Measure P
Los Angeles Elections | March 7, 2017
Honestly, the mere existence of this measure puts me in a bad mood.
Our LA voter guideA Housekeeping Measure, Not a Meaningful One
Measure P lets the city issue permits, leases, and franchises to water-related businesses along LA's ocean and beach areas for up to 66 years, up from the current 50-year cap. State law already made this change back in 2015; the city charter simply hasn't caught up, creating a conflict between city and state rules that this measure resolves.
There's not much of a case to make against a measure that just brings the city charter into line with existing state law — it's a cleanup item, not a policy shift. What stands out more is how the measure is written: dense enough that most voters have no real way to understand what it's asking for, and irrelevant to the overwhelming majority of residents.
That combination — trivial impact, unclear language — is worth a Yes vote on the merits, even without much enthusiasm behind it.
Why We Love It
- Brings the city charter in line with a state law change that already took effect in 2015
Considerations
- Written in language most voters can't easily parse
- Has essentially no practical effect on the vast majority of residents
A Closer Look
Vote Yes — It's Just Paperwork
Measure P only resolves a conflict between city and state law on permit length for waterfront businesses; there's little reason to oppose it and little reason to get excited about it either.
