Los Angeles Times: Should L.A. curb charitable fundraising by politicians? Council members aren’t so sure

05.28.2019 / By EMILY ALPERT REYES and DAVID ZAHNISER
Los Angeles Times: Should L.A. curb charitable fundraising by politicians? Council members aren’t so sure

“The question is why those corporations would take the direction of a council member as opposed to simply giving out of the kindness of their own hearts,” said Kathay Feng, a representative of Common Cause, which advocates for open government. “It’s clear that there’s an intention to curry favor with an elected official … and that’s fundamentally what the problem is.”

In the wake of an FBI raid at City Hall, a group of L.A. politicians said earlier this year that they wanted to restore public confidence in city government.

Nearly half of the City Council asked for a new package of restrictions on fundraising, both for their campaigns and for their favored charities. But when the plan hit the council floor last week, the reaction was skeptical and, at times, dismissive.

Some council members voiced alarm about curbing their ability to raise money for local causes. Others said the proposed restrictions would hurt unions and environmental groups. Yet another questioned whether fears about donations from real estate developers are merely “hysteria.” …

Developers, city contractors and others with a financial stake in city decisions have given five- and six-figure contributions to causes at the request of Mayor Eric Garcetti and other city politicians. Garcetti has raised more than $42 million for his Mayor’s Fund and other charitable causes.

In recent days, Garcetti has said he supports the idea of banning politicians from asking developers for charitable donations.

State law requires elected officials to report any donation request they make that results in someone else giving $5,000 or more for a charitable or governmental purpose. An Ethics Commission report found that in the past five years, more than half of behested payments reported by L.A. politicians came from donors with business before City Hall.

“The question is why those corporations would take the direction of a council member as opposed to simply giving out of the kindness of their own hearts,” said Kathay Feng, a representative of Common Cause, which advocates for open government. “It’s clear that there’s an intention to curry favor with an elected official … and that’s fundamentally what the problem is.”

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