A Partisan World

As most readers know who read my column, I’m not much of a politico. Whereas in my (much) younger days I subscribed to a particular party, I find that these days I don’t affiliate with one party or the other. To me, both have major flaws that I just can’t ignore – and both support issues with which I agree.

I was interested last week to learn that the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors decided to move forward to have a charter amendment seeking approval to remove an elected official – in this case, the sheriff. Our representative, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, was the lone opposing vote to the proposed amendment. Among her comments was that, if approved, the amendment “sets a dangerous precedent and creates a slippery slope for the Board of Supervisors to override the will of the voters.”

I couldn’t agree more. If the voters want to recall the sheriff, the DA, the governor or any elected official, the voters should organize and implement a recall. In many cases, the re-election of the offensive official is imminent anyway; it seems that it would be up to the board of supervisors, either as a group or individually, to petition for the voters to cast their ballots ousting him/her. To me, it seems the board of supervisors is really overreaching its power by moving forward with a charter amendment.

As Barger stated, “I remain concerned that this action, as approved by the Board, dilutes the voice of Los Angeles County voters and deepens voter apathy.” Without a doubt, how are voters supposed to think that their voices are at all important if a government body overturns their voices?

However, I’m not naïve. Let’s face it: some of the ballot measures were convoluted at best. Voting yes is actually a vote against a proposition or measure? That is definitely confusing.

In the end, though, it is the responsibility of voters to sit down and read the measures, propositions and candidate statements that will be voted on. If they don’t, California can (some think we have) end up with a government that is only interested in attaining and holding onto power and money.

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I was so touched by the responses to last week’s column regarding the call to action to help Kaipo Chock. As you remember, Kaipo was president of the CV Chamber of Commerce and active in several local non-profits. He moved to Arizona with his family a couple of years ago and has since been diagnosed with FTD (frontotemporal dementia) and is now hospitalized. A GoFundMe page has been set up (https://tinyurl.com/2j228a8h). For those who don’t like GoFundMe, send a note or check to us here at CV Weekly (3800 La Crescenta Ave. #206, La Crescenta) and we’ll make sure the Chock family receives it.

While I know they have a “big ask” out there (they’re hoping to raise $100,000 for Kaipo’s care) I am also confident that we can reach it. Please take a moment now to donate.