From Butts, Page 9
GUEST COMMENTARY
that they have to balance their budgets so why not the government. A handful of California cities are experimenting with zero-based budgeting to force discipline in prioritizing and allocating what resources are actually available. Some claim this is akin to moving chairs on the Titanic absent serious structural changes, but a gradual reduction in workforces and spending will be far less disruptive to both the government and the public. Empower Employees to Make Decisions: Distrust in bureaucracy and its many failings is nothing new. Nearly a century ago, Hanna Arendt coined the phrase “bureaucracy by nobody” describing a system so mired in rules and processes that public servants were robbed of the ability to make decisions and thus take responsibility for them. In California, multiple government agencies sprung up over the last generation leading to overlapping jurisdictions and hindering employees and the public from accomplishing anything. It might sound counter-intuitive or too simplistic, but training and empowering employees to resolve conflict and solve problems at the lower rungs of bureaucracy will strengthen their self-worth and their role in the structure of government. Adapt to Artificial Intelligence: What AI means for the federal, state and local government workforce is uncertain and will have serious impacts on communities where government is one of the larger employers. The daunting pace with which AI is forcing change has unforeseen circumstances – both good and bad. Determining and tackling what AI means to various government institutions should become a priority. Malissa Hathaway McKeith is an accomplished international environmental lawyer, policy influencer and civic advocate in California. She is the president of Citizens United for Resources and the Environment (CURE), a public non- profit, founded by her family over 20 years ago to ensure accountability in government decision making affecting natural resource and land use planning (www.curegroup.org). She was an elected trustee of the State Bar of California and a gubernatorial appointment to several blue ribbon commissions including the Colorado River Board of California.
million a year, while we’re asleep.” Next up, revive The Forum. The
Enhancing Trust and Efficiency in Government Agencies By Malissa Hathaway McKeith R eactions to the actions of the Department of Government
entertainment venue had been bought by the Faithful Central Bible Church and it was struggling. Butts said he wanted to do right by the church and save the venue. He contacted executives at the Madison Square Garden Company to broker a deal. MSG paid $23.5 million for the historic venue, renovated it, and it’s now the #2 concert venue in the nation. “Without the Mayor, this deal simply would not have happened,” said MSG President and Chief Executive Officer Hank J. Ratner when the deal was announced in June of 2012. Across from The Forum was what Butts described as a “modest development” called Hollywood Park Tomorrow that would include retail, residential units and a park. It was nearing bankruptcy. About a year later, enter Stan Kroenke, owner of the then-St. Louis Rams. “I had to look up who he was,” Butts said with a laugh. “We sat down in my office, and what could have been a 15-minute meeting, ended up being an hour meeting.” It boiled down to this: Kroenke wanted more land for a stadium and Butts wanted more than a one-team stadium. “I told him I wasn’t interested in a stand-alone football stadium. There are 14 football games a year. That was the largest contiguous block of open land in urban Southern California.” Butts asked Kroenke and Stockbridge Capital Group, owners of the Hollywood Park Land Company, to negotiate. The result:
Magic Johnson
Efficiency (DOGE) run the gambit from glee to outright paranoia. Government agencies simply can’t ignore that DOGE reflects a breakdown of trust in public institutions and should take action now to reverse this dangerous trend for democracy. Before the metaphorical
SoFi Stadium, home to both the L.A. Rams and L.A. Chargers; the 6,000-seat YouTube Theater; retail, office and residential units; 25 acres of open space including a six-acre artificial lake; and a 300-room luxury hotel, which broke ground in October. Finally, the Intuit Dome opened last August ahead of the 2024-25 L.A. Clippers season. The Kia Forum and Intuit Dome hosted the FireAid Benefit Concert on Jan. 30 that raised $100 million for L.A. fire relief. SoFi Stadium will host the 2028 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies and swimming. The Intuit Dome will host Olympic basketball. SoFi also will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 Super Bowl. When asked if the City of Inglewood is ready for the upcoming big events, Butts said: “We’re born prepared.” 1 Earvin Magic Johnson [@MagicJohnson], “I had an awesome meeting this week with Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. He’s done such an amazing job bringing the Rams and Chargers to Inglewood and creating thousands of jobs for the Inglewood community at SoFi Stadium!” X.com, Aug 20, 2021. Available: https://x.com/ MagicJohnson/status/1428771631397183488 (accessed: Apr. 8, 2025).
chainsaw finds your agency, consider some possible steps to fortify public trust while enhancing efficiency. Here are just a few suggestions: Demand and Document More Productivity and Cost Saving: Traditionally, government jobs paid less than the private sector so were rewarded with more job security and pensions. Today, salaries are more than competitive and include generous benefit packages particularly for members of public safety unions. DOGE capitalizes on the perception that employees actually don’t work hard, pointing to empty government buildings post-COVID. Because government employees don’t build widgets, it is difficult but necessary to create matrix that gauge productivity; consolidate job responsibilities and reduce or eliminate programs no longer needed. Adopt Zero-Based Budgeting: Americans frequently quip
“A good leader will formulate goals and objectives by engaging in structured dialogue and discussions with their team, while allowing for creative expression...” Kevin Harbour, BizFed Institute President
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Continue Recovery, Page 12
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