LOS ANGELES, CA — The City Council took a significant step on Wednesday by voting 14-1 in favor of establishing an Office of Compliance to help council members identify and avoid potential conflicts of interest. The aim is to ensure higher standards of ethics within the council. Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky introduced an amendment to have a deputy city attorney serve as the compliance officer, instead of a member from the Office of the Chief Legislative Analyst.
The report expected to guide the creation of the office will include responsibilities, funding sources, and necessary staff. The council plans to request funding for the compliance officer position in Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed 2024-25 budget. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez expressed appreciation for the conversation but raised concerns about the necessity of creating a new office, suggesting that the city attorney’s office was already tasked with addressing potential conflicts of interest.
The City Council has faced several ethics scandals in recent years, including former Councilman José Huizar pleading guilty to corruption charges and former Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas being sentenced to federal prison. The establishment of the Office of Compliance aims to address these issues and prevent future ethical violations within the council. The motion was introduced by council members Traci Park, Yaroslavsky, and Krekorian on Oct. 4 and will be further discussed in a council committee after the report is compiled by relevant city departments.
Source
Photo credit patch.com
