Charter Reform Panel to Hold Public Hearing

A public hearing on Los Angeles City Charter reform will be held Wednesday evening at Valley College.

The meeting will be the first in a series sponsored by Cal State Northridge and the city’s Charter Reform Commission.

“We believe that outreach to the community about charter reform is absolutely important,” said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the commission. “The reason why we’re having the first meeting in the Valley is to recognize its citizens’ efforts in getting this issue on the agenda.”

Among issues to be discussed will be how to make City Hall more responsive to the public as well as how much power the mayor and City Council should have.

The Charter Reform Commission, consisting of 21 volunteers, was established in the fall by the Los Angeles City Council. Commission members were appointed by the council, the council president, city attorney and city controller.

The commission’s primary goal is to present recommendations for charter revision to the City Council. The council will then decide on measures to be placed before voters. No changes can be made to the charter without voter approval.

“These hearings are just the beginning of a contact with the public,” Sonenshein said. “There will not be any permanent decisions made, but we’re interested in hearing anything that anyone would want to say about the process.”

The hearing will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Monarch Hall on the Van Nuys campus, 5800 Fulton Ave.

For information, call (213) 367-5234.