With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Villaraigosa Ticketgate: Lawyers Produce 422 Pages of Records Showing Mayor Used Ticket Freebies for 'Official Duties'
AP Photo/Reed Saxon
An investigation by a City ethics committee and District Attorney Steve Cooley's office has prompted Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's staff and lawyer to prepare a lengthy document chronicling his acceptance and use of tickets to high profile sporting and entertainment events since he took office in 2005, reports the LA Times.Villaraigosa "ticketgate" has found the civic leader's behavior and lax record-keeping scrutinized in recent weeks. Because of the structure of city and state political ethics codes and law, someone in Villaraigosa's position is barred from accepting gifts, such as tickets to pricey events like Lakers championship games and the Academy Awards, in excess of $420 from a given donor. Further, gifts valued at over $50 must be reported. However, if the Mayor is at an event to perform "official duties," he is exempt from these rules.
These duties typically involve such things as presenting certificates to participants of an event, or, as his lawyer asserts, in the case of the Oscars, being photographed on the red carpet as a way of symbolizing the valued role the entertainment industry plays in our city.
Representatives of the Mayor have said that Villaraigosa cannot be expected to recall what duties were performed at what event: "He is all over the city, and sometimes he spends five minutes at a location and sometimes he spends 45 minutes."
Support for LAist comes from
The records produced yesterday include "an e-mail exchange, just a few months after Villaraigosa took office, in which a lobbyist for a prominent downtown developer appears to give advice on how the mayor could cite 'official' business as a way to accept the free tickets."
Where Villaraigosa may have blurred the lines is when free admission was granted to his girlfriend or family members to some of these events. His lawyers admitted yesterday "for the first time that he might have to reimburse donors for the free tickets he passed on to relatives and friends."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to declare immigration enforcement actions a local emergency. -
Tens of thousands of workers across Southern California walk out over pay and staffing issues. -
People in and around recent burn scars should be alert to the risk of debris flows. Typical October weather will be back later this week. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership says the cuts amount to 11% of the workforce. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
Best of LAist