By Stephen Oduntan
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles’ push to rewrite its governing rules began with a recording few residents were meant to hear. Captured during a private strategy session, then–City Council President Nury Martinez could be heard mocking indigenous communities, disparaging fellow officials and comparing a colleague’s Black child to a monkey while discussing the city’s political map.
The leak in 2022 did more than end careers — it exposed how power operated behind closed doors and shattered public trust in City Hall.
Out of that crisis came the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission, tasked with rebuilding trust in the structure of city government itself. But tensions inside that reform process surfaced publicly at a Feb. 11 meeting, when speakers said their microphones were cut during public comment and the session ended early after the commission lost its quorum.
For some participants, the dispute reflected deeper concerns about whether the process designed to rebuild trust is itself earning it.
Video of the meeting shows frustration building during the public comment period as speakers addressed issues including police accountability and community oversight. When one speaker’s allotted time expired, the microphone went silent, prompting audible reactions in the room and confusion among attendees about whether the cutoff was procedural or discretionary.
Among those raising concerns was Rev. James M. Thomas, a Charter Reform commissioner, a pastor, Pan-African Studies professor at Cal State Los Angeles, and NAACP leader. Thomas has previously warned that the commission risks appearing too closely aligned with City Hall leadership, saying the body must avoid looking like “an arm of the mayor.”
In an interview, Thomas said the meeting reflected what he sees as a broader pattern in how community voices are handled.
“We’ve always given people the opportunity to speak because our recommendations are supposed to rise out of the voices of the people,” Thomas said.
Thomas also pointed to concerns about the commission’s independence, noting that one staff member previously worked for former Council President Nury Martinez during the period surrounding the leaked recordings that led to her resignation.
“When people learned that, it raised questions about how independent this process really is,” Thomas said.
He added that the dispute was about more than a single meeting or microphone.
“When residents come to speak, the process should show a willingness to hear them fully,” he said. “Otherwise, the effort to rebuild trust becomes procedural instead of real.”
Others who attended the meeting echoed those frustrations. Community advocate Rev. Rae described the atmosphere as chaotic and said the handling of public comment raised concerns about how seriously residents’ voices were being taken.
“The Charter Reform meeting felt like a complete circus, with people getting cut off left and right even before I stepped up to the podium,” Rae said in a written statement.
“Cutting off the mic mid-sentence clearly communicated to me and everyone in the room that the commission does not actually want to hear the public speak at all.”
Rae said the reform process carries particular significance because it follows the 2022 City Hall recordings that exposed discriminatory remarks by local leaders, adding that the city should be using the process to rebuild trust rather than deepen skepticism.
“If our city leaders cannot show a modicum of respect for the people … by actively listening to what they have to say, then the city of L.A. is failing its people,” she said.
She also called for broader public engagement going forward, including more outreach and opportunities for residents to participate beyond limited public comment periods.
The Charter Reform Commission was convened to review potential changes to Los Angeles’ governing charter, including proposals related to ethics oversight, transparency measures and the structure of city decision-making bodies. Its recommendations are expected to inform possible ballot measures or policy changes aimed at restoring public confidence after the 2022 City Hall scandal.
Meetings of the commission have drawn residents, advocates and community leaders seeking to influence how those reforms take shape. Public comment periods are intended to allow speakers to address commissioners directly, though time limits and procedural rules are typically enforced to keep meetings on schedule.
Disputes can arise when
attendees believe those rules are applied inconsistently or without clear explanation.
During the same meeting, several commissioners left the session, resulting in the loss of
quorum required to continue conducting official business. Without quorum, the
commission could not proceed with agenda items or votes, leading to the early
adjournment.
The commission’s leadership has offered a different interpretation. In a statement,
Executive Director Justin Ramirez said the meeting was adjourned early after the
commission lost quorum following disruptions that made it impossible to continue
conducting business “in a safe and orderly manner.”
Ramirez added that the commission remains committed to transparency, public
participation, and ensuring that future meetings allow residents to be heard while
maintaining order.
For some observers, the episode underscored how fragile public trust in the reform process
remains.
Thomas said the commission’s work depends not only on the substance of its recommendations but also on how the process feels to residents participating in it.
“If people don’t feel heard in the meetings themselves, it becomes harder to convince them the outcomes reflect their voices,” he said.
Advocates say they plan to continue attending future sessions and monitoring how public participation is handled as the commission moves closer to finalizing its recommendations.
The commission’s next meeting is set for 4 p.m. Feb. 24 at Los Angeles City Hall’s Board of Public Works Session Room to continue discussions on reform proposals and procedural matters.
Stephen Oduntan is a freelance writer for Wave Newspapers.
