OTHER VOICES-Reading the LA Times’ Report Card grade of B+ for City Attorney Mike Feuer, it was good to see at least a 'hat-tip' to the issue of whether the City Attorney really is the “attorney for the people.” But their conclusion seems to be that he is not, and I believe that is wrong.
Exactly who does the City Attorney represent?
Certainly, he represents the people in the context of enforcing criminal laws. And there is no doubt that crime will be an important issue going forward.
But doesn’t he represent the people in the civil sphere as well?
If one takes the view that the City is really a "municipal trust" where the Council (and the Mayor to the extent allowed under the Charter) acts as "trustee" for the benefit of the people, (who are the beneficiaries of the "public trust" known as the City of Los Angeles,) then one confronts a different analytical dynamic.
The City Attorney is not there to protect the political interests of the council, the Mayor, or their friends. Former City Attorney Carmen Trutanich lost his re-election bid to Mike Feuer because, in the end, he “two-timed” the public.
The LA Times characterizes the issue of transforming the City’s system of justice as a political minefield for Feuer. Their analogy of his role to that of the California State Attorney General is apt, but that is only half of the analysis. There is no reason why our City Attorney cannot issue opinions on important public issues…such as applications of CEQA law to land use cases, for example.
Commenting on Feuer’s personal style, the LA Times recalls his reputation for being historically earnest and impatient. In urging him to show a little more of that “impatience,” they might have also noted that trying to meet the balance between “ego” and “imagination” is a tough task for all politicians!
(Noel Weiss is an attorney in Los Angeles. He was a candidate for LA City Attorney in 2013. He is an occasional contributor to CityWatch.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 61
Pub: Jul 28, 2015
