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Los Angeles City Government And the Neighborhood Councils Raphael J. Sonenshein The Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA Session One: The Power Structure at Los Angeles City Hall April 2, 2015

Part One: Who Governs Los Angeles?

A Vast Metropolis

THE CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE Raphael J. Sonenshein, “Your Guide to Power in LA” Los Angeles Magazine, February 21, 2013.

Mayors of Los Angeles Present Sam YortyTom BradleyRichard RiordanJames Hahn Antonio Villaraigosa Eric Garcetti

Power in LA is Horizontal, It’s Vertical in NYC

The Myth of the Weak LA Mayor: Formal Powers Budget authority and the CAO Department heads Commissioners Veto Intergovernmental relations

The Myth of the Weak LA Mayor: Informal Roles For Big Projects, it’s the mayor Speaking for the city Events: The person you most want The most popular press conference Alliances: Include citywide electeds

The Mayor and City Departments: Where the Rubber Meets the Road Mayor Staff Commission Department Head Stuff gets done

BUT…Who Ya’ Gonna Call? The Councilmember! If voters have a problem in their neighborhood, 27% will go to their city council member for help, while only eight percent will seek out the mayor’s office. Clearly, the council, rather than the mayor, is seen as the constituency service center of the city government. *PBI poll result October, 2013

The Powerful City Council

LA’s Council Districts

The Key Relationship: Mayor and Council President

It’s not just the mayor and council The big ones: Mayor City Council City attorney Controller But don’t forget: The CAO and CLA City commissioners Staff members at all levels Non-City electeds Neighborhood councils City departments

Part Two: Where Do Neighborhood Councils Fit In? Origins Expectations Why no dotted or solid line to the government? Powers and roles: outsiders, insiders, or both? Reinventing and reimagining

The Roots of the NC Movement: Born in Rebellion Photo Credit: KCET.org from Los Angeles Neighborhoods Collection, Los Angeles Public Library

New Charter Creates Neighborhood Councils

Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom of Speech”

What’s the role of NCs? Semi independent Draw their own boundaries Devise their own bylaws Decide to elect or not Advisory to city government

Turning points 1999 city charter Article IX Regulations governing neighborhood councils Introduction of funding for NCs Neighborhood Council Review commission and following ordinances

To Consider for Next Time …. Within the current design of the neighborhood council system, what will be the most effective way to operate? If you could reimagine or reinvent any part of the neighborhood council system, what would it be?

Los Angeles City Government And the Neighborhood Councils NEXT WEEK Session Two: The Guts of City Government April 8, 2015

Los Angeles City Government And the Neighborhood Councils LAST SESSION Session Three: Moving the System April 15, 2015

I love L.A.!

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