Good morning and welcome to Records LA – City Hall newsletter.

Rick Cole brings a wealth of knowledge about city governance. The 72-year-old, who has served as mayor of Pasadena, city manager in Ventura, Azusa, and Santa Monica, and deputy mayor in Los Angeles, returned to City Hall in 2022. He was an important figure for then-newly elected city controller Kennett Mezia.

After two and a half years at City Hall East, it was announced last month that Cole would step down to concentrate on the Pasadena City Council, which he had rejoined the prior year.

Cole mentioned that managing his roles had become increasingly challenging. He expressed that the complexity of operating in Los Angeles was a significant factor, ultimately deciding he couldn’t effectively fulfill both positions.

During a farewell presentation to the LA City Council, he voiced deep concerns about the city’s future.

We had a conversation with Cole about his speech and what worries him. Here’s an edited version of our discussion for clarity.

What inspired your speech at the council?

I’ve never been more apprehensive about Los Angeles’s future. The city faces profound challenges that require not just immediate solutions but long-term vision. Bold reforms are essential for progress.

What specifically makes you so cautious about the city’s future?

There are several overlapping crises: a homeless emergency, affordable housing issues, and structural financial challenges that are causing major job losses. Recent disasters have devastated neighborhoods, and there seems to be conflict between local and federal governments.

Hollywood faces its own existential threats. The infrastructure is crumbling, and many people feel the government isn’t equipped to tackle these problems, which is troubling.

Do you believe taxpayer money is being mismanaged?

Every agency has some inefficiencies. In Los Angeles, there’s an aversion to innovation within the public sector, which has led us to fall behind the private sector in adapting to technological advancements and demographic shifts. It can be remedied—this is something I’ve been advocating.

What would fixing these issues look like? Who’s accountable?

Accountability issues are deeply embedded in the City Charter.

Can you elaborate on that?

The ongoing distribution of responsibility makes it challenging to pinpoint who is in charge. For instance, department heads report to multiple council members, leading to conflicting pressures that divert attention from system improvements.

With 16 different bosses, achieving a cohesive approach is nearly impossible, which means that basic tasks, like street repairs, end up being neglected for years.

What changes do you propose?

I suggest reshaping the city governance to suit 21st-century needs. This involves having a chief operating officer who ensures the city’s various divisions function effectively, a role that currently doesn’t exist.

We also need a chief financial officer who can oversee a unified financial strategy—a crucial step since the financial responsibilities are split among multiple offices. The current budgeting process takes too long and doesn’t provide the comprehensive view needed for Los Angeles’s economic future.

The State of Play

Safer cities: Los Angeles has seen a significant drop in homicides, reaching the lowest numbers in nearly 60 years, aligning with a national trend. This contrasts sharply with the image often portrayed by political leaders.

More Raids Fallout: Mayor Karen Bass announced plans for direct financial assistance to those affected by immigration policies. The funding is from charitable sources, not city funds, and will be distributed through advocacy organizations.

Motion to intervene: Local governments in Los Angeles are aiming to join a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding immigration detentions, as filed by the ACLU and other organizations.

Memo: Jaime Legalad, a former executive director of the Pat Brown Institute, passed away last month at age 80. He was instrumental in California politics and education.

“Someone got a goof”: LA County leaders realized that a recent overhaul of county government inadvertently ended another significant criminal justice measure due to ongoing management issues. The changes won’t take effect until 2028, giving leaders time to adjust.

Disaster prevention: A potential tragedy was avoided when 31 workers escaped a partially collapsed tunnel uninjured. The incident is under investigation by the Sanitary District Board.

Postcard from Santa Monica: Former White House aide Stephen Miller’s hardline immigration policies have sparked renewed attention in the liberal enclave of Santa Monica as locals reflect on his past.

Quick Hits

• At Docket next week: The City Charter Reform Committee will meet Wednesday, while the city council is on break.
• Where’s the inside? The mayor’s homelessness initiative was active in South Los Angeles this week.
• Political poems with morning coffee: Consider reading “I’m Waiting” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

Let’s Stay in Touch

That’s all for this week! Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or gossip to our inbox.