Our video of this meeting of the LA Charter Reform Commission is now up at: youtu.be/gad2Q8wOnas?...
11.03.2026 20:30
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Our video of this meeting of the LA Charter Reform Commission is now up at: youtu.be/gad2Q8wOnas?...
In this bonus episode of the #podcast, host @rogerberkowitz.bsky.social interviews Hélène Landemore about her new book, "Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule".
Out now wherever you get your podcasts!
youtube.com/shorts/Ng1Fs...
#citizenassemblies #readinghannaharendt
group of people standing inside of art deco building, talking and looking on phones
people sitting in benches inside art deco room
people sitting in benches inside art deco room with one talking into a microphone
people sitting in benches inside art deco room with one talking into a microphone and others standing up lined up behind the speaker waiting to speak
Delegates from the LA Charter Reform Civic Assembly presenting their recommendations to the Charter Reform Commission @reformlacharter.bsky.social #civicassembly #deliberativedemocracy #sortion #citizenassemblies
Recommendations 1. Establish a permanent civic assembly, randomly selected to reflect LA demographics, to review, advise, and refer Council decisions back for consideration, with a minimum of two assemblies per year. 2. The City Council should be 25 single-member districts. The office of City Council president should randomly rotate between members with nonconsecutive terms ending at the end of each session, including special sessions. 3. As population increases per the U.S. Census, the size of the City Council should automatically increase. There should be no more than 170,000 people per district. 4. Councilmembers must live in their respective district for at least one year prior to the election. 5. Councilmembers and the Mayor will no longer have appointment powers to the Ethics Commission. 6. Create an independent, nonpartisan office of the Inspector General with the authority to investigate, audit, and refer for prosecution any City employee, whether they be elected or appointed. The Inspector General will lead the Ethics Commission. 7. Voting will be done by ranked choice. 8. One council size option should be presented for the vote, Language shall include that an increase in City Council membership is an increase in representation. 9. Hire a qualified COO and CFO independently, not appointed by the mayor or City Council.
The RewriteLA coalition, including @publicdemocracyla.bsky.social, @metagov.bsky.social, & other nonprofits, has presented the reform recommendations of its Charter Civic Assembly, to be included in the Commission's report to Council.
More info on the Assembly: healthydemocracy.org/home/project...
If you can't attend this meeting, be sure to send in your comments to: reformLAcharter@lacity.org by 3 PM on Monday, March 9th!
TUESDAY (3/10), 4 PM, LA City Hall: the Charter Reform Commission meets to discuss/vote on recommendations for how the City Charter addresses City personnel.
Also up: draft charter language & a presentation from RewriteLA.
Meeting & Zoom info: /bit.ly/FRLA26
downtown los angeles and surrounding area from above at an angle with snow-capped mountains in the background during a clear day
ReWrite LA: through storytelling, digital tools, and in-person civic assemblies, ReWrite LA is creating a model for how Los Angeles can lead the next chapter of democracy
www.rewritela.org
Hear about the Lottery-Selected Panel that took place in Petaluma, CA and was centered on the future of the Petaluma City Fairgrounds property www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2lR...
people in a room making notes on stickies and poster boards with screens of instructions in the front of the room
what values, rights, or responsibilities, if any, should be included in the city charter, such as a preamble, a bill of rights, or another approach?
check marks on a paper noting agreement with "technology and innovation must serve humanity first" with most check marks for Strongly Agree, and five each for Somewhat Agree or Neutral
people sitting at tables discussing what has been written on a poster board that sits on the table
Photos from the Rewrite LA (rewritela.org) civic assembly about LA Charter Reform, which took place in January 2026
people sitting at tables and standing nearby with a speaker addressing them inside a room
people sitting at tables and standing nearby with a speaker addressing them inside a room
people sitting at tables and standing nearby with a speaker addressing them inside a room
pink and orange sticky notes with questions on a whiteboard
Photos from the first weekend of the Healthy Democracy / Rewrite LA civic assembly that will advise the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission @reformlacharter.bsky.social Several commissioners spoke to the delegates!
three men seated at a desk in front of a room of others seated at tables with one person standing writing on a whiteboard, all inside
sticky notes on whiteboards with people seated at tables nearby, all inside
sticky notes and writing on a whiteboard
At the first weekend of the civic assembly for the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission, delegates heard from current and previous councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez @hugoforcd13.bsky.social and Michael K. Woo, as well as Dr. Francisco Jasso Magana of LMU @reformlacharter.bsky.social
Come hear the Rewrite LA presentation about the civic assembly recommendations to the LA Charter Reform Commission! Takes place tomorrow Tuesday, March 10th at 4:00 PM at City Hall, Board of Public Works Session Rm. 350 @reformlacharter.bsky.social #democraticlottery #sortition #civicassemblies
which video?
three men seated at a desk in front of a room of others seated at tables with one person standing writing on a whiteboard, all inside
sticky notes on whiteboards with people seated at tables nearby, all inside
sticky notes and writing on a whiteboard
At the first weekend of the civic assembly for the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission, delegates heard from current and previous councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez @hugoforcd13.bsky.social and Michael K. Woo, as well as Dr. Francisco Jasso Magana of LMU @reformlacharter.bsky.social
This meeting of the LA Charter Reform Commission will be starting shortly. We'll have motions & votes below, and video up soon after.
Public commenters: be prepared to get in the in-person/online queue!
Meeting/Zoom info: bit.ly/FRLA26
people sitting at tables and standing nearby with a speaker addressing them inside a room
people sitting at tables and standing nearby with a speaker addressing them inside a room
people sitting at tables and standing nearby with a speaker addressing them inside a room
pink and orange sticky notes with questions on a whiteboard
Photos from the first weekend of the Healthy Democracy / Rewrite LA civic assembly that will advise the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission @reformlacharter.bsky.social Several commissioners spoke to the delegates!
TUESDAY (3/3) @ 3 PM, City Hall, Room 1010: More changes to LA's Charter are up for a vote on:
- how LA's budget happens;
- the future of City Charter reform; &
- Neighborhood Council reform recommendations by LANCC & BONC.
More meeting & Zoom info: bit.ly/FRLA26
15 Councilmembers for almost 4 million Angelenos is...a choice. 😬 Let’s choose a future with fair representation!
THURSDAY (2/26), 4 PM @ City Hall: City Council expansion, ranked choice voting, an elected Public Advocate & more are on the table. Show up in support!
Meeting info at: bit.ly/FRLA26
people in a room making notes on stickies and poster boards with screens of instructions in the front of the room
what values, rights, or responsibilities, if any, should be included in the city charter, such as a preamble, a bill of rights, or another approach?
check marks on a paper noting agreement with "technology and innovation must serve humanity first" with most check marks for Strongly Agree, and five each for Somewhat Agree or Neutral
people sitting at tables discussing what has been written on a poster board that sits on the table
Photos from the Rewrite LA (rewritela.org) civic assembly about LA Charter Reform, which took place in January 2026
Check out the Healthy Democracy Resource Guide docs.google.com/document/d/1... #democracy #civicassemblies #sortition #losangeles #government
🫖 Want the tea on what’s on the agenda at TODAY’S Feb. 24th Charter Reform Commission meeting?
🍵 Check out our memo with the League of Women Voters of Greater Los Angeles to find out what we think of what’s about to go before the Commission!
Link to memo and meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
Why are democracies around the globe turning to civic assemblies? Read why on our website: www.publicdemocracyla.org
Hear from the Angelenos who deliberated on land use housing at the ReWrite LA civic assembly in December 2025. Their views will be shared with the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission for possible inclusion on the November 2026 ballot youtu.be/0hsn9cZt6Yw?...
You asked. We listened. The updated Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map now includes:
🔎 Multi-sort organizations by state, issue area, and network membership
📄 View richer profiles with mission, website, and contact info
Explore the Map → https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/2024-healthy-democracy/
Elections were never meant to make democracy possible. On the contrary, they are an aristocratic tool, invented to keep the masses at bay. How can we democratize democracy? Here's an alternative.
youtu.be/KS9EMvbBq_U?...
From the Ancient Greeks to the Decentralized Internet: How Random Selection Shaped Democracy… medium.com/kleros/the-r...
In America, Britain and other Western countries, voters have lost trust in politics. Is the answer to reboot an ancient idea? youtu.be/6UcFQ-eDhTk?...
Hear about the Lottery-Selected Panel that took place in Petaluma, CA and was centered on the future of the Petaluma City Fairgrounds property www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2lR...
Dutch historian/TV-personality Maarten van Rossem, usually very negative about voters, is remarkably positive about citizens' assemblies | Van Rossem pessimistisch over verkiezingen, maar positief over burgerberaden #SortitionNL @maartenpodcast.bsky.social
tegenverkiezingen.nl/maarten-van-...
Landemore's Politics Without Politicians had just come out, as another book about sortition hits the shelves: Democracy's Second Act. #Sortition #Lottocracy
tegenverkiezingen.nl/boeken