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Opinion: Ethics reform for L.A. City Hall should be included in the November ballot


In recent years, Los Angeles City Hall has been plagued by corruption scandals, with multiple officials facing imprisonment, sentencing, or accusations of ethics violations. To rebuild public trust and prevent further corruption, a comprehensive ethics reform package must be put on the November ballot with support from voters. Despite the Ethics Commission approving proposed changes in 2022 and half the City Council requesting these reforms, there has been little public discussion on the matter.

The holdup in implementing these reforms suggests that council members may not want ethics reform to go to voters, which is unacceptable given the concerning level of corruption in the City Council reported by voters. The Ethics Commission, created by voters 30 years ago, lacks the independence and authority needed to be an effective watchdog over city officials. To address this, proposals have been made to update the lobbying law for transparency, set a minimum annual budget to avoid budget threats, and increase the maximum fine per violation.

Experts have also recommended increasing the number of commissioners from five to seven and requiring some to be appointed by individuals not tied to politicians. The City Council must agree on reform proposals by June and finalize the ballot language by July to ensure placement on the November ballot. Punting ethics reforms to a charter commission could further delay action, risking the chance of meaningful ethics reform ever reaching the ballot. Angelenos were promised reform, and it is crucial that they have the opportunity to vote on these much-needed changes.

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Photo credit www.latimes.com

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