A Los Angeles City Council committee approved a series of proposed ethics reforms Thursday, including one that would triple the maximum amount of fines imposed on people who violate city ethics rules.
The reforms come more than a year-and-a-half after they were first proposed by the Ethics Commission and follow a series of City Hall scandals that have shaken the public’s trust in elected city officials.
“I’m very excited we are moving forward after all this time,” said commission President Jeff Daar. He called the reforms “long overdue.”
Under one proposal, the Ethics Commission would have the ability to impose fines of up to $15,000 per violation — three times the current limit.
“We’ve seen that the fines haven’t deterred a lot of things from happening in the past,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who sits on the Ad Hoc Governance Reform Committee. “We need to elevate those fines.”
Will raising fines lower corruption?
Over the past three years, former council members Mitch Englander, Jose Huizar and Mark Ridley-Thomas have been sentenced to federal prison on corruption charges.
LA City Panel Approves Package Of Ethics Reforms
Councilmember Curren Price faces corruption charges in state court. And the city Ethics Commission has accused Councilmember John Lee of accepting illegal gifts from developers. He is not facing criminal charges.
“Increasing fines will hopefully deter wrongdoing,” Daar said.
Others were skeptical. Ethics reform advocate Jamie York said increased fines…
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