Judge Strikes Down Ballot Measure That Would Have Created Separate L.A. City Health Department
On Friday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Linfield preemptively struck down a June ballot measure that would have created a separate Los Angeles city public health department. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has been pushing the measure, arguing that the county health department is poorly run. However, both the city and county oppose the initiative, saying it would violate state public health laws. Linchfield ruled that the measure would conflict with state law and "impermissibly interfere with essential government functions."
- "Judge Kills Measure for Separate L.A. Health Department" (Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 1/24).