To the editor: After the convictions of former Metropolis Councilmen Mitchell Englander, Jose Huizar and Mark Ridley-Thomas, and with the latest indictment of present Metropolis Councilman Curren Worth, I’m unsure the response in some quarters will probably be, “Oh, there goes one other crooked Black politician,” as columnist Erika D. Smith says it could be.
Slightly, the response will probably be extra damaging to native democracy: “Oh, there goes yet one more crooked L.A. Metropolis Council member.”
In the meantime, the progressive wing of the Metropolis Council stays untainted by any notion of malfeasance. Thus even Mayor Karen Bass’ initiatives and the views of these metropolis residents who may favor extra centrist approaches to homelessness, public security and different urgent wants are hobbled.
Metropolis Corridor should keep away from even the looks of battle of curiosity by prohibiting spouses, relations and pals of elected officers to foyer or advise metropolis authorities. On the threat of being labeled an absolutist, this prohibition must also apply to Meeting Speaker Anthony Rendon’s (D-Lakewood) spouse, and likewise family and pals of govt, legislative and judicial department officers in any respect ranges of presidency.
Christopher Rose, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Over the past three years, 4 Metropolis Council members had been convicted of crimes or have confronted prices. One was pushed out by a racism scandal; two have been ostracized by identical. Let’s not overlook the FBI raids on the Los Angeles Division of Water and Energy headquarters.
Whereas human beings proceed to pile up on our sidewalks and far of town is carpeted with trash and weeds, builders haven’t any drawback discovering ample palms to grease to allow them to proceed constructing unaffordable flats and luxurious motels.
My query is that this: How has U.S. Ambassador to India and former Mayor Eric Garcetti, who ran Metropolis Corridor throughout a lot of this corruption and was each developer’s greatest pal, managed to fail upward?
Diane Weiss, Los Angeles
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To the editor: I’m very unhappy to say that Los Angeles is approaching Chicago as having essentially the most corrupt metropolis authorities in the USA. It’s a distinction that nobody ought to be pleased with.
We want stronger ethics legal guidelines, some with actual tooth, and a extra lively metropolis watchdog.
Sadly, even these may not be sufficient. Honesty in authorities is a distant dream.
Carolyn Weiss, Torrance
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To the editor: It’s a specific tragedy that low-income minorities must rely upon leaders like Worth to combat their battles. They’re those who are suffering after dropping efficient illustration.
When politicians from extra financially safe districts get caught in these scandals, it doesn’t have an effect on their constituents in the identical approach, as a result of they don’t seem to be as essential to their voters’ lives.
It’s shameful that politicians like Worth allegedly can’t perceive that.
Doug Weiskopf, Burbank
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To the editor: Smith says there are not any easy solutions to treatment the ills of metropolis politics.
There may be one: trustworthy politicians. It’s a easy answer that’s simply arduous to seek out.
Roy Bagdasarian, Playa del Rey
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To the editor: Wasn’t it just some months in the past that Worth stated that among the Latino residents displaced by the Los Angeles Police Division’s bungling of unlawful fireworks disposal and compelled to stay in native motels had been “gaming the system”?
Seems to be like he might have been doing a little severe gaming himself.
Felipe Hernandez, Glendale
