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On local government
by Bob Pinzler
Why everyone in local government will miss John Ferraro
John Ferraro loved local government.
Having had the pleasure of working with Los Angeles City Councilman John Ferraro on the Board of the League of California Cities, of which he was president from 1999-2000, I got a glimpse into the style for which he has been widely praised, that of a behind-the-scenes facilitator of good public policy.
Ferraro was elected nine times to the Los Angeles City Council from the 4th District. He started out as an appointee to fill an unexpired term and won the admiration, and votes, of his constituents for the 34 years by scrupulously following a very simple formula. If a constituent calls and asks for something, call them back with a solution. And if the problem can’t be solved, call them and tell them what is going to be done about it. Do not ignore the phone call just because you don’t have an answer.
Local government is the level of government closest to your day-to-day life. The decisions and actions taken at the city council level will enhance or detract from your life far more than most things done in Sacramento or Washington. Does the garbage get picked up? Is the street paved? Does the park have play equipment? Are the streets safe to walk at night? Are there paramedics for a health emergency? Do the sewers work?
Often, our focus is on what are euphemistically called the "higher" offices: Assembly, Senate, Congress, etc. However, the local government official, either elected or appointed, should be at the top of a resident’s hierarchy of public servants.
Now, juxtapose that need for service with the interest people take in voting for those offices responsible for getting "quality of life" services delivered. In cities that hold their Council elections at the same time as Federal and State offices, there is a dramatic drop off in voting participation as the voter moves "down" the card. Most people will vote for President. About 10 percent fewer will vote for Federal offices (Senate, Congress), which follow immediately after the President. Another 10 percent or so opt out of State races (Senate, Assembly). By the time local races are reached, some 30-40 percent of those who took the time to go to the polls or send in their absentee ballots have ceased voting. Sometimes, if an issue is very hot, they will actually skip over local races and go directly to the Propositions that interest them. Go figure.
John Ferraro’s love of local government stemmed from the fact that he could literally do something for somebody on the spot. For those of us who have served at this level, we know the feeling.
I don’t envy the person who follows Ferraro into office. The responsiveness bar has been set very high. But, it should be. Elected office carries with it certain requirements. One essential one is that you be accessible to people who need assistance and try as hard as you can to help them.
Most of the colleagues whom I have gotten to know over the past eight years perform that function admirably. However, with all due respect, Ferraro did it the best for the longest. He was as concerned about serving his constituents in Year 34 as he was in Year 2.
He will be missed. Even by those who didn’t bother to vote for him. ER