IS GOVERNANCE THE LOST HARD-G IN LOS-ANGELES

The scope of governing in the LA region is quite broad, encompassing r egional, county, city, and community institutions and processes. The p aradox of governance is that rather than acting in concert, these vari ous institutions and processes often manifest conflicting and competin g interests. Demographic changes, power struggles between the various governing institutions, and the continuation of ''downtown''-oriented politics have created a volatile political environment. The language a nd symbols of community empowerment, without true representation and p articipation, have been the legacy of governing LA, This article chart s the course of governance in LA, briefly focusing on the significant issues at the regional, county, city, and finally returning the commun ity level to clarify the preconditions for returning governance to its rightful position in the discussion of governing this city. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.