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Council confirms three appointments to planning, convention boards amid concerns about geographic representation
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council confirmed Michael Kaye to the Board of the Convention Center and Daryl Walker and Scott Hsu to city planning panels, prompting multiple council members to press for broader geographic representation on commissions.
The Los Angeles City Council confirmed three nominees to city boards Wednesday, July 19, approving Michael Kaye to the Board of the Convention Center and Daryl Walker and Scott Hsu to city planning commissions.
Council members emphasized the confirmations while also voicing concerns that the city’s commissions remain skewed toward certain districts. "You must live either West Of La Brea or in the Valley to get on the citywide planning commission," Councilmember Goldberg said during debate, noting the charter calls for an attempt at representation across the city.
The confirmations came on roll-call votes. The Council approved Michael Kaye’s appointment to the Board of the Convention Center by voice/roll tally noted in the record as 12 ayes. Daryl Walker, nominated to the City Planning Commission, was recommended by the Planning and Land Use Management Committee and confirmed 14 ayes. Scott Hsu was confirmed to the Central Area Planning Commission by a separate committee recommendation, 14 ayes.
Several council members said the new appointees bring local experience the commissions need. Walker noted he grew up in Los Angeles and said he hoped to "bring a little bit" of the neighborhood perspective to the commission. Supporters highlighted Walker’s background in the motion picture industry and prior service on the Housing Authority; Planning Committee members said those experiences would inform land-use decisions.
Other council members used the moment to press for structural change to ensure broader representation. "The communities of color... the communities with the most density in this city... are the communities that don't have a representative on the board that you're gonna sit on," Councilmember Hernandez said, urging appointees to advocate when neighborhoods receive unequal treatment in land-use decisions. Councilmember Walters and others echoed calls for attention to planning in historically underrepresented districts.
The Planning and Land Use Management Committee’s unanimous recommendation for Walker was repeatedly cited by backers as evidence of the nominee’s qualifications. Council members also encouraged appointees to balance case-by-case review with proactive planning proposals that could strengthen neighborhoods.
The confirmed appointees will take their seats on the respective boards and commissions according to standard onboarding; council records show the confirmations were made during the July 19 meeting.
The discussion underscored an ongoing council concern about geographic balance on city advisory bodies and the practical expectations placed on new commissioners to represent broad constituencies.
