From Assembly to Adoption: Los Angeles Charter Reform Update

Over the past four months, everyday Angelenos have done something unprecedented: shaped the language of the city's foundational governing document through civic assemblies organized by Rewrite LA, Healthy Democracy, and Public Democracy LA.

It started last December, when 36 lottery-selected residents spent seven hours deliberating on land use and development — one of the city's most contentious policy areas — and delivered 10 recommendations to the Charter Reform Commission. In January, another 40 residents gathered to draft recommendations for a charter preamble and bill of rights. Then, from February through March, a full civic assembly (organized in partnership with Healthy Democracy) tackled the size and structure of City Council, producing nine detailed recommendations that were presented directly to the Commission by the delegates themselves.

The Commission didn't just listen, they acted. Across all three assemblies, residents produced 29 recommendations. Of those, 19 were at least partially adopted by the Commission — including the unanimously approved charter preamble and a provision making civic assemblies a permanent part of the charter reform process. Many of the remaining recommendations aligned with positions advanced by other advocacy organizations, reinforcing what the assemblies demonstrated: that when ordinary residents are given time, information, and space to deliberate, their judgment reflects sound public policy.

What's at Stake Now

The Commission's recommendations now move to City Hall. Starting in April, the Rules, Elections & Intergovernmental Relations Committee will begin its review at a public meeting — the first of six sessions scheduled through May and June. The full City Council is expected to vote on June 9 on which charter amendments to place on the November 2026 ballot.

This is the stretch where resident voices matter most. The recommendations exist because everyday residents showed up, deliberated, and produced work the Commission found worthy of adoption. Now the question is whether the City Council will send that work to the voters.

How You Can Help

On Thursday, April 30 at 1:00 PM, the Rules, Elections & Intergovernmental Relations Committee will hold its first public hearing on the charter reform recommendations at City Hall. We're asking delegates, volunteers, and supporters of PDLA to attend and deliver a one-minute public comment in support of the recommendations. Whether you are speaking to a specific recommendation you care about or the value of civic assemblies themselves, you have a chance to make your voice heard. One minute is all it takes, and showing up matters.