Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger shared her perspective on the recently approved Charter Reform Initiative which is set to appear on the November 2024 ballot. In a statement, Barger expressed that expansion of the board may not be the cure-all to the problems afflicting county governance, emphasizing that election to a larger board is not a guarantee of more effective or transparent leadership, according to Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor.
"Bigger government doesn’t necessarily mean better government—but the matter will be in the public’s hands so they can decide that for themselves come November," Barger remarked, acknowledging the potential lack of impact a larger governing body could have despite the proposed changes. She also focuses on the ongoing issues of bureaucracy and indecision that plague important initiatives like the closure of Men’s Central Jail, a decision unanimously agreed upon by the Board of Supervisors but yet to be realized despite it being on the docket for over a decade, and the problem is that there isn't enough political will to move beyond policy stasis to implement the plans that have been thoroughly vetted and recommended by experts.
"I believe we should concentrate on improving the transparency of our decision making. The votes and directives issued by our Board of Supervisors are largely personality driven instead of being guided by process, expert input, and transparency," Barger stated, as per Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor. Notably, the establishment of an Ethics Commission, Barger argues, should not be delayed as a response to the proposed charter changes, but rather as an immediate step to enhance the Board's responsibility to the public it serves and it's a step she's committed to pursuing without delay.
