Compared with city council members in the nation’s five largest cities -- Phoenix, Houston, San Diego, New York and Chicago -- L.A.'s lawmakers are cleaning up.

L.A. City Council members make three times as much as their counterparts in Phoenix. Their salaries easily top Houston and San Diego and top peers in New York by more than $72,000 annually.

In a 2011 report, Pew Charitable Trusts reported that of 15 city councils in the nation, including the 10 largest, Los Angeles’ city council members drew the biggest salaries. At that time, San Antonio had the lowest salaries, a maximum of $1,400 per member.

Now, some L.A. council candidates are vowing to return some of their pay if elected.


“I frankly don’t think we’re worth” that much, said candidate Sheila Irani.