A Los Angeles City Council committee unanimously approved recommendations to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission responsible for redrawing council district boundaries in future elections. The Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform postponed discussions on potentially expanding the council into smaller districts.
The approved City Charter amendment will be presented to the full council in one month and, if approved, will be placed on the November 2024 ballot for city voters to decide.
The committee passed the recommendations with a 6-0 vote, with Councilman Bob Blumenfield absent.
Council President Paul Krekorian, who chairs the ad hoc committee, stated, “We are going to give the voters exactly what they have rightfully demanded, a redistricting process in which the council will play no part.”
Krekorian added, “We’re going to give council members and the public a month to review this proposal before we hear it in council, so everyone knows exactly what we’re voting on before this goes to the voters.”
The committee’s recommendations were the result of eight months of work in collaboration with the Chief Legislative Analyst’s office and input from residents, community groups, and organizations such as UnrigLA, the League of Women Voters, the L.A. Governance Reform Project, Our LA Coalition, and Common Cause.
The independent commission would consist of 16 members and four alternates, serving a 10-year term. Commissioners would be prohibited from running for or holding specific elected offices or city positions for four years after their service.
The City Clerk’s Office would oversee the selection process, and the Ethics Department would provide oversight. Public input would be considered, and the final selection of commissioners would prioritize geographical and diversity criteria.
The commission would have the authority to consider cultural and economic assets while drawing maps, but a motion to prioritize these assets more prominently failed to gain support.
The committee approved measures to broadcast commission meetings in Spanish and prohibited communication between commissioners and council members or their staff.
The committee acknowledged the need for further discussion on the possibility of council expansion and plans to evaluate options for a redistricting commission for the Los Angeles Unified School District separately.
The creation of the ad hoc committee and the independent commission followed a scandal involving leaked recordings of council members attempting to manipulate district boundaries in their favor. The conduct and racist remarks in the leaked conversation led to the resignation of Council President Nury Martinez.
Overall, the approved recommendations aim to address concerns about the redistricting process and ensure a fair and transparent system that empowers voters to choose their representatives.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
