Governance Reform

We must create rules in Los Angeles that change the way in which Councilmembers operate — that means taking clear action to eliminate opportunities for corruption and quid pro quo.

Eliminating Corruption on City Council

SERVING ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON CITY GOVERNANCE REFORM

Councilmember Raman serves as Vice-Chair of the newly created Ad Hoc Committee on Governance Reform, which was created following legislation introduced by our office in 2022. This committee is charged with creating a package of amendments to the City’s Charter to increase transparency, limit corruption, and increase the size of the Council to make City leadership more representative of our communities. Establishing a separate committee that is explicitly focused on governance reform will help to rebuild trust between the Council and the constituents that elected us.

MOVING FORWARD A TRULY INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

Councilmember Raman introduced a motion in 2021, following the district’s experience during the redistricting process, calling for options for a ballot measure to be prepared for an election in 2024, or sooner, to update the City Charter to create Independent Redistricting Commissions for both the City and the Los Angeles Unified School District.

STATUS:

On October 5th, the Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform finalized its proposed independent redistricting commission recommendations, which will next be sent to the full Council to approve.

EXPANDING THE SIZE OF CITY COUNCIL

In tandem with creating an independent redistricting commission

STATUS:

Expanding the size of City Council (and increasing the number of Council districts) is the next major item that will be taken up by the Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform.

ADVANCING LONG OVERDUE LOBBYING REFORMS

The Municipal Lobbying Ordinance provides rules and regulations for lobbyists to ensure adequate and effective disclosure of information to the public regarding efforts to lobby City government. Councilmember Raman introduced legislation to update the rules around how lobbyists are allowed to operate, so that the public knows who is attempting to influence City decisions and by what means.

STATUS:

Ready to go before full Council for a vote.

Building a City Hall for All

PROVIDING LIVE SPANISH INTERPRETATION AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS

In August 2023, City Council launched live Spanish interpretation services for both virtual and in-person City Council Committee meetings! Pursuant to a motion I introduced in 2022, we are finally giving the estimated 35% of City of LA households that speak Spanish at home a more equal voice in their City government.

Until now, the lack of interpretation available for Council Committee Meetings has left members of the public on their own to piece together discussions and votes that may have drastic impacts on their lives, while also impacting elected officials like myself, who are often deprived of the chance to hear and consider these opinions in weighing these decisions. With this expansion of interpretation services, we have finally taken a long-overdue step to ensure equitable participation in the democratic process.