LA Council President Krekorian to Chair Governance Reform Committee

LOS ANGELES -- LA City Council President Paul Krekorian will chair the newly formed Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform, he announced today.

Krekorian has represented the second district on the Los Angeles City Council since 2010, which includes Studio City, parts of the San Fernando Valley and elsewhere.

The committee was approved by the council two weeks ago in response to the City Hall racism scandal and is intended to implement reforms that are expected to increase transparency, limit corruption and ensure city leadership is representative of communities.

Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who presented the motion for the committee, will serve as vice chair. The other members are council members Bob Blumenfield, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Heather Hutt.

Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, the lone dissenter on the vote to establish the committee, said to City News Service last week that she didn't believe the council has the credibility to reform itself.

According to Krekorian, among the reforms the committee will take up are:
-- Establishment of a truly independent redistricting commission.
-- Expanding the council and reducing the size of its districts.
-- Changes to the city's land-use and development practices to reduce
the council's discretionary powers and reduce the risk of abuse.
-- Limiting the powers of the Council President and limiting the
president's term of office.
-- Campaign finance reforms such as addressing unlimited contributions
to so-called "independent expenditure'' committees.

-- City News Service