A Jubilant Riordan Signs Neighborhood Councils Law

Calling it a historic step to bridge the wide gap between the public and City Hall, Mayor Richard Riordan signed an ordinance Friday that creates a department to oversee a network of neighborhood councils throughout Los Angeles.

The creation of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment is the first action implementing the sweeping charter reforms approved by voters June 8.

“Thanks to them we celebrate another great first in Los Angeles--the beginning of a new era in our city’s history when Angelenos will feel empowered to create their own future,” Riordan said during a signing ceremony in the courtyard next to City Hall.

The mayor said that creation of such a department has been his goal for years.

“Whether I’m visiting Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles or the Valley, the one thing I’ve heard over and over again is that Angelenos don’t feel connected to their government,” Riordan said. “From this day on, people will feel connected and involved in their government.”

The signing ceremony was also attended by 50 neighborhood activists from throughout Los Angeles and City Councilman Joel Wachs, who carried the legislation signed by the mayor.

“It is my sincere belief that the signing of this ordinance today represents the single most significant reform in our new city charter,” Wachs said.

Under the ordinance, the new department will attempt to promote public participation in government and help citizens get satisfaction when they have problems with the city bureaucracy.

The new agency will develop a plan for the creation of a system of advisory neighborhood councils in all parts of Los Angeles, which will in turn let the mayor and City Council know how their communities feel on important local and citywide issues. The department has been given a year to propose a plan of neighborhood councils. The City Council will then have six months to act on the plan or revise it. If the council does not act in six months, the department’s plan takes effect.

“It’s a step in bridging the gap between citizens and local government,” said Tony Lucente, president of the Studio City Residents Assn.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to create a living urban government for the next century,” said Bill Christopher, a Hollywood resident and former city planning commissioner.

Various proposals would have 35 to more than 100 neighborhood councils, each representing a much smaller area than a council district.

Carlos Ferreyra of the secession group Valley VOTE attended the signing ceremony and praised the action as an important part of reforming City Hall.

Still, Ferreyra said the action is not enough to get him to back away from supporting the pending study of breaking up Los Angeles to create a Valley city.

“It’s a wonderful start,” he said of the new department, “but we need to go ahead with the study and see what it says.”

Riordan said he has begun his search for a general manager for the new department and will announce his appointments of its governing commission in the next several days.