BACKGROUND: The City of LA’s Charter is like the city’s constitution, and was drafted in 1924. It establishes the structure of government and its basic powers, such as what the city council has the power to do and what processes they take to get there. The Charter can be updated by a Charter Commission, which reviews the charter and proposes changes, and then by LA city voters on an election ballot.

WHY CARE NOW: The LA City Council is considering establishing a new Charter Commission for the first time since the late 1990s. This is an opportunity for everyday people like YOU to have a say in what your city government should look like, which impacts how well the city works for you.

But in its initial conversations, the City Council is considering detrimental limits to public participation in such a commission. This puts in jeopardy public input on things like reforming council district size and creating a dedicated ethics budget — even how often council must meet in public.

Join LA Forward, along with the OUR LA coalition, to learn more and to take action — let’s ensure our voices are heard now AND in charter reform processes to come! (If the link doesn’t work below, try this.)