Community And Government In Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles is the largest city in the state of California and the second-largest in the United States with an approximate 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 widespread infrastructure, a strong, effective municipal government is a necessity.
The government is comprised of the following main offices: mayor; city council members; and a city controller. There are also executive directors for various city departments.
The most prominent person is the mayor, who is titled the chief executive officer of the city. He or she can serve for a four-year term, and by law cannot serve more than two terms. Antonio Villaraigosa, the current mayor, is the 52nd to hold that office in the city of Los Angeles.
Interestingly, the city does not have a city manager position, thus putting much more responsibility in the hands of the mayor. The mayor has the power to appoint managers and commissioners, and to remove officials from their posts. While many of 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 holds regular meetings in City Hall on appointed days of the week. It is composed of 15 members from 15 administrative districts. Each one is elected to a four-year term. They are the best-paid city council members in the country, and enjoy perks like a free car.
The Department of Water and Power is the most powerful municipal utility in the U.S., serving 3.9 million Los Angeles residents in 2006. The utility 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 chosen by popular vote every four years. The job was established in 1878 as the city auditor.
In terms of community involvement in government, neighborhood councils were created in 1999. They were designed to encourage public participation in government, making it more representative of local needs.
Matt Paolini is a freelance writer for CityBook.com, the family-safe online yellow pages, which carries an extensive directory of Los Angeles religion and spirituality.
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