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The Pillars of LA

An in-depth exploration of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, its history, structure, and impact on the region.

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Introduction

Governing Body

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (LACBOS) is the five-member governing body of Los Angeles County, California. Established in 1852, it has evolved significantly, shaping the administration and policy landscape of one of the nation's most populous counties.

Regional Influence

Representing approximately 10 million residents across diverse urban and unincorporated areas, the Board oversees a vast array of county services, including public safety, health, transportation, and land use planning. Each supervisor represents a district with nearly two million constituents.

Historical Context

Initially a Court of Sessions, the Board transitioned to its current five-member structure in 1852. Its immense influence led to the historical moniker "five little kings," reflecting the substantial power vested in each supervisor.

Historical Evolution

Origins and Early Governance

The governance of Los Angeles County began with a three-man Court of Sessions, elected in 1850. This body was dissolved in 1852, leading to the establishment of the five-member Board of Supervisors. In 1913, a county charter was approved, granting greater autonomy within state law frameworks.

Growth and Influence

Despite significant population growth throughout the 20th century, the number of supervisors remained fixed at five. This concentration of power led to the Board being colloquially known as the "five little kings." Efforts to expand the Board in 1962, 1976, 1992, and 2000 were unsuccessful.

A New Era

The election of Holly Mitchell in 2020 marked a historic moment, making the Board entirely female for the first time. This led to the media adopting the nickname "five little queens."

Measure G Transformation

In November 2024, voters approved Measure G, initiating significant structural changes. By 2026, an independent ethics commission will be established. By 2028, a directly elected County Executive will replace the Board's appointed Chief Executive Officer. Furthermore, a redistricting process will expand the Board to nine members by 2032.

Governance Structure

Elections and Terms

Supervisors are elected to four-year terms, with a limit of three consecutive terms (12 years). Elections for the 1st and 3rd districts align with gubernatorial elections, while the 2nd, 4th, and 5th districts align with presidential elections. Terms commence on the first Monday in December following an election.

Administrative Framework

The Board operates under county charter and state law, including California's "sunshine law" (Brown Act), ensuring transparency in meetings. Agendas are published 72 hours in advance. Meetings are typically held weekly, with procedures governed by Robert's Rules of Order.

Commissions and Oversight

The Executive Office of the Board directly oversees 34 commissions, committees, and boards, covering diverse areas from children and families to historical landmarks and youth development. This structure facilitates specialized oversight and public engagement.

Leadership Roles

County Chair

The County Chair (or "Mayor") serves a one-year term, presiding over board meetings and controlling the agenda. This role rotates among board members based on seniority. Kathryn Barger currently holds the position of County Chair, with Hilda Solis serving as Chair Pro Tem for 2024.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Historically, the CEO facilitated coordination between departments. However, Measure G mandates a transition to a directly elected County Executive by 2028, who will possess broader mayoral powers, including budget preparation and veto authority, shifting power away from the Board.

Criticism and Controversy

Board Expansion Debate

Advocates for good governance have long supported expanding the Board and establishing an elected County Executive. While past ballot measures failed, Measure G's passage in 2024 will increase the Board to nine members and create an elected County Executive, addressing concerns about representation and checks and balances.

Immigration Cooperation

From 2005 to 2015, a program allowed federal immigration agents into county jails. While the formal program ended, cooperation with federal immigration agents by the Sheriff's Department and the Board has continued, drawing criticism from civil liberties groups.

Public Defender Appointment

In 2018, the Board's appointment of an interim public defender faced significant opposition from public defenders and the ACLU, citing concerns about experience and potential conflicts of interest. This incident highlighted issues of transparency and due process in the Board's decision-making.

Gerrymandering Allegations

In 1991, a federal court found the Board had engaged in racial gerrymandering, violating the Voting Rights Act. This led to the election of Gloria Molina, the first Latina supervisor. Subsequent legislation in 2016 aimed to ensure proportional party representation in redistricting, though some argue it may infringe on minority party rights.

Transparency Concerns

The Los Angeles Times editorial board has criticized the Board for a lack of transparency, particularly regarding the failure to follow through on promises to post policy priorities and implementation schedules online, hindering public engagement.

Current Supervisors

First District

Hilda Solis
Serving since 2014.

Second District

Holly Mitchell
Serving since 2020.

Third District

Lindsey Horvath
Serving since 2022.

Fourth District

Janice Hahn
Serving since 2016.

Fifth District

Kathryn Barger
Serving since 2016.

Supervisorial Districts

Los Angeles County is divided into 5 supervisorial districts, each representing approximately two million residents. The following table details the districts, their supervisors, population, area, and key represented areas.

District Supervisor Population
(2011)
Area Represented Cities and Unincorporated Areas
First Solis 1,967,029 246 sq mi (640 km2) Cities: Alhambra, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Diamond Bar, El Monte, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, La Verne (portion), Montebello, Monterey Park, Pomona, Rosemead, San Gabriel, South El Monte, Walnut, West Covina, Whittier (portion).
Unincorporated: Avocado Heights, Charter Oak, East Los Angeles, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, San Jose Hills, South San Gabriel, Valinda, West Puente Valley.
LA City Neighborhoods: Angelino Heights, Atwater Village, Boyle Heights, Chinatown, Civic Center, Downtown Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, East Hollywood, Echo Park, El Sereno, Elysian Park, Elysian Valley, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Historic Filipinotown, Lincoln Heights, Little Armenia, Little Tokyo, Mt. Washington, Pico-Union (portion), Silverlake, Temple-Beaudry, Thai Town, University Hills, Westlake, Wholesale District.
Second Mitchell 1,977,349 162 sq mi (420 km2) Cities: Carson, Compton, Culver City, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lynwood, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach.
Unincorporated: Athens, Del Aire, Del Rey, East Rancho Dominguez, El Camino Village, Florence-Firestone, Ladera Heights, Lennox, Marina del Rey, Rancho Dominguez, West Carson, West Rancho Dominguez, Willowbrook, Windsor Hills.
LA City Neighborhoods: Adams-Normandie, Baldwin Hills, Country Club Park, Crenshaw District, Del Rey, Exposition Park, Faircrest Heights, Hancock Park, Harbor Gateway, Harvard Heights, Harvard Park, Hyde Park, Jefferson Park, Koreatown, Lafayette Square, Leimert Park, Little Bangladesh, Manchester Square, Mid-City, Miracle Mile, Palms, Park La Brea, Pico-Union (portion), Playa Del Rey, Playa Vista, South Carthay (portion), South Park, University Park, Venice (portion), Vermont Knolls, Vermont Square, Vermont Vista, Victoria Park, Watts, Wellington Square, West Adams, Westchester, Wilshire Center.
Third Horvath 1,956,453 431 sq mi (1,120 km2) Cities: Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu, San Fernando, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Westlake Village.
LA City Neighborhoods: Arleta, Bel Air, Beverly Crest, Beverlywood, Brentwood, Canoga Park, Carthay, Century City, Chatsworth, Cheviot Hills, Encino, Granada Hills, Hollywood (portion), Lake Balboa, Mandeville Canyon, Mar Vista, Mission Hills, North Hills, North Hollywood (portion), Northridge, Pacific Palisades, Pacoima, Palisades Highlands, Palms, Panorama City, Porter Ranch, Rancho Park, Reseda, Reynier Village, Sherman Oaks (portion), South Carthay (portion), Studio City (portion), Sun Valley (portion), Sylmar, Tarzana, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, Van Nuys, Venice (portion), West Hills, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Winnetka, Woodland Hills.
Unincorporated: Agoura, Malibu Vista, Monte Nido, Seminole Hot Springs, Topanga, Topanga Canyon, VA Hospital.
Fourth Hahn 1,971,639 458 sq mi (1,190 km2) Cities: Artesia, Avalon, Bellflower, Cerritos, Commerce, Cudahy, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Huntington Park, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Lakewood, Lomita, Long Beach, Lynwood, Maywood, Norwalk, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pico Rivera, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Santa Fe Springs, Signal Hill, South Gate, Torrance, Vernon, Whittier.
LA City Neighborhoods: Harbor City, San Pedro, Wilmington.
Unincorporated: Bandini Islands, East La Mirada, East Whittier, La Habra Heights, Palos Verdes Peninsula, San Clemente Island, Santa Catalina Island, South Whittier, Walnut Park, West Whittier/Los Nietos.
Fifth Barger 1,946,135 2,807 sq mi (7,270 km2) Cities: Alhambra, Arcadia, Bradbury, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Verne (portion), Lancaster, Monrovia, Palmdale, Pasadena, San Dimas, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City.
LA City Neighborhoods: Angeles National Forest, Hollywood Hills (portion), Lakeview Terrace, Los Feliz, North Hollywood (portion), Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks (portion), Studio City (portion), Sun Valley (portion), Sunland, Toluca Lake, Tujunga, Valley Village, Quartz Hill.
Unincorporated: Quartz Hill, San Francisquito Canyon, San Pasqual, Sand Canyon, Stevenson Ranch, Sun Village, Universal City, Val Verde, Valencia, Valyermo, Wrightwood, Altadena.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date. It is presented in the persona of a Professional PhD Professor for an audience of Master's Degree students.

This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional governmental, legal, or administrative consultation. Always refer to official Los Angeles County documentation and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.