How The Government And Community Work Together In Los Angeles
Community And Government In Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles is the biggest city in the state of California and number two in the United States with an estimated population of more than 3.5 million in 2006. The city is the seat of Los Angeles County, which has more residents than any other county in the country. With such a huge population and a massive infrastructure, a strong, effective municipal government is a necessity.
The government is comprised of the following principal offices: mayor; members of the city council; and a city controller. There are also executive directors for various city departments.
The most important personage is the mayor, who is known as the chief executive officer of the city. He or she can serve in office for a four-year term, and is limited by law to more than two terms. Antonio Villaraigosa, the incumbent, is the 52nd person to serve in that office in the city of Los Angeles.
Interestingly, the city does not have a city manager position, thus putting much more power in the hands of the mayor. He has the power to appoint managers and commissioners, and to remove officials from their jobs. While typically the appointments are approved by the city council, the mayor retains the power of the veto.
Next in line is the Los Angeles City Council, the governing body. The council meets regularly in City Hall on specific days of the week. It is composed of fifteen members from fifteen administrative districts. Each one is elected to a four-year term. They are the best-paid city council members in the nation, and enjoy perks like a free car.
The Department of Water and Power is the most powerful municipal utility in the nation, serving 3.9 million LA residents in 2006. It was founded in 1902.
The city controller functions as the city's auditor and chief accounting officer. Alongside the mayor and city attorney, the position is voted on every four years. The job was established in 1878 as the city auditor.
As far as community involvement in government, neighborhood councils were enacted in 1999. They were designed to promote public participation in government, with the aim of making it more representative of local needs.
About the Author
Matt Paolini is a freelance writer for CityBook.com, the family-safe online yellow pages, which carries an extensive directory of Los Angeles energy and environment services
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