L.A. City Council Members’ Reject Ethics Comte. Reccomendation, And Then Reduce Gift Limits
At least 13 of the 15 council members are Democrats, one Republican and one with no affiliation listed in his Wiki. If we had a more balanced council, or incumbents were not so very powerful, this kind od gifting corruption would not be allowed. Or at least not slip by without more debate, hopefully public debate. Remember people all politics is local.
The council rejected reducing the span of gifts, and in fact allowed themselves more expensive gifts instead. So, if you want some pull, some access, whip out that credit card and take good care of your city councilman.
By Steve Lopez
October 29, 2013, 7:52 p.m.
I’m not sure how many of you out there were planning on sending gifts to Los Angeles City Council representatives this holiday season, but if you missed the news, the council members are happy to accept even bigger presents than they have in the past.
Don’t send the 10-pack cigar sampler. Send a whole box!
Last week, as my colleague David Zahniser reported, the council rejected calls by the city Ethics Commission to scale back gift-giving. As it is, public officials can’t accept gifts from lobbyists, for obvious reasons. But the Ethics Commission wanted to add other people to that list. Contractors, for instance, and others who might be fishing for business with the city.
Makes sense, right?
More: City Council Members’ Decision to Accept Even Pricier Gifts Stinks