Adrin Nazarian - LA Council District 2
Website / Platform
BACKGROUND & PERSPECTIVE
1. Experience: Please explain your past work on addressing corruption and advancing a more representative government.
Answer: Throughout my tenure as a State Assembly member, I actively engaged in initiatives advancing government transparency and combating corruption. I supported the independent redistricting commission effort for Federal and State governments as I support the independent redistricting effort for the City of Los Angeles. I firmly believe in the ability of voters to choose their elected officials, and not having electeds choose who they want as voters. While serving in the State Assembly, I introduced and passed legislation aimed at increasing transparency within both the public and private sectors, including AB 1278 (2021) which aimed at increasing transparency on gifts and payments made to doctors and surgeons from the pharmaceutical industry. I support and will push to have a City Charter Reform, recognizing the imperative need for a comprehensive review. I plan to work closely with the City Ethics Commission and push to increase their funding to better allow them to have oversight in campaign and government activities. Furthermore, I’m committed to strengthening whistleblower protections in my efforts to implement measures that empower city workers to report corruption without fear of retaliation.
2. Priorities: Councilmembers have many issues on their plate, and limited political capital. List your top three policy priorities for addressing corruption or advancing government reform that you intend to lead on?
Answer: City Charter Reform: On addressing corruption and government reform, as a Councilmember my top priority will be spearheading a comprehensive review of the City's Charter. This includes a meticulous analysis of areas such as land use, political structure, and other facets requiring reform to enhance transparency and accountability. Concrete Steps to Combat Corruption: I am committed to implementing tangible measures to combat corruption. This involves championing a robust whistleblower protection bill and providing incentives for exposing corruption. By empowering city workers, we can foster an environment that encourages reporting and actively addresses corruption issues. Independent Redistricting: I will tirelessly advocate for independent redistricting to ensure a fair and unbiased representation of our communities. Drawing from successful models at higher levels of government, this initiative aims to restore trust in our civic institutions and promote equitable political representation. As mentioned earlier, I will work closely with the City Ethics Commission to provide them the resources they need to address political and governmental activities and gain better oversight over these areas.
3. Fundraising: City candidates are prohibited from accepting direct contributions from city lobbyists, restricted developers, and certain contractors/contract applicants. Beyond the restrictions covered by city law, are there any industries or interest groups from which you are declining contributions? Any additional efforts you are making to run a “clean money” campaign?
Answer: In addition to adhering to the city law restrictions, I’ve not taken contributions from tobacco, oil or gun sectors. I never accepted contributions from these sectors while serving in the legislature for 10 years. I also have not taken contributions from Walmart and Amazon. This approach ensures that my campaign is driven by the values and priorities of the constituents I aim to represent, free from undue influence.
OPEN POLICY QUESTIONS
4. Council Size: What is your perspective on potentially expanding the membership of the LA City Council? What Council size will you advocate for? (If you do not have a specific number in mind, you are welcome to provide a range. You are also welcome to suggest ideas other than single member Council districts, like multi-member districts or having a combination of district & regional representation on the Council)
Answer: I support expanding the City Council while adhering to the constraint of not increasing the body more than what Common Cause has recommended. This expansion may enhance representation and responsiveness. I advocate for a thorough evaluation of the optimal council size, considering factors such as geographic diversity, community needs, and administrative efficiency. While I don't have a specific number in mind, I am open to considering various models of representation, to ensure a balanced and effective council. While I support exploring
this issue and potentially expanding the Council, I believe we need to be mindful of not making our Council so large where the effectiveness of the Council is lost to the Mayor, hence making LA into a strong Mayor city model. Also, I caution for us to not make the Council President into a Council Speaker by making the Presidency a very powerful position while making the individual Council office ineffective.
5. Public Financing: Five years ago the City of LA expanded its public matching funds program. City Council will soon receive a report on a number of options for overhauling our public financing system. What is your vision for the future of public financing of elections in the City of LA? (Please specify if you would like to build upon the current program, move in a different direction with democracy vouchers, or utilize one of the hybrid approaches detailed in the motion to achieve full public financing).
Answer: I envision building upon the current public matching funds program, exploring innovative approaches such as democracy vouchers, and considering hybrid models to achieve comprehensive public financing. The goal is to reduce the influence of money in politics, enhance the accessibility of the political process, and ensure a level playing field for all candidates. I support a robust public financing system that aligns with the principles of fairness, transparency, and public trust.
6. Council Rules & Voting: Council Rules permit a member to be counted as present, even while off the council floor. In fact, so long as the audio of the meeting is running, a member may meet privately with lobbyists in rooms behind council chambers during a meeting. Unless a member is at their desk and presses a button, they are automatically registered as an affirmative vote on items being considered. What are your thoughts on these Council Rules? What do you think is the right approach?
Answer: I believe in transparency and accountability in the legislative process. The current Council Rules allowing members to be counted as present while off the council floor raise concerns about the potential for private meetings with lobbyists. I will advocate for a review of these rules to ensure that members are actively participating in discussions and voting, promoting an open and accountable decision-making process.
“YES / NO / DEPENDS” POLICY QUESTIONS
(If you would like to provide additional context you are welcome to provide a max of 1 sentence w/ more info on your answer)
7. Charter Commission Powers: The City Council is currently considering the potential creation of a charter commission to undertake the first comprehensive review of our charter in nearly a quarter century. The proposal recently floated at committee would not grant any authority to this commission, and it would merely be advisory. Some cities, like Portland, give their charter review commission the power, if necessary, to place a measure on the ballot if it secures the support of 15 out of 20 commissioners. In the 90s, Council was forced to negotiate with the unified charter commission in good faith because the elected commission retained the power to put a measure on the ballot.
Would you support giving the charter commission the power to place a measure on the ballot, if necessary, so long as it receives the support of 75% of the commission?
● Yes/No/Depends: Yes. I support empowering the charter commission with the authority to place measures on the ballot if it secures a significant majority, such as 75%, of the commission's support. This approach ensures a meaningful and collaborative process, fostering public trust and facilitating comprehensive charter reviews.
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8. 2024 Charter Ethics Reform: The City Council has had varying levels of discussions about enhancing the independence and authority of the City Ethics Commission. It is currently unclear if council will be undertaking the work necessary to refine those proposals and place them on the November 2024 ballot, or if these proposals will be sent to the previously mentioned charter commission for further consideration and placement on the 2026 ballot.
Do you believe these Charter Ethics Reforms should be on the November 2024 Ballot?
● Yes/No/Depends: Yes. I believe that enhancing the independence and authority of the City Ethics Commission is crucial for promoting ethical conduct in city government. Placing these Charter Ethics Reforms on the November 2024 ballot allows for timely and accountable improvements in the city's ethical governance framework.
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9. Ballot Qualification: LA City Council candidates are required to secure at least 500 valid in-district signatures to appear on the ballot, significantly more than required by most other jurisdictions.
Would you support cutting this threshold in half to 250 valid in-district signatures?
● Yes/No/Depends: No. I would prefer to maintain the current threshold of 500 signatures for ballot qualification, as I believe it reflects genuine grassroots support. Demonstrating broad district-level support is crucial for candidates and contributes to a more robust and representative electoral process.
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10. Remote Comment: When LA City Council resumed in-person committee meetings last year, they ended remote public comment at committees.
Will you advocate for the restoration of remote public comment at committees?
● Yes/No/Depends: Yes. I will advocate for the restoration of remote public comment at committees to ensure broader public engagement, accessibility, and inclusivity in the decision-making process of the LA City Council.
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