Los Angeles voters on Nov. 5 will consider a package of ethics reforms designed to fight corruption at City Hall. This follows a string of political scandals in recent years, including a 2022 audio leak that exposed how elected officials can manipulate the redistricting process to stay in power.

Supporters call it the first significant reform to the Ethics Commission in its 20-year history. Critics, who believe the package doesn't go far enough, say the council dumped key proposals after pushback from lobbyists.

Official title on the ballot: City Ethics Commission Authority and Operational Independence. Charter Amendment ER

Understanding the measure

In May, council members unanimously directed the city attorney to draft ballot language for the package, which requires voter approval because it involves a number of changes to the city charter. Some advocates called the changes “long overdue.” But others expressed disappointment at what they consider to be watered down changes.

The final version nixed a proposal that would have allowed the commission to take its recommendations directly to the voters if they were rejected by council members.

The council also rejected a proposal to expand the size of the Ethics Commission from five members to seven. Under the proposal, the additional two members would have been appointed by the panel itself. Right now, all members are appointed by elected officials.

The history behind it

The ethics reforms package follows a series of City Hall scandals that have shaken the public’s trust in elected city officials:

Former council members Mitch Englander, Jose Huizar and Mark Ridley-Thomas were found guilty of federal corruption charges. Councilmember Curren Price faces corruption charges in state court, and Councilmember John Lee has denied allegations that he accepted illegal gifts from developers.

During the same period, L.A. made national news after some members were caught making racist and derogatory remarks in a secret conversation plotting how to maintain their own power through redistricting. The scandal led to the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee on Governance Reform that proposed the ethics reforms.

How it would work

Under the new rules, the Ethics Commission would have an annual budget of $6.5 million to help oversee and enforce the city's lobbying, ethics and campaign finance rules. Penalties for ethics code violations would rise from $5,000 to $15,000. Officials would no longer be able to appoint family members or major donors.

The council also voted to create a 13-member commission to consider other changes to the city’s charter, including whether to expand the size of the City Council.

Other changes include:

• Compelling the City Council to consider all commission recommendations within 180 days.
• Allowing the Ethics Commission to control its own budget without requiring council approval for specific expenditures.
• Allowing the commission to retain outside counsel.

The commission may also impose multiple penalties for multiple violations, or hold the offender liable for triple the amount of an unlawful or improperly reported transaction, whichever amount is greater.

What people who support it say

City Council President Paul Krekorian, who spearheaded the ethics reforms as chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance, called it “a significant step forward in creating greater independence and greater effectiveness for the Ethics Commission.”

What people who oppose it say

Some advocates accused council members of caving to last-minute pushback from special interest groups who opposed meaningful reforms.

“The Los Angeles City Council had a chance to turn the tide of corruption at City Hall and begin a new era in which L.A. residents could trust their local elected officials,” said Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of California Common Cause. “Instead they chose to uphold a broken, shameful status quo.”

Listen in: AirTalk tackles Amendment ER

Further reading

• LA Council approves ethics reforms for ballot. Critics say the changes are watered down
• LA Council expansion dead
  

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This voter guide originally published Sept. 5.