CRA Board Appointee Rouses Ire

Ignoring claims of cronyism and conflict of interest, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved the appointment of a councilwoman’s husband to the Community Redevelopment Agency board.

Attorney Doug Ring, spouse of councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, won approval on a 9-3 vote. He was appointed by Mayor Richard Riordan.

Ring, who lives in a gated Brentwood neighborhood, replaces the last representative from South Los Angeles on the agency panel, even though a large percentage of redevelopment projects are south of Interstate 10.

“To not have any representative at all on that commission is a travesty,” Councilwoman Rita Walters said.

Despite the many objections, the council overwhelmingly approved Ring, a well-known political consultant, to help oversee the agency that spends $340 million a year.

Walters said she is concerned about the appearance of a conflict of interest in having Miscikowski, whose district extends from the San Fernando Valley to West Los Angeles, voting on actions of her husband.

“We deal with a lot of CRA matters, and to me that [appointment] is erasing a firewall that should be there for city business as far as the spouse of any of us is concerned,” Walters said. “It makes it decidedly uncomfortable for doing business in the city.”

The appointment is “cronyism at its worst,” said Gordon Murley, president of the Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization.

“We don’t see how Miscikowski can ever vote on anything regarding the CRA because he is on the board,” Murley told the council.

Assistant City Atty. Tony Alperin said Miscikowski would not be prevented from voting on recommendations by Ring and the CRA board, as long as there is no financial benefit to her.

Ring’s support was broad. Councilman Hal Bernson said there is no problem with Ring and Miscikowski both serving the city.

“To suggest that either he or Cindy cannot be independent is an insult,” Bernson said.

Councilman Nate Holden questioned whether a conflict would exist because of Ring’s large real estate holdings.

Ring, who had twice backed political candidates against Holden, said only two of his properties are in Los Angeles--an apartment building in the San Fernando Valley and his Brentwood home--and neither is in a redevelopment project area.

“I met with the city attorney’s office,” Ring told the council. “I believe there is nothing that would impede me from being able to vote on any issue before the CRA.”

Councilman Joel Wachs said Ring “is extremely well qualified.”