Pay-to-Play Has to Go

With City Hall awash in allegations that contractors must “pay to play” if they want the city’s business, the Los Angeles Ethics Commission on Tuesday should preach what its members already practice and urge the City Council to ban political fundraising by all city commissioners.

Los Angeles is unique in its extensive use of unpaid citizen panels to oversee city departments from the Affordable Housing Commission to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The part-time commissions are a legacy of Progressive Era reformers who sought to dilute politicians’ power while encouraging public participation in government. In practice, mayors have appointed big campaign contributors to the high-profile commissions. The proposed ban would not directly end this spoils system but it would keep commissioners from raising funds for elected officials and local ballot measures.

The potential for corruption is apparent, especially within the boards that oversee millions of dollars in contracts at the airport, the port and the Department of Water and Power. Late last year City Controller Laura Chick released a highly critical audit of the airport department, which is rich in contracts, and asked local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to look into “potential illegal acts.” Deputy Mayor Troy Edwards, who was Mayor James K. Hahn’s campaign finance director before being named liaison to the airport agency, was among those called to testify before a grand jury investigating airport contracting, and the probe continues to widen.

City law already prohibits contractors from donating to commissioners’ fundraisers if they have had business before a particular commission in the previous 12 months. But loopholes and the welter of contracts make enforcement all but impossible.

Nearly seven years ago, an earlier Ethics Commission recommended a ban on commissioner fundraising but a City Council committee shelved the proposal. Now City Council members Wendy Greuel and Cindy Miscikowski are urging the Ethics Commission to try again. Hahn, previously an opponent, recently said he might sign a ban if the council passed it.

Years ago, as city attorney, Hahn was more forceful on the issue. “It has been the perception at least,” Hahn said then, “that ... you get to become a commissioner based on past fundraising activities, and that you hold your position if you can continue to engage in those activities.” That perception has only increased. The City Council and the mayor should fight it.