Commission Proposes Expanding LA City Council

The Los Angeles City Council has consisted of 15 members since 1925, a time when the city's population was less than 600,000. Today, with a population of nearly 4 million, each councilmember represents an average of 265,000 Angelenos, the largest ratio of any city in the United States. If the council is expanded to the proposed 25 seats, each member would represent approximately 159,000 residents. For comparison, New York City has a 51-member City Council for its 8 million residents, and Chicago has a 50-member council for its 2.7 million residents. The Charter Reform Commission, which made the recommendation, was established in the aftermath of the 2022 City Hall tapes scandal. The scandal, involving racist remarks made by council members during a discussion on redistricting, prompted widespread calls for reform to address corruption and improve representation. Supporters argue that expanding the council would make elected officials more accessible and allow for better representation of the city's diverse communities, particularly for Black and Asian American and Pacific Islander residents. Previous efforts to expand the council have failed, most notably in a 1999 charter reform election where voters rejected proposals for a 21 or 25-seat council. In addition to expanding the council, the commission recommended a switch to ranked-choice voting for city elections, beginning in 2032. Other proposed reforms include splitting the City Attorney's office into two distinct roles and creating an Office of Inspector General to investigate corruption. The commission's recommendations must first be sent to the full City Council by April 2. The City Council will then decide which proposals will be placed on the November ballot for voters to approve or reject.