Councilmember Raman Introduces Motion To Convene Ad-Hoc Committee On City Governance Reform

For Immediate Release: October 11, 2022

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LOS ANGELES — Today, Councilmember Nithya Raman introduced a motion, seconded by Councilmember Mike Bonin, calling on the Los Angeles City Council to convene a new Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform charged with creating a package of amendments to the City’s Charter, including expanding the number of City Councilmembers, removing City Councilmembers’ direct discretionary power over land use decisions in their districts, reforming City rules concerning lobbyists, and establishing a truly independent redistricting commission as called for in a motion put forth by Councilmember Raman in December of 2021. Following the leak of the recorded conversation between former Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmember Kevin de León, Councilmember Gil Cedillo, and former Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera that has shocked the City, Councilmember Raman’s legislation seeks to pave a path forward to restore the faith of the people of Los Angeles in their city government. 

“The anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, anti-gay, and racist statements we all heard over the last 72 hours do not represent the Los Angeles that I know and that I love so deeply.” said Councilmember Raman. “This incident – which happened during a broken redistricting process – along with the recent FBI indictments have rightly shattered Angeleno’s faith in their government. We will not be able to move forward as a City until we have restored the trust of residents. Today, we are taking the first step toward structural changes to do just that.”

Proposals to increase accountability at the City have long been circulating, but the City Council has yet to take deliberative action. Councimember Raman’s proposed Ad Hoc Committee will be charged with implementing reforms to increase transparency, limit corruption, and make City leadership more representative of our communities. 

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