Weiss Swears Off Lobbyist Donations

City Council candidate Jack Weiss announced Thursday that he is returning all political contributions from lobbyists to his 5th District campaign, totaling about $11,000.

The decision by Weiss, the leading fund-raiser in the race, was announced as the 11 candidates staked out positions on a controversial plan to run a high-speed bus line between North Hollywood and Woodland Hills, with most contenders opposing the plan.

Weiss has received at least 24 contributions either directly from lobbyists or delivered by lobbyists on behalf of others, according to a report by the City Ethics Commission that summarized lobbyist contributions to all candidates in city races.

“After reviewing those materials, I just decided I would feel more comfortable returning those contributions,” said Weiss, a former federal prosecutor. “I have respect for the Ethics Commission as a neutral third party. The fact that they have seen fit to weigh in on the issue caused me to reconsider. I just feel more comfortable conducting my campaign in this way.”

The lobbyist contributions make up about 3% of Weiss’ campaign budget, he said.

The role of lobbyists at City Hall has received heightened scrutiny recently, with the Ethics Commission beginning a review to determine whether more regulation is needed of lobbyists who act as contributors, fund-raisers or political consultants.

Weiss has been the target of criticism in recent days from other candidates for accepting contributions and fund-raising help from lobbyists on controversial projects in the district, including Arnie Berghoff, who represents the owners of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill.

“He’s getting attacked and I think he realizes it’s a liability,” said Jill Barad, another candidate in the race for the district that extends from Westwood to Van Nuys.

Weiss said he understands why some people might think that lobbyists have special access to those they help, but he denied that is the case with him.

“When it comes to campaign contributions, it’s no moment to me whether someone contributed or not,” Weiss said. “Anybody who has a point of view to express will be able to come in the front door and express it.”

A West Los Angeles resident, Weiss vowed to hold Sunshine Canyon’s operators responsible for any problems that might occur at the landfill and he also recently came out in opposition to a senior housing project proposed for the Studio City Golf and Tennis complex after receiving a contribution from a lobbyist for the project.

Candidates criticized the lobbyist contributions at a forum Wednesday night in Sherman Oaks, where they were also asked where they stand on a proposal to use an abandoned rail right-of-way along Chandler Boulevard as a dedicated area for a high-speed bus system connecting North Hollywood and Woodland Hills.

The proposal has been fiercely opposed by leaders of Orthodox Jewish synagogues along the route, who fear it will endanger congregants who every Saturday walk across Chandler to go to temple.

Most of candidates, including front-runner Tom Hayden, said they oppose a ground-level, high-speed bus system along Chandler.

Hayden said he has proposed, since 1992, that the Chandler right-of-way be developed as a greenbelt and that other east-west transit alternatives be explored that do not disrupt residential neighborhoods.

Other candidates, including Victor Viereck, Ken Gerston and Weiss, said they might support a bus system along Chandler if it was put below-grade in a trench, with Gerston adding that the trench should be covered.

“It’s about lives being in jeopardy because that is a walking community there,” Gerston said.

He and Barad said one solution is to move the dedicated busway to a more industrial area along Oxnard Street, while Laura Lake said she prefers an underground light-rail system.

West Los Angeles businessman Steve Saltzman, another candidate, said he also opposes putting a high-speed bus system along Chandler and favors studying alternatives.