Community and Government in Los Angeles, Ca
Los Angeles is the largest municipality in the state of California and the second-largest in the United States with an estimated population of more than 3.5 million in 2006. The city is the seat of Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the country. With such a large population and a widespread infrastructure, a strong, effective city government is a necessity.
The government consists of the following principal offices: mayor; city council members; and a city controller. There are also executive directors for various city departments.
The most important personage is the mayor, who is titled the chief executive officer of the city. He or she can serve in office for a four-year term, and is limited by law to more than two terms. Antonio Villaraigosa, the incumbent, is the 52nd to hold that office in the city of Los Angeles.
Of note, the city does not appoint to a city manager position, thus putting much more responsibility in the hands of the mayor. He has the power to appoint managers and commissioners, and to remove officials from their jobs. 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 meets regularly in City Hall on appointed days of the week. It is comprised of fifteen members from fifteen administrative districts. Each member is elected to a 4-year term. They are the highest-paid city council members in the nation, and can boast of perks like a free car.
The Department of Water and Power is the most powerful municipal utility in the nation, serving 3.9 million Los Angeles residents in 2006. It was founded in 1902.
The position of city controller functions as the city's auditor and chief accounting officer. Along with 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.
As far as community involvement in government, neighborhood councils were created in 1999. They were designed to encourage public participation in government, with the aim of making it more representative of local needs.
Matt Paolini is a marketing analyst for CityBook.com, the family-safe online yellow pages, which carries an extensive directory of Los Angeles associations, organizations and foundations.
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