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Garcetti Scolds Tardy Councilmembers, Threatens to Shut Down Future Meetings
At a City Council meeting in 2009 | Photo by current events via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
You would think that if you were among the highest paid city politicans in the country--around $170,000 annually--showing up for a pubic meeting on time would be a priority. That, however, is often not the case. Exasperated with starting City Council meetings late time after time, City Council President Eric Garcetti this morning let it be known how he will enforce the rules for the rest of the year.
"Just as a reminder for everybody, when we are late, we not only waste our colleague's time, but the public's time," Garcetti announced at 10:16 a.m. "People take off work to be here and it is critical that councilmembers adhere to their own council rules to be here on time."
As he spoke, Councilmember Janice Hahn walked in late. Members Bill Rosendahl and Herb Wesson were still missing.
"When we are here at 10:16, 10:17, that is hours of public time wasted and I will reiterate... if we do not have a quorum at 10:15 we will be adjourning these meetings throughout the year."
Today's City Council meeting will tackle numerous issues, most notably the medical marijuana ordinance.