2 COMMISSIONS SPLIT ON PLANS FOR CHARTER REFORM; CHANCES INCREASE FOR CITY VOTERS TO FACE RIVAL BALLOT MEASURES IN JUNE ELECTION.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer The appointed Charter Reform Commission abandoned its original plan Wednesday in favor of a consensus proposal that was rejected a day earlier by the elected Charter Reform Commission. The decision puts the two commissions in direct conflict, especially on the issue of mayoral power, and increases the chances that voters will face competing reform measures on the June ballot. The elected commission, which could still change its plan, will put its proposal directly on the ballot. The appointed commission must submit its proposal, developed by a conference committee of the two commissions, to the Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. for possible amendment, and
the council will decide whether to put it on the June ballot.
George Kieffer, chairman of the appointed commission, said his group decided that the joint conference committee came up with a better plan than either commission has proposed separately. ``This document has proven public support,'' he said. ``I am pleased that in seeking compromise we were able to come up with something better to submit to the voters.'' The action came on a 19-0 vote with one member absent. A day earlier, the elected Charter Reform Commission voted 9-6 to reject the conference committee's proposal and keep its own plan. The key difference is that the elected commission wants to grant future mayors power to fire top department managers, while the appointed commission would allow the City Council to overrule The refusal by a judge to sustain an objection set forth by an attorney during a trial, such as an objection to a particular question posed to a witness. To make void, annul, supersede, or reject through a subsequent decision or action. the mayor on a two-thirds vote. The commissions also have different ways of creating neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. and increasing the size of the City Council. The votes by the two panels set the stage for what could be an expensive campaign - some have estimated it will cost $4 million to $6 million - with two competing ballot issues determining how local government should operate. Arguing that a single measure would avoid voter confusion and negative campaigns, Kieffer and his counterpart on the elected commission, Chairman Erwin Chemerinsky Erwin Chemerinsky (born 1953) is a well-known professor of Constitutional law and federal civil procedure, has recently accepted a position at the University of California, Irvine, in the new Donald Bren School of Law, beginning in 2009. , had been hoping to see the consensus proposal adopted by both panels. ``Charter reform is at a very perilous moment,'' Councilman Mike Feuer said, voicing hope the elected panel will change its position. ``If there is more than one charter reform issue on the ballot, nothing good will happen.'' Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas Mark Ridley-Thomas (born 1954) is currently a California State Senate where he chairs the Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee]]. He represents the 26th district which includes the communities of Vermont Knolls, Jefferson Park, Leimert Park, Hancock Park, Korean said having two measures on the ballot would lead to the defeat of charter reform. ``This is a recipe for the continuation of the status quo [Latin, The existing state of things at any given date.] Status quo ante bellum means the state of things before the war. The status quo to be preserved by a preliminary injunction is the last actual, peaceable, uncontested status which preceded the pending controversy. ,'' he said. ``I'd like to believe we can do better than that.'' Appointed commissioners said they did not consider their action a slap at Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. , who supports the elected commission's plan. ``This is not a vote against Richard Riordan,'' Commissioner Andrew Friedman Andrew Friedman is the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise in Major League Baseball. Friedman was promoted to the position after the 2005 season, replacing the club's first General Manager, Chuck LaMar, who was fired said. ``I could vote for what the mayor wants on general managers if I knew Dick Riordan was going to be mayor forever. But the reality is, we have term limits, and he will be out of office in two years. This is a charter for the 21st century, and we should submit the best we can.'' Riordan spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez said the mayor would stand by the elected panel's work. She said the appointed commission, which originally supported mayoral power over managers, is the one forcing two measure on the ballot. ``The mayor stands by the elected commission for bringing about a City Charter (proposal) that introduces real reform and real accountability in city government,'' she said. ``The mayor supports the work of the independent elected commission,'' she said, calling its members representatives of the voters ``in contrast to the appointed commission.'' Appointed commissioners cited the support that has come for the consensus proposal from labor and some business, homeowner and civic organizations. ``It's important to send a message, if we are going to end up with different proposals, that this is the one that best represents the community,'' Joseph Mandel, an appointed commissioner, said said. Alexandra Glickman, also an appointed commissioner, reminded panelists that the charter reform effort grew out of an attempt to head off San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. secession secession, in art secession, in art, any of several associations of progressive artists, especially those in Munich, Berlin, and Vienna, who withdrew from the established academic societies or exhibitions. from Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . ``To hold the threat over our heads that we will lose the San Fernando Valley if we approve this (conference committee plan) is repugnant REPUGNANT. That which is contrary to something else; a repugnant condition is one contrary to the contract itself; as, if I grant you a house and lot in fee, upon condition that you shall not aliens, the condition is repugnant and void. Bac. Ab. Conditions, L. to me,'' said Glickman, who lives in the Valley. HOW THEY VOTED Here is how members of the elected Charter Reform Commission voted Tuesday night on the proposal to reject the consensus charter proposal. Members voted 9-6 to reject the conference committee plan and stay with their own plan for increased mayoral power and City Hall accountability. Commissioners opposing the consensus plan were: Paula Boland, Rob Glushon, Woody Fleming, Richard Pacheco
Richard Pacheco (born Howard Marc Gordon, May 5, 1948) is an American pornographic actor. , Bill Weinberger, Janice Hahn Janice Hahn is a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 15th district. Hahn was elected in 2001 and reelected in 2005, running unopposed. The 15th District encompasses the Los Angeles communities of Watts, Wilmington, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Athens on the , Chet Widom, Kenneth Lombard and Richard Macias. Commissioners supporting the consensus plan were: Chemerinsky, Anne Finn, Dennis Zine, Bennett Kayser, Janet Dupont-Walker and Marcos Castaneda. CAPTION(S): 2 Boxes Box: (1) HOW THEY VOTED (see text) (2) CHARTER REFORM Here are some of the key differences among the existing City Charter and the ones proposed by the appointed and elected commissions: |
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