It seems that in Los Angeles, jobs are meant for those of us who pay taxes, rather than the city council members.
Recently, the council, humorously dubbed “Urban Slackers,” voted unanimously to place a proposal on the ballot for November. This would allow them to meet only once a week.
It’s quite the innovation, if you think about it. A one-day work week is a unique approach, especially for officials pulling in $250,000 annually.
In comparison, some places like Iceland are trying out a four-day workweek, which sounds a bit more reasonable. But when stacked against the LA City Council, they seem to be amateurs in this regard.
One could even argue that the council has turned the biblical notion on its head. In Genesis, God worked for six days and rested on the seventh. The LA City Council appears to want to work one day and take the other six off.
Of course, there’s a key difference: God actually created something.
With so many pressing issues in the city—like falling apart roads, overflowing homeless encampments, and the daunting task of planning for the 2028 Olympics—it’s hard to imagine how council members believe one day a week is sufficient.
They assert they work harder outside council meetings, engaging with constituents and attending local events. But really, maybe it’s time for them to show us their timesheets.
Are they genuinely busy, or are they just, you know, coasting by?
Sure, some may lean on the “serving the Constitution” narrative as a justification.
But take a casual look at MacArthur Park on a weekday, and you might find this premise somewhat shaky.
This proposal comes from council members Eunice Hernandez and Katie Yaroslavsky, the latter of whom recently claimed to be overworked even in her own home.
No one twisted her arm to run for city council. Plenty of other candidates would be eager to take on that role.
So, does it make a difference that other cities are also having fewer meetings? That’s only if you think fewer meetings result in fewer shenanigans.
The service from the city is already notably poor—just ask those affected by the Palisades fire.
This proposal should be retracted, and the council members need to show up for work.
