Flores Calls for Immediate Demotion of City Treasurer

A Los Angeles City Council member on Thursday called for the immediate demotion of City Treasurer Leonard Rittenberg, saying that recent disclosures of disarray in the investment department have made it clear that “his duties as manager of the office ought to be relinquished.”

Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores’ call for disciplinary action against Rittenberg was the first from a council member since a series of revelations about treasurer office bidding irregularities and alleged cover-ups in connection with the investigation of Mayor Tom Bradley’s business affairs. The treasurer’s office invests about $2 billion annually in taxpayer funds.

“We don’t need to know a lot more,” Flores said, “to know that he is not a good manager. The whole thing just shows he’s been a failure as a manager. I think we ought to address that . . . (and) take all of his management responsibility away from him.”

Flores stopped short of seeking Rittenberg’s dismissal, saying that decision should await the conclusion of a Civil Service disciplinary investigation initiated by Bradley three weeks ago. But, in the meantime, Flores said, the council should “send a strong message” that it will support action by the mayor to place someone else in charge of the department.

Flores, who failed this week to get the City Council to create a “super committee” to oversee the various Bradley investigations, did not appear to have immediate support among her colleagues.

“I think there’s dissatisfaction” with Rittenberg, said Council President John Ferraro, “but I don’t think we’re ready to call for his head.”

Rittenberg was on vacation and unavailable for comment.

Under the city Charter and Civil Service rules, Bradley may take disciplinary action against department heads with the approval of the City Council. It is an often-cumbersome process that can involve detailed “due process” procedures and hearings.