City Controller Opposes Giving DNC $4 Million

On the eve of a closely watched vote on whether to use public money for this summer’s Democratic National Convention, Los Angeles City Controller Rick Tuttle on Monday urged City Council members to reject the request.

“Los Angeles had a deal with the convention, one that the convention planners are now trying to go back on,” Tuttle said in a letter.

Proponents of the $4-million request have lobbied for the money, in part, by noting the amount is less than cities normally contribute to political conventions--and less than the public money that will help pay for the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.

They also have said the amount pales next to the $132 million that the three-day convention--with its thousands of delegates, media and others--is expected to generate for the Los Angeles economy.

Led by City Councilman Joel Wachs, critics are mounting a feisty campaign against the motion, which was introduced by Council President John Ferraro. They argue that the council approved the convention with the understanding that private money would cover all cash expenses, leaving the government only to contribute services such as security and transportation.

Tuttle warned against giving the money, which he said would set a bad precedent for future projects, signaling to developers and others that the city would be willing to bail them out. If Democrats need more money for their convention, Tuttle added, they should step up their fund-raising or take out a loan.

Convention planners have raised more than $30 million in cash and in-kind contributions, but they are about $10 million to $11 million short.