EDITORIAL THANKS FOR NOTHING THE LAME-DUCK CITY COUNCIL GOVERNS BEST BY NOT GOVERNING AT ALL.KUDOS to the Los Angles City Council for having the good sense to heed our advice and do as little as possible in the final month of the term. It's been a quiet June, as it should be. Ever since the June 5 election, City Hall has been little more than a holding pen for lame ducks An elected official, who is to be followed by another, during the period of time between the election and the date that the successor will fill the post. The term lame duck generally describes one who holds power when that power is certain to end in the near future. . The mayor, the city attorney, the controller and five council members are in the final days of their tenure. Too often, lame ducks try to use their final days in office to ram through an agenda that the public would never tolerate. But in their wisdom or their laziness - we'd be just as grateful for either - the council's members have decided to leave the serious questions of governance up to their successors. The council has canceled many of its committee meetings, and member Mike Hernandez (a lame duck himself) has announced that he wants all big votes put off until the new council convenes in July. The council's only major action has been to approve the city's official reaction to Valley secession. While the report was completely unconstructive and insulting to the Valley's 1.3 million residents, it had to be submitted by the end of the month, so action was warranted. Otherwise, the council has opted to do nothing - which is just fine. And it's not easy - doing nothing is harder than it sounds. For example, by postponing a vote to approve a public subsidy for Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. expansion, the council had to reject the lobbying of billionaires Rupert Murdoch and Philip Anschutz Philip Frederick Anschutz (born 28 December 1939 in Russell, Kansas) is an American businessman and supporter of Christian causes. With an estimated current net worth of around $7.8 billion, he is ranked by Forbes as the 31st richest person in the USA. . The developers had been pushing for a quick decision so as to take advantage of public euphoria over the Lakers' championship. To stand up for accountable government, the council had to do something it's seldom done before: brush off the special interests. The Airport Commission showed similar restraint on Wednesday by agreeing not to vote on a proposed land lease at Van Nuys Airport Van Nuys Airport (IATA: VNY, ICAO: KVNY, FAA LID: VNY) is a public airport located in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley, within the Los Angeles city limits. until the new council and mayor have been seated. That meant saying no to Univision owner Jerry Perenchio Jerry Perenchio (born December 20,1930) was the former chairman and CEO of Univision, the largest Spanish-language company in the United States. Born Andrew Jerrold Perenchio in Fresno, California, he relocated to Los Angeles where he worked as a young Hollywood talent agent and financier Michael Milken Michael Milken As an executive at Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. during the 1980s, Milken used high-yield junk bonds for financing and corporate takeovers. While his personal wealth was enormous, he spent two years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of securities fraud. , who hoped to secure the lease while their pal, 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. , was still in office. If only the lame ducks had shown such discipline in office as they've demonstrated on their way out! But we won't complain. By backing off, the outgoing politicians have helped to create accountability in City Hall. Their deference has been a gift to the people of 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. . In return, the public has rewarded them with a paid (about $11,000) monthlong vacation. We hope they've enjoyed it. |
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