More Reasons for L.A.’s Shrinking Vote

Re “Mayor Picked by a Shrinking Electorate,” May 23: I think the reasons for low turnout in all municipal elections are basic. America has become a peripatetic society. Most people in L.A. have grown up someplace else. They have no roots here, or little knowledge of the history or geography of this place. There is no Los Angeles/Southern California feel for few beyond the small cadre of us natives.

If one walks around (God forbid) any community in Southern California, one cannot help but notice the number of people whose loyalties lie east of the Sierras. Just go to a Dodger game when the Mets or Cubs are in town and listen to the “Beat L.A.” chants. Add to that the fact that people work in L.A. but live right next door in Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Santa Monica, etc., or vice versa.

I am sure most of those who come here do so for personal gain, climate, job opportunities, but not politics. L.A./Southern California and probably most of the state are like a big amusement park where people go to hawk their wares, take the fun rides, eat a burrito and let somebody else run the place.

John Adams

Pasadena

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Your article gave some good reasons why L.A. voters have been losing interest in voting for a mayor. But you left out one important reason having to do with the L.A. City Charter.

The charter sets limits on the mayor’s authority to get things done, and the electorate has so far voted against amending it to give the mayor more power. The City Council is also able to override the mayor’s projects. This leaves many needed projects left dangling in limbo.

If the voters expect the mayor to do more, then they have to give the mayor more power. The electorate can’t have it both ways. The City Charter needs to be changed forthwith to give the mayor more clout.

Richard H. Smith

Cerritos