Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez at a meeting of the Glassell Park Improvement Assn.
Photo by Jesus Sanchez
At a meeting of the Glassell Park Improvement Association last week, City Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto‑Martínez said they support expanding the 15-member Los Angeles City Council. But by how much?
Hernandez, who represents Council District 1, quickly ruled out a body on the scale of the 51-member New York City Council. “Absolutely not,” she said. Instead, she said she would favor a number closer to 21.
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Soto-Martínez, who represents District 13, said he doesn’t have a specific number in mind, but said that 21 or 23 would be “good.”
The discussion came as the Charter Reform Commission reviews potential changes to the roles, powers and responsibilities of city officials and departments, including whether to expand the council. The commission’s recommendations are expected to go to the City Council later this spring. The council will then decide what goes before the voters.
The current council size was set in 1925, when the city had approximately one-quarter the 4 million residents it does today.
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Hernandez said the size of existing districts — including her own, which spans 22 neighborhoods and about 250,000 residents — makes it difficult for councilmembers to stay closely connected to their communities. “More people would have more access to their representatives,” she said of the smaller districts.
Soto-Martínez pointed to neighborhoods such as Koreatown and Watts, which are split across multiple districts in ways that can dilute political influence.
Both councilmembers, who are running for reelection, also cautioned that adding seats would shift power at City Hall. “Creating more council districts, I believe, has to be paired with giving more power to the mayor,” Soto-Martínez said.
Hernandez added that an expanded council would affect how city services are delivered.
“Everything in the city will change, even the office space in City Hall,” Hernandez said.
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