Q: How do you Measure R? A: With 4 more years.

Question: How do you Measure R?
Answer: With 4 more years.

With the passage of Measure R, currently seated LA City Councilmembers will be able to serve three four-year terms and not just two - as long as the measure is upheld in court. So, that's potentially six more years (instead of two more) for Janice Hahn, Dennis Zine, Ed Reyes, Eric Garcetti, Jack Weiss, & Jan Perry - council members who currently are serving their last term under the pre-R rules. These folks would have been termed out of their council seat in 2009 because they are 17 months into their second term. Well, not anymore.

That means that they have to more politically conscious of how they vote and what they do, and no longer do they have the controls that really allow them to do what's right - they potentially have to worry about their next election for the same seat.

Also, if the measure is upheld in court, most of those on City Council right now will be involved in redistricting which starts in 2010 - that means that politics will really influence the districts because the seated members will potentially have 3 to 5 years AFTER the redistricting (not including the potential CD7 replacement and if Rosendahl wins his next two elections, which would put those three-termers in office until 2021 & 2017, respectively. Yes, folks, there is a potential for whomever wins Alex Padilla's vacated seat to serve a total of 14 years!

Another issue that comes back is what about folks like Richard Alarcon, Laura Chick or Cindy Misacowski - they served their two terms under the previous term limit reforms - could they come back for a third term? Could Cindy unseat Bill Rosendahl for a term? Would it be worth it? And what about Laura Chick? She'll be termed out of her Controller's seat in 2009 - the same time that her old 3rd District seat will be up for grabs. Would she take on Dennis Zine to get four more years in office. That would be an interesting race, for sure.

If Measure R is upheld will the City really be able to move forward with the progress it has made in service delivery and focusing on the people (the turning of the horseshoe in the City Council Chambers, for instance, and Valley Council meetings) in the last 6 years? I hope so but I fear not.