Brief

Councilmembers Ysabel Jurado and Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion on May 8, 2026, to refer a General Manager removal measure to voters via the November 2026 ballot, invoking Los Angeles Charter Code Section 575(e). The motion was immediately referred to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, where it currently remains pending. No substantive action has been taken since introduction.

Full summary

Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, joined by Bob Blumenfield, introduced a motion on May 8, 2026, asking the City Attorney to draft ballot language for a November 2026 charter amendment that would give the City Council the power to remove any General Manager or Department Head by a two-thirds vote. Under the current governance structure, appointment and removal authority over department heads rests largely with the Mayor, leaving the Council with limited recourse when a department leader fails to effectively serve the public. The motion argues that shifting some of that authority to the Council would create a meaningful check on executive power without eliminating the Mayor's core managerial role. The motion points to an existing precedent in the City Charter: Section 575(e) already allows the Council to remove the Chief of Police by a two-thirds vote. Jurado's motion frames this as the appropriate model to extend to all City department heads, boards, and offices, arguing that the same standard of shared accountability that applies to the police chief should apply across city government. The stated goals are to promote public oversight, distribute accountability more broadly, and help restore public trust in City government. The specific directive asks the City Attorney to prepare the documents necessary to place the charter amendment on the November 2026 ballot. This means the measure, if it advances, would go directly to Los Angeles voters rather than taking effect through Council action alone. The motion was referred to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee on the day it was introduced, where it currently remains pending. No committee hearing date has been set as of the most recent activity on file.

Activity (1)

• 2026-05-08 Motion referred to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

Documents (1)

• 2026-05-08 Motion · motion