Why LA Mayors Can’t Get Anything Done: A Century-Old Problem

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces systemic limitations rooted in the city’s 1920s-era charter, which decentralizes power among city departments and the City Council, according to a 2026 analysis by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. This structure, designed to curb corruption, now hinders rapid policy implementation as the November mayoral race intensifies.

How LA’s 1920s Charter Shapes Modern Governance

The Los Angeles City Charter, adopted in 1920, was a response to the graft scandals of the early 20th century, mirroring progressive reforms in cities like Chicago and New York. Its architects aimed to fragment executive power by distributing authority across 16 independent city departments, each reporting to the City Council rather than the mayor. “This was a deliberate move to prevent any single figure from amassing control,” said Dr. Laura Martinez, a political science professor at UCLA. “But it’s created a system where the mayor is more of a coordinator than a leader.”

Under this framework, the mayor lacks direct oversight of departments like housing, public works, or transit. Instead, the City Council appoints department heads and sets budgets, requiring the mayor to negotiate with 15 separate boards. “It’s like trying to steer a ship with 16 different captains,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is running for mayor. “Even if we win, we’ll still need to convince each department to align with our priorities.”

The Impact on Housing and Affordability

LA’s housing crisis exemplifies the mayor’s constrained power. Despite progressive pledges, candidates like Raman face hurdles in implementing affordable housing policies. The city’s Housing and Community Development Department operates independently, with its own budget and leadership. “The mayor can propose initiatives, but they require Council approval and departmental buy-in,” said Michael Chen, a senior analyst at the LA Urban Policy Institute. “It’s a multi-layered approval process that slows progress.”

Proposition 13, passed in 1978, further complicates matters by capping property taxes, limiting revenue for public services. “This has forced LA to rely on state funding and grants, which are often tied to bureaucratic red tape,” Chen added. “The mayor’s ability to act is further diluted by these external constraints.”

Expert Perspectives on Decentralized Governance

Legal scholars debate whether LA’s structure remains effective. “The original intent was noble, but the system now favors consensus over decisive action,” said Professor David Kim, a constitutional law expert at USC. “In a city of 4 million, this fragmentation can paralyze progress on issues like homelessness or climate resilience.”

City Councilmember John Lopez, who has served since 2012, echoed this sentiment. “We’ve had mayors with strong visions, but the system doesn’t allow them to execute,” he said. “It’s not about the individual’s capability—it’s about the structure.”

Comparative Context: LA vs. Other Major Cities

Unlike New York City, where the mayor wields significant executive authority, LA’s governance model is an outlier. In 2026, New York’s mayor, Eric Adams, can unilaterally appoint department heads and set citywide budgets. “LA’s system is a relic of a different era,” said Sarah Lin, a policy analyst at the Brookings Institution. “Other major U.S. cities have evolved to grant mayors more direct control, recognizing the need for agility in urban management.”

San Francisco, another large U.S. city, has a similar decentralized structure but allows the mayor to appoint department heads with Council approval. “LA’s rigid separation of powers makes it harder to adapt,” Lin said. “This is a key reason why housing and transit projects lag behind other metropolitan areas.”

Solutions and Civic Engagement

Advocates argue that reforming the charter could empower mayors to address LA’s challenges. Proposals include merging departments or granting the mayor direct appointment authority. “This isn’t about concentrating power, but about creating a more functional governance model,” said Maya Patel, executive director of the LA Civic Reform Alliance. “We need leaders who can act decisively without navigating 16 separate approval processes.”

For residents seeking to influence policy, local organizations like the [Community Action Network] and [LA Public Policy Institute] offer resources to engage with city officials. Meanwhile, legal firms such as [Bloom & Associates] specialize in navigating LA’s complex regulatory environment, helping developers and activists alike. “Understanding the system is the first step to changing it,” said attorney Carlos Mendez.

The Road Ahead for LA’s Mayoral Race

As the November election approaches, the question of mayoral power remains central. Raman’s campaign highlights the need for structural reform, while incumbent Mayor Bass emphasizes incremental progress within the existing framework. “The system isn’t perfect, but it’s what we have,” Bass said in a June 2026 press conference. “We’re focused on making it work for Angelenos.”

For now, LA’s governance model endures, a product of its history and a challenge for its future. As the city grapples with its identity as a sprawling metropolis, the debate over mayoral authority will likely shape its trajectory for decades to come.