2 Lame-Duck Officials Decide Against Trip

Less than 48 hours after the City Council authorized nearly $6,000 in travel expenses for two lame-duck council members to attend a conference in New York City, they decided not to go. Councilwomen Patricia A. Moore and Bernice Woods were authorized to attend the 61st Annual Conference of Mayors two weeks before they were scheduled to leave office.

But on Thursday, the city manager’s office announced that no council member would attend the meeting. No reason was given for the cancellation.

Woods said she decided to attend her grandson’s high school graduation in Lancaster instead. Moore could not be reached for comment.

Woods lost her reelection bid for the 3rd District council seat. Moore gave up her 2nd District seat in an unsuccessful bid for mayor.

Mayor Omar Bradley, who also received travel approval for the conference during Tuesday’s council meeting, said he decided on Wednesday not to go because he was scheduled to speak at high school graduations in Compton.

“When it comes to a decision between a national conference and our local kids, I’m going to pick the kids,” he said.

The council had also agreed to pay the $525 registration fee for newly appointed Councilman Ronald Green, but he also has canceled his plans to attend, a spokeswoman for the city manager said.

The mayor’s conference, which attracts council members and mayors from all over the country, began Friday and is scheduled to end Tuesday. The cost for each politician attending was $2,915 for air fare, registration, hotel rooms and meals.