Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said Monday that as part of his campaign for mayor, he would seek to add a measure to the 2022 ballot, doubling the size of the L.A. City Council.
The measure would also reduce the salaries of city councilmembers from $223,829 by half.
Feuer’s proposal has been backed by the L.A. City Council Redistricting Commission, which also called for an increase in members in its report delivered to the council last week.
Both Feuer and commissioners are additionally calling for an independent body to redraw district lines in 2031, instead of the council itself, which receives guidance from the commission.
"Power over council boundaries has got to be in the hands of the people—not self-interested politicians controlling the process behind the scenes to protect their power," Feuer said.
"It's gotten so bad that commissioners themselves support my proposal for a truly independent panel to draw up districts,” he added. “And cutting council districts in half will bring council members much closer to the communities they serve, leading to the more responsive and accountable leadership voters so desperately want."
Compared to other large U.S. cities, L.A. has a relatively small number of councilmembers, just 15. New York City has 51 councilmembers, while Chicago has 50 aldermen. Even some smaller cities beat L.A. out in terms of city lawmakers—Nashville has 35 on its council, St. Louis has 28, and Indianapolis has 25.
Councilmember Kevin de Leόn, who is also running for mayor, has questioned the need for a council expansion at this time.
"At a time when we need big, bold policy solutions focused on lifting up the people of L.A., it’s a little odd that someone’s big idea is focused on creating more politicians," de Leόn said in a statement released to KNX 1070. "We have enough politicians. What we need are experienced leaders who have the courage to address the immense challenges before us."
Feuer said Monday he was in the process of amassing a volunteer force to collect signatures so that the measure can get on the ballot before the November 2022 election.
“Empowering our residents means putting them in charge of district boundaries and giving them council members who respond rapidly to their concerns over everything from homelessness to public safety to traffic gridlock,” he said.
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