The package of reforms the L.A. City Council is considering has a problem: It doesn't give the City Ethics Commission the independence it needs to do its watchdog job.
Los Angeles city government has a corruption problem. Since 2020, three L.A. council members and a former deputy mayor were found guilty of or pleaded guilty to such charges as bribery and lying to authorities, another council member has been charged with embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest, and yet another stands accused of violating city ethics laws.
Giving the Ethics Commission the power to go directly to voters would not prevent the agency from first engaging with the City Council to achieve its ends. In fact, that would be preferable: Angelenos’ elected representatives should be able to weigh in and come to an agreement with the commission on repairing flaws in ethics laws as they arise. But if the council and the commission cannot find common ground, the commissioners need the option of putting an ordinance on the ballot.
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