IMPERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARD; FERRARO TO COUNCIL: MEET LESS, NOT MORE.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer City Council President John Ferraro John Ferraro (May 14 1924—April 17 2001) served as a Los Angeles City Councilman from 1966 until his death. Early life Ferraro was born in the working class suburb of Cudahy, California, just south of Los Angeles. offered the perfect solution Tuesday to his colleagues' poor record of attending council meetings - fewer meetings. Instead of three meetings a week, Ferraro said maybe only one meeting should be held so then more members would show up. He didn't suggest an equal cut in their $97,000 salaries. ``Our attendance is not that good and maybe we should give some thought to changing the days,'' Ferraro told council members shortly after being re-elected president. ``You are elected to represent your districts and the best way to represent your districts is not only going out and seeing the people in the field but attending the council meetings,'' Ferraro added. ``And when you are not here you are not representing your constituents.'' Councilman Hal Bernson Hal Bernson served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 12th district. He was chair of the Transportation Committee. Prior to being on the City Council, he served in the Navy. Preceded by Robert M. suggested two meetings a week as a compromise but homeowner leaders took a dimmer dim·mer n. 1. A rheostat or other device used to vary the intensity of an electric light. 2. a. A parking light on a motor vehicle. b. A low beam. view, proposing council members take proportionate pro·por·tion·ate adj. Being in due proportion; proportional. tr.v. pro·por·tion·at·ed, pro·por·tion·at·ing, pro·por·tion·ates To make proportionate. pay cuts. ``If they only need to meet once a week to take care of the city's business, they should only be part-time,'' said Gordon Murley, president of the Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization. A Daily News review of City Clerk In the United States, a City Clerk is an elected or appointed official who is responsible as the official keeper of the municipal records. In some places, the Clerk may be known as the "Village Clerk" or "Town Clerk". records found that nine council members were recorded absent from more than 10 percent of the 73 meetings held in the first six months of 1997. And that doesn't include the numerous meetings that were canceled because too few council members showed up or because of holidays. For instance, the council did not meet at all the week of June 16. 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 had the worst attendance record, missing more than 23 percent of the council meetings during the first half of the year. He told the clerk 15 of 17 absences were due to city business elsewhere. The clerk's office takes the word of council members who say they were on other city business and requires no documentation. Councilman Hal Bernson, who missed eight of the 73 council meetings so far this year, including six on city business, said he would support scaling council meetings back to twice a week to allow council members more time to meet with constituents in their districts. ``You really don't have the insight of what is going on in your district when you are sitting in Council Chambers or in your office,'' Bernson said. He noted that when he was first elected, the council met five days a week. The council won voter support for a charter initiative in 1981 that cut the meetings from five to three times a week. The idea of cutting back additionally on council sessions to solve the problem of council members not showing up for meetings struck some as absurd. One of the co-signers of the 1981 ballot measure reducing council meetings was Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association. Close said he would oppose further reductions in council meetings, saying Ferraro should instead crack down on absenteeism ab·sen·tee·ism n. 1. Habitual failure to appear, especially for work or other regular duty. 2. The rate of occurrence of habitual absence from work or duty. . ``I think he needs to solve the problem of not enough council members showing up,'' Close said. Ferraro has for some time voiced his annoyance at poor attendance at full meetings as well as committee meetings. Last year, the council president ordered a study by the City Clerk of attendance. Councilman Joel Wachs Joel Wachs served for several terms as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 2nd district. He was first elected by defeating incumbent James B. Potter. While in office, Wachs chaired the Public Works Committee and vice-chair of the Environmental Quality & Waste Management had the worst record, missing 65 percent of committee meetings during the previous 10 months, while Councilmen Nate Holden Nathaniel "Nate" R. Holden (1929-) served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1987 to 2002. He previously served a term on the California State Senate and was Assistant Chief Deputy to then Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. and Bernson missed more than 40 percent of the sessions of committees to which they were assigned. It is harder to judge participation in council meetings, because some council members are counted as present even if they only show up for a few minutes. All listed absences are excused absences, with reasons given including illness, personal business, city business or vacation. Murley said missing 10 percent of council meetings is excessive. ``Anyone who misses six council meetings in a year is abusing their privilege,'' he said. The debate over council attendance came on the same day that the council re-elected Ferraro as council president and Wachs as president pro tem president pro tem n. pl. presidents pro tem Informal A president pro tempore. , despite an effort to bring new blood into the council leadership. Wachs was elected on an 8-7 vote, with the minority supporting Councilman Mike Hernandez for the pro tem [Latin, For the time being.] An abbreviation used for pro tempore, Latin for "temporary or provisional." A person who acts as a temporary substitute serves pro tem. job. Councilwomen Ruth Galanter Ruth Galanter was a city councilwoman from Los Angeles. She served as President Pro-Tempore and President of the city council. and Jackie Goldberg Jackie Goldberg (born June 16, 1937) is an American politician and teacher, and a member of the Democratic Party. She is a former member of the California State Assembly. said it was time for new leadership. ``The whole time that I've been here, the entire leadership of this council has consisted of people for whom I have the greatest respect but all of whom were elected in the 1960s as City Council members,'' Galanter said. ``This is a very different city than it was in the 1960s,'' she added. ``We are a much more diverse city. And we are a much more diverse council and I believe it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a that we have a much more diverse leadership.'' Goldberg said re-electing the council's old guard to leadership posts could leave the council unprepared when term limits force the veterans out of office. ``If, in fact, the leadership remains the same continuously there is no leadership built as people leave the council,'' said Goldberg. Attendance Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas: 15 missed out of 73 15 of his 17 absences were because he was on city business elsewhere. Councilwoman Ruth Galanter: 13 missed five were due to being on city business elsewhere. Councilman Hal Bernson: missed 8 six on city business. Councilman Richard Alarcon: missed 12 meetings nine on city business Councilman Richard Alatorre Richard Alatorre is a politician, and a member of the Democratic Party. Alatorre has served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. He was the first Latino to serve on the council in 23 years. : missed 11 meetings, including two on city business. Councilwoman Laura Chick: missed 10, including three for city business Councilman Rudy Svorinich Rudy Svorinich (born 1960) is a Republican who served on the Los Angeles City Council representing the 15th district. A resident of San Pedro, his diverse district also includes the community of Watts. He was elected to the council in 1993 and served two full terns. , Jr.: missed 10 meetings, including eight for city business. Council member Marvin Braude Marvin Braude (August 11, 1920—December 7, 2005)served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 11th district from 1965 to 1997. At various times Mr. Braude (pronounced BROW-dee) served as chair of the Finance and Revenue Committee, the Environmental Quality and Waste , who missed nine meetings, including one while on city business. Council member Jackie Goldberg, who missed seven meetings, including four while on city business. Council member Joel Wachs, who missed nine council meetings, including two while on city business. Councilman John Ferraro, who missed seven council meetings, all seven of which while on city business. Councilman Mike Hernandez, who missed seven council meetings, including six while on city business. Council member Rita Walters Rita Walters (1930-) is currently the commissioner of the Los Angeles Public Library. Prior to this position, she served on the Los Angeles City Council representing the 9th district. During that time, she chaired the Arts, Health & Humanities Committee. , who missed five council meetings, including three while on city business. Councilman Nate Holden, who missed four meetings, including two on city business. Councilman Mike Feuer, who missed one council meeting while on city business. CAPTION(S): 15 Photos, box BOX: Attendance (see text) Photo: (1 -- 15) Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas Councilwoman Ruth Galanter Councilman Hal Bernson Councilman Richard Alarcon Councilman Richard Alatorre Councilwoman Laura Chick Councilman Rudy Svorinich, Jr. Council member Marvin Braude Council member Jackie Goldberg Council member Joel Wachs Councilman John Ferraro Councilman Mike Hernandez Council member Rita Walters Councilman Nate Holden Councilman Mike Feuer |
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