CommentsBCK FILE--Six months ago, FBI agents raided the third story suite of Councilman Jose Huizar.
Other FBI teams raided the councilman’s home and Boyle Heights field office. Huizar had been chair of the Planning and Land Use Management committee that could greenlight real estate development projects. Eight days following the raid, City Council President Herb Wesson stripped Huizar from his council committee posts, including the PLUM chair.
Huizar has developed a reputation for pay to play. Two years ago, an investigation by the Coalition to Preserve LA found that developers were frequent contributors to the councilman’s city campaign as projects were up for approval in the Council. He also violated the California Public Records Act by failing to provide his meeting calendar for a several month period.
According to a search warrant, federal investigators have also been placing Councilman Curren Price, as well as officials under Council President Wesson and Mayor Eric Garcetti under the microscope. Huizar has not yet been charged by the Feds but remains under investigation. He terms out in 2020. However, the impact of his scandal may outlive his council career.
Almost half of City Council members support restrictions on fundraising for council members and are currently drafting several measures. One part of the proposal involves banning political donations by real estate developers with projects under consideration. Greasing the palms of politicians has long been a practice of developers seeking to curry favor for their projects.
The Ethics Committee issued a recommendation to end a practice known as “behested payments” in which politicians solicit donations for a favorite charity or community group from a “restricted source” such as lobbyists, city contractors, developers, people bidding for city contracts, and others who have sought approval from the city during the past 12 months.
According to an LA Times report, Huizar requested donations to Bishop Mora Salesian High School from people who had business relationships with City Hall. Huizar’s wife was a professional fundraiser for the school at the time. A staff member filed a lawsuit, alleging she was instructed to raise funds during office hours.
Behested payments seem to play a part in the Huizar investigation. The FBI is seeking information about developer donations to the high school and to political committees linked to Huizar.
The access for developers, city contractors and others who financially benefit from donations and contributions at the request of politicians should be closed. Mayor Garcetti, who says he supports the restriction, has raised over $42 million for his Mayor’s Fund and other causes.
Under California law, elected office holders are required to report donations of $5,000 or more, per office holder’s request. According to the Ethics Commission, a majority of the behested payments in Los Angeles originated in people who had been conducting business at City Hall.
Restricting the quid pro quo at City Hall would increase transparency and rid the city of ethically questionable practices. City council members should represent the needs of Los Angeles residents and not only those who curry favor through donations.
(Beth Cone Kramer is a professional writer living in the Los Angeles area. She covers Resistance Watch and other major issues for CityWatch.)
-cw
