In a surprising move, a candidate for the position of Los Angeles city attorney is advocating for a dramatic change: having government lawyers physically present in the office for only two days each month.
This audacious proposal, highlighted by the LA Times, comes amidst rising tensions at City Hall. Previous reports from California Post have uncovered a city center that’s eerily quiet, its vibrancy diminished by a significant reduction in daily staff presence.
The debate centers on current city attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto and her opponent, Marissa Roy.
Marissa Roy, a deputy state attorney general with the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America, has suggested to the city attorneys’ union that she would drastically cut in-office attendance to merely two days a month, excluding court appearances. This plan is inspired by the policy in place at Rob Bonta’s office, where Roy currently serves.
“There’s no reason why the city attorney’s office couldn’t adopt a similar policy,” Roy asserted.
In contrast, Feldstein Soto has been advocating for a more traditional, office-centric approach.
Her office now requires most attorneys in person at least three days a week, with supervisors expected in four. The goal, she says, is oversight, training and responsiveness in a job that often requires real-time legal guidance for city leaders.
“It builds teamwork. It ensures cohesion,” she said, arguing younger attorneys in particular need hands-on supervision.
She has also raised concerns that looser remote policies could open the door for outside work, creating ethical and logistical complications for government lawyers tasked with representing the city.
The proposal lands in a city already struggling to keep the lights on, literally and figuratively. A California Post investigation found entire City Hall offices closed on Fridays, with no notice to the public.
Roughly 50 Angelenos were turned away in a single day after showing up to pay bills or seek help, only to find locked doors and empty counters. One small business owner drove across the city, paid for parking and took time off work, only to be told to come back another day.
The fallout has stretched beyond inconvenience.
Across the street, businesses that once depended on daily foot traffic from city workers have collapsed, with some reporting revenue plunges as much as 90 percent since the shift to remote work.
Even the basics are buckling. City workers tell the Post that ever since work-from-home took hold during COVID, routine services have slipped, with requests for things like street repairs are piling up and falling behind.
Roy has emerged as Feldstein Soto’s most formidable challenger, pulling in more than $450,000 in campaign contributions, while the incumbent has raised roughly $685,000.
While Roy is eyeing more remote work, other cities are slamming the brakes.
In August, thousands of employees in San Francisco will be required to be in the office at least four days a week, part of a push to bring life back to a downtown that’s been hollowed out since COVID.
