in the political system. It will then be up to all of us to get back into the arena and take a chance again. Now that would be a miracle.