US Politics
The Charter Reform Crucible: California's Fight for Accountable Local Government
San Diego County, led by Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, is proposing a major charter reform to establish an ethics commission, independent fiscal watchdogs, and an open budget process, while extending supervisor term limits and increasing board authority over senior staff. This push for modernization, echoed in LA and San Francisco, is a crucial battle for accountable governance against the backdrop of federal austerity, representing a vital, though contentious, defense of democratic functionality at the local level.
