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City Council confirms appointment to Recreation and Park Commission after debate over diversity
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council voted 11-0 on June 8 to confirm the mayor's nominee to the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners despite concerns from some council members about the commission's racial, gender and geographic balance.
The Los Angeles City Council on June 8 voted 11-0 to confirm the mayor's nomination of Mike Medevoy to the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners after a debate in which several council members criticized the commission's lack of diversity.
Councilmember Padilla, who moved the confirmation, said concerns raised in committee had been addressed and that the nominee's short, interim term made confirmation appropriate so the commission could continue its business. "My statement today is this, I believe most of that is behind us," Padilla said on the council floor.
Several council members said they supported the nominee but used the debate to press a broader point about representation on city commissions. Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas criticized the overall makeup of the commission, saying the appointments did not reflect the city's population. "It is an insult to the inner city," Ridley-Thomas said during the discussion.
Councilmembers raised three specific concerns that had been discussed in committee: whether the nominee had completed required statements of economic interest (Padilla said that requirement had been resolved), the gender and ethnic balance of the Recreation and Parks Commission, and whether recent appointments properly reflected the geographic diversity of the city.
Padilla and others argued that because the confirmed commissioner would serve only a short remainder of the current term before a new administration and a newly seated council take office, filling the seat would help the commission maintain quorums and continue projects. The council voted to approve the appointment by roll call; the clerk announced "11 ayes. That's approved."
The council did not adopt any additional requirements or conditions on the appointment during the vote. The disagreement over the commission's demographics was voiced on the record but did not change the outcome.
The vote advances the nominee to the Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners and allows the board to continue handling its pending matters through the end of the current term.
