Why LA’s Government Is So Weird And How It’s About to Change

Despite its dysfunction, LA has always been a place where people come to live the good life. So why is it so hard to govern?

Dr. Raphe Sonenshein has spent decades inside LA politics as a teacher, author, and reformer and is the leading expert on LA governance. In this conversation, we discuss the structure of LA’s governance, LA’s political culture, the rare moment of charter reform we’re living through, and why he’s cautiously optimistic about the future. From the fate of the working class to the mysteries of county power, this is a crash course in how LA really works and what might finally make it work better.

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Chapters

00:00 – Intro
04:20 – Unique Challenges of LA Governance
09:16 – Political Culture and Media Landscape in LA
14:19 – Charter Reform: A Historical Perspective
23:02 – The Tangible Impact of Charter Reform
27:18 – The Future of the Working Class in LA
36:17 – Addressing Homelessness in Los Angeles
38:59 – Hope for the Future of California