MADIA Tech report: Build it with green tech!

By Brenda J. Trainor

The Central City Association of Los Angeles released a report Monday outlining ideas it contends could improve city decision-making and processes, as a council committee continues to consider changes in the aftermath of federal indictments and a leaked, racist audio recording involving council members.

The report is intended to be an informational resource while the City Council's Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform prepares to put possible changes before voters in 2024. The Central City Association of Los Angeles began advocating for governance reform following corruption lawsuits against former city staff and council members.

"Making structural changes and shifts in legislative processes can help restore the public's trust and fundamentally improve the way our local government services its constituents," said Nella McOsker, chief executive officer of the association. "This is a moment of opportunity that certainly includes a more independent redistricting process but extends beyond that to having a clearer and fairer decisionmaking process for land use and mobility issues in the city."

The report provides extensive background on the redistricting process, compares other cities and governmental agencies' redistricting processes to that of the city of LA, and it includes several ideas to support governmental reform, including developing a "truly" independent redistrict- ing process that empowers residents and does not involve elected officials; improving processes for planning, land use and transportation approvals; expansion of the City Council; strengthening mayoral powers over legislation, department and commission appointments; and outlining a process for removing elected officials who are no longer able to do their job for legal or ethical reasons.

"CCA continues to bridge the public and private sectors by producing useful research like this report," said Edgar Khalatian, partner at Mayer Brown and chair of the association's board.

Citrus College is hosting the next meeting of MADIA Tech Launch at 6:15 p.m. on April 12 with a program about green construction technologies that use the environment and sustainability as key considerations.

Green technologies used in construction can be applied at all stages of a project and include design, layout and material selection, and continue to the application of sustainable construction strategies and the use of renewable resources. A panel of experts and practitioners will explore how best practices are applied and how energy efficiency can be used for buildings that will be more efficient to operate and have less impact on resource consumption.

Taking place at the Citrus College Center for Innovation, and including a free dinner, this meeting does have a limit of 30 attendees. Registration is required via Eventbrite: https:// lnkd.in/gjWs-rxx. If you can’t attend in person, the meeting will also be available to registrants via live streaming. Registrants will receive a link for the online part of the meeting and in-person attendees will receive a parking permit via email.

MADIA Tech Launch is a nonprofit organization committed to the support of technology entrepreneurs in the foothill cities at the heart of the San Gabriel Valley. The organization sponsors monthly meetings and special events to encourage tech workers to network and develop a community of successful tech-based businesses in the region surrounding the 605 and 210 freeways. For more information, visit www.MADIAtech.org.