Editorial: L.A. City Council just proved it can’t be trusted to fix itself
LA TimesThe Los Angeles City Council showed its true self-interested colors Tuesday when it gutted key reforms to reduce corruption in City Hall and strengthen independent ethics oversight. Last month the council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Governance Reform recommended a set of policies to strengthen the Ethics Commission, which is the city’s watchdog over elected officials and charged with enforcing campaign finance, contracting, lobbying and conflict of interest laws. It really looked like the City Council might agree to major changes to the city’s political system after a secret audio recording leaked in October 2022 revealing three council members, including current Councilmember Kevin de León, making deplorable and racially divisive comments. As of now, the November ballot will have two reform measures — a watered-down version of the ethics package, and an independent redistricting commission similar to what the state and county already have, so City Council members can’t draw their own districts.
History of this topic
Editorial: This election showed L.A. voters are fed up with City Hall corruption and scandal
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Editorial: L.A. City Hall has a corruption problem. Why are leaders stalling on ethics reform?
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Editorial: Los Angeles must take politics out of development decisions
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