Why Progressives (and Conservatives) Don’t Get Democracy—And Why They Should

Why Progressives Don’t Get Democracy (And Why They Should) | Zocalo Public Square • Arizona State University • Smithsonian

Twenty-five years ago, a city manager looked at me gravely and said, “I’m not a big fan of unbridled democracy.” I had just suggested ways that she could engage large, diverse numbers of people in a deliberative process to plan the future of her city. She was skeptical.

Why? Because all my ideas about giving citizens a voice in decision-making went against the grain of her training and outlook on how public life is supposed to work. As a highly competent administrator and expert, she was used to a system where …

by Matt Leighninger | November 7, 2022

Can Los Angeles Elect a City Council That Reflects Our Values?

It’s Hard to Legislate Decency—But Changing Demographics and New Technologies Require New Ethics and Rules

by Michael Woo | November 3, 2022

Politics is full of high-stakes battles and strategies concocted behind closed doors. But that’s no excuse for the level of venality, toxicity, self-aggrandizement, condescension, hubris, and racism exposed in the …

Why Are L.A. Mayoral Campaigns Getting the Candidates So Wrong?

The Bass and Caruso You Think You Know Are Based on Misperceptions. That’s a Problem for California’s Local Politics

by Joe Mathews | May 31, 2022

The Los Angeles mayoral campaign has become an exercise in misinformation, clouding the public’s muddled perceptions of how municipal government actually works in this state.

The problem emanates from the upside-down …

Not Your Average L.A. Mayor Voter Guide

From South L.A. to the Valley, Angelenos Will Have to Vote Their Values

by Talib Jabbar | May 27, 2022

As the primary election for Los Angeles’ next mayor nears and narrows, Zócalo, together with Creating Our Next L.A., convened a panel to answer the question on every Angeleno’s mind: …

A ‘Peculiar Mix of Ego and Insecurity’ Drives the Race for L.A. Mayor

To Lead a City of Imported Stars, You’ve Got to Make It in Sacramento or Washington First

by Joe Mathews | April 12, 2022

Why does Los Angeles trust Sacramento and Washington more than it trusts itself?

Angelenos may complain about state and national government like other Californians, but we also have a practice of …

Who Benefits From ‘Buckxit’?

A Wealthy, White Atlanta Neighborhood’s Bid to Secede Shows What Happens When the Toxicity of National Politics Seeps into Local Affairs

by James C. Cobb | February 3, 2022

Former House Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill’s observation that “all politics are local” has been borne out in countless cases where divisions over hot-button state and local issues have derailed efforts …

local politics