Like 57 of 58 counties, Los Angeles has five members of the Board of Supervisors. San Fran has 15, because it is both a city and county. Those running L.A. want more elected people, to spread the spending and make responsibility less apparent—always blame the others. With little study, public debate and discussion, the November ballot will have a measure to expand to Nine members. And the election of a County CEO—a Mayor type.
“July 9th L.A. County Board of Supervisors discussed a proposal by Chair and 3rd District Supervisor, Lindsey Horvath and 4th District Supervisor Janice Hahn to expand the current 5-district board to a 9-member board following the 2030 decennial census and reapportionment process.
That proposal included creating a countywide elected executive to replace the appointed one. The appointed CEO manages everything from fire services to health and social services for an estimated 10 million people. Kathryn Barger, 5th District Supervisor commented, “The Board was told departments heads were no longer and the CEO was equal to those department heads.” So, who is in charge at administration offices?
At what point do we say the problem is not the number of Supervisors but the policies—and change the policies.
Will Expansion Cure Dysfunctional BOS?
By Lois M. Shade, former Mayor Glendora, San Gabriel Valley Examiner, 7/23/24 https://www.sgvexaminer.com/
July 9th L.A. County Board of Supervisors discussed a proposal by Chair and 3rd District Supervisor, Lindsey Horvath and 4th District Supervisor Janice Hahn to expand the current 5-district board to a 9-member board following the 2030 decennial census and reapportionment process.
That proposal included creating a countywide elected executive to replace the appointed one. The appointed CEO manages everything from fire services to health and social services for an estimated 10 million people. Kathryn Barger, 5th District Supervisor commented, “The Board was told departments heads were no longer and the CEO was equal to those department heads.” So, who is in charge at administration offices?
The plan calls for electing a county chief executive by 2028.
Supervisors Hahn, Horvath and Solis supported the proposal with Mitchell opposed citing concerns including costs. Barger refused to support and expressed concerns about politicizing an elected CEO as well as costs.
Sup. Mitchell pointed out concerns and issues needing to be addressed. First comment was the process. The County did not go through the RFP process but shortened that by going through a Statement of Interest and there seemed to be questions about who was contacted in that process.
Mitchell asked why the magic number of nine supervisors was the solution and thought the process was for the Board to take the data-driven recommendations and the Board make a decision from that information on the expansion number. It appeared from the discussion, there was no data-based information with the number nine just appearing.
Mitchell said communication to her indicates problems with lack of transparency not leaving a clear understanding of how the County develops policy, the vetting process and many times impacts on the budget. When those impacted receive notice of policy amendments on Friday and have only until Tuesday morning to review and understand those policies, it makes it difficult next to impossible for meaningful discussion.
Mitchell said she was astounded when she came onto the Board from the state legislature and asked for Rules of the Board like given to state and congressional elected officials. She received a binder on how-to-be-a-county-employee and was told L.A. County doesn’t do that anymore. When elected Chair, she asked what are the duties of the Chair, and with none provided, ended up creating her own list. She asked for a list of the delegated authority decisions given to the CEO and there was none.
Mitchell pursued saying when I see a $47 billion county-budget I have to ask who’s in charge? Five Board of Supervisors or a CEO? What changes if this Board becomes nine members with an elected CEO? These are core elements of how we do business today and there is no indication in the draft language for changes if we are nine or any other number and an elected CEO.
Mitchell suggested there were a number of changes the Board could make immediately including taking back the power of the Board to establish a balance of power providing clear direction to administration and the current CEO, particularly on the budget. “Balance of the powers of policy-making and policy-implementation is essential and I’m not sure how the specific needs of our unique constituents will be appropriately elevated” [with an elected CEO], said Mitchell.
Kathryn Barger, 5th District Supervisor said, “I do believe there are reforms needed to be made and … made immediately. You talk transparency, [and] this process was anything but transparent as it relates to how this [proposal] was rolled out. For me, there was a process in place that I feel was completely undercut … and that goes to the credibility of what the intention really is on this.”
A County failure is the Men’s Central Jail replacement approved in 2014 and today we are in the same place we were 12 years ago, Barger said. That is the inability to make decisions and follow through on them she said.
Barger came back to Janice Hahn: You said all we need is 3 votes to make things happen. So when we make those decisions, move the money where it needs to go, hold departments responsible and it’s up to us to have those conversations in our public Board meetings. She also asked what is the magic number? Is it 9, or is it 15, and what will it cost? Both Mitchell and Barger want those answers and so do I.
From this exchange it seems no one is in charge at the County allowing for finger-pointing and no responsibility.
Changes to L.A. County structure, including voting areas, needs an RFP, database surveys and widespread advertising of the proposal for the public to comment before proceeding to the ballot.
On my list, a San Gabriel Valley County Board of Supervisors.
The only thing that will change if LA County increases the number of County Supervisors is they get to spread the blame to more supervisors.