How Tom Bradley Runs Los Angeles

The Times ran a front-page story concerning my legal activities after leaving the position of deputy mayor of Los Angeles (“Ex-Bradley Aides Cash In on Influence,” first of a four-part series, by Glenn Bunting, June 12). The city’s law is clear. If you have participated personally and substantially in a matter as a city official you may not represent a client of that same matter after leaving city service. Also, if you have exercised any responsibility with respect to a particular matter, you may not represent a client on that matter before city agencies for a period of one year.

I have scrupulously followed the city’s laws. Since leaving the mayor’s office, I have not represented clients in any matter or project in which I was involved, or over which I exercised any responsibility, as deputy mayor. I steadfastly turn down potential clients who seek representation for projects I was involved in as deputy mayor.

Further, the few clients whom I have represented have been undertaking projects of substantial benefit to the city and its taxpayers. Who can argue that the Coliseum Commission, which is not a city agency, will not be better off because I assisted in bringing private management to the Coliseum and Sports Arena? No one can deny that Los Angeles desperately needs solutions to its sewer sludge problem. Had my client’s project for shipping sludge to Guatemala been approved by authorities in Guatemala as well as by the city of Los Angeles, taxpayers would have saved millions of dollars in sewage dumping fees and Guatemala would have been a1651270944soil-enhancement industry. Finally, were the city to adopt my suggestion to begin co-venturing with developers willing to construct low- and moderate-income housing on deteriorating city-owned property, important strides could be made in solving the housing crisis and generating funds for needed city services.

My representation of clients before city agencies is a very small part of my law practice, but one which affords me the opportunity to assist in the development of worthwhile projects.

TOM K. HOUSTON

Los Angeles