To the editor: The headline, “One other painful disaster has us asking: Can Los Angeles accomplish large issues once more?, (April 3),” captures Patt Morrison’s problem. She cites the convergence of the fires. The billion-dollar price range gap. Local weather change. The howling headwinds of the Trump presidency. She references the absence of a Committee of 25 and alludes to the vacuum left by the loss of life of the legendary Eli Broad.
I agree wholeheartedly with the guts of her argument: “Los Angeles is designed to not work.“ As she precisely states, our mayoral system, in contrast to the mayoral system of New York, fails to supply our mayors powers over well being and schooling and welfare applications. As a result of ours is a weaker system, it’s harder for any mayor to get issues accomplished.
Regardless of the challenges, beneath Mayor Karen Bass’s management, and resulting from her deep engagement, our unhoused inhabitants has been reduced by 10%. The homicide rate is down 14%. Her most vital appointment thus far is the police chief. Not surprisingly, Jim McConnell, a deeply revered skilled, has proved to be a terrific selection. The speed of rebuilding within the devastated Pacific Palisades, by most accounts, compares favorably with comparable rebuilding efforts of devastated areas elsewhere. I’m grateful.
I do know of no different mayor of Los Angeles — and I’ve adopted carefully the careers of six — who can match her expertise in state and nationwide authorities, the place she served with distinction as speaker of the California state Meeting and Congress member of the US. She was chair of the Black Caucus. With good cause, she was fairly excessive on the listing of vice presidential prospects when Joe Biden was choosing his first operating mate.
Bass serves us now with willpower, perception and talent. As she navigates the world of federal and state cooperation and help, our metropolis is healthier for it.
Rick Tuttle, Culver Metropolis
The author served as Los Angeles metropolis controller from 1985 to 2001.
