Charter Reform and Neighborhoods

Although noting that “in its headlong rise to abstract identity, the City of Angels neglected local context and loyalties,” Kevin Starr (Opinion, April 26) argues against creating local structures that would address the alienation felt by many toward Los Angeles as a whole. The specter is raised of a neighborhood council having jurisdiction over the Alameda Corridor or the airport. While there are many different levels of authority being considered by both charter commissions, the ones being considered most seriously make a distinction between local decisions such as zoning variances and permits and citywide or regional issues.

Who bears the burdens and who benefits from various projects? Those who think in grand terms of an imperial city may not want to deal with the cries of those whose neighborhoods are destroyed, whose air is polluted and whose streets are choked. Listening to the people of L.A. at commission meetings, I have come to believe that we need structures that will provide the means, the place and opportunity for people to work together for the good of their communities. Meeting annually as a congress of neighborhood councils could, over time, create a familiarity with the far-flung neighborhoods and people of this vibrant city. This is the process that will diminish alienation.

DORIS ISOLINI NELSON

Los Angeles City Charter

Reform Commissioner

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I was disappointed to read that Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the appointed charter reform commission, fears that an expanded City Council may have difficulty governing itself (April 23). Well-functioning representative bodies are by their nature contentious and unruly.

There is a middle-ground solution. Establish unpaid neighborhood councils that would elect one of their members to serve on a district council. Each district council would, in turn, elect one of its members to serve on a moderately expanded City Council. Each representative’s vote could be overturned by a majority vote of the council that appointed him or her. The result would be a City Council of manageable size and some degree of neighborhood oversight.

DALE KUTZERA

Los Angeles