City Council's Charter Amendment for LAUSD

Well, isn't that special? ZD was just informed that Los Angeles City Council wants to make an LAUSD Charter Amendment, but, for some reason the Ballot Simplification Committee audio broadcast over the phone was squelched with the pull of a plug and the meeting wasn't recorded, on purpose, I'm told. So ZD and his team of Inspector Generals couldn't hear what was going on. (I think the Brown Act was on vacation that day.) Well here's what went on behind the imposed public blackout: Term limits and campaign finance reform for LAUSD.

FILE NO. SUBJECT (1) Establishing Campaign Finance Regulations and Enforcement, Term Limits, and a Compensation Review Committee for the Los Angeles Unified School District Board. Charter Amendment L. 07-1100-S5 B. (March 6th election)

Sec. 2. ESTABLISHING CAMPAIGN FiNANCE REGULATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT, TERM LIMITS, AND A COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD. CHARTER AMENDMENT Shall the City of Los Angeles Charter be amended to establish: contribution limits and additional disclosure requirements for School Board campaigns; local enforcement of School District campaign finance rules; campaign finance training for School Board candidates; term limits of three terms (twelve years) for School Board members; and a School Board compensation review committee?

HERE'S THE PROBLEM: LAUSD is a state agency. Up till now, City Council cannot insert their authority for monetary issues regarding LAUSD. But now, they are entering the arena of "contribution limits and disclosure requirements; enforcement of campaign finance rules and compensation review" (in addition to imposing term limits on the state agency). ZD has said from day one, "when City Council doesn't like what they get from the state, they just pass their own local law, over state law." (But, that's unconstitutional.) So CC trying to take another inch, if they can get away with it.

Meanwhile, here's something else interesting. LAUSD boardmember has always been a "part-time" position. Now, as the Superintendant takes control of all contracts, budgets and spending (including construction) -- therefore basically neutering the school board, leaving them with the only responsibility of negotiating with the unions and writing school policy -- they are being turned into full time positions. (And union negatiations and writingschool policy isn't an eight hour day, five days a week, fifty weeks a years.) More money, less responsibility? What's going on here? A lot more to come.

[ZD Holiday Karaoke Party: Lava Lounge/Hollywood, Sunday December 17th, 8:30pm]