One step at a time, making government transparent

She has her eye on becoming City Controller and maybe she has a knack for it. After working on a "Clean Money" system for City elections and helping to create the Waste, Fraud and Abuse Investigation Unit in the City Controller's office, Councilwoman Wendy Greuel introduced a motion yesterday that asked the City Ethics Commission to expand the City's ethics code to ex parte communication with City Commissioners.

Whoa, what?

Ex parte communications are communications not on the public record. The problem comes in to play when a lobbyist or interested party involved with business before a Commission communicates with a commissioner on the side, creating a possible violation of ethical standards.

City Commissioners in Los Angeles oversee operation and policies in a department, a sort of, citizen oversight committee, if you will. All commissioners are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by city council.

Photo of City Hall by Mr. Littlehand via Flickr