Some historians insist that the odd thing about century changes is how few really cosmic events seem to happen in years ending in double-zeros — like 1700, 1800 or even 1900. In modern times, they say, such years are notably bereft of comets, plagues, invasions, revolutions. What with the Rampart disaster and the new city charter’s July 1 advent, I’m not sure you could say that about this year in our fair city. Next year and beyond, however, really is a millennium in Los Angeles governance: More than half the city’s elected officials leave office in 2001. Two years later, the rest will be gone. That is a Promethean hunk of passing scene — there’s never before been that much local-governmental officialdom-transition here in so short a span. At the same time, the city’s government has changed — due both to last year’s new charter and to the more recent political evolution of the city’s own power structure. Two major differences will become widely apparent in the months to come. So now is a good time to take note of them.
Source: Year-end Scorecard | L.A. Weekly