In a move widely seen as a step towards renewing the public's trust in local government, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has not only talked the talk but decided to walk the walk by unanimously passing a motion to establish an independent Ethics Commission, according to a news release from Supervisor Kathryn Barger's office. This action advances a larger plan for ethics reform that aims to improve transparency and provide tighter oversight within county operations.
The imperative delivered to the County's legal eagles sets a hard-nosed deadline: 30 days to cough up a comprehensive strategy for the Independent Ethics Commission formation, hand-in-hand with the installation of an Office of Ethics Compliance complete with an Ethics Compliance Officer, likewise pushing for an extended cooling off period precluding ex-County officials from lobbying the County, soon after they've exited the halls of power. "We don’t need to wait until November to enact ethics reforms," Barger said, her comments indicating a pressing need to imbibe a recurring sense of integrity and accountability in the County's veins—today, tomorrow, and henceforth. Chair Lindsey P. Horvath amplified this sentiment, highlighting the motion as a springboard for immediate action while ferreting input from the community to fortify the framework of the nascent commission.
Not a stone appears to be left unturned in this drive for righteousness, the supervising body is demanding a heavier hammer of oversight to pound authority over myriad issues spanning financial disclosures, to County contracts and campaign finance laws. The proposed measures further advocate for the creation of data portals to make public access to lobbying information and campaign donations not just possible but painless too.
Tackled with this proposed amendment, if passed by the voters, the Commission's existence becomes engrained in the County's charter—putting an armored fence around it from dismantling sans a public referendum. Horvath emphasized the necessity of an empowered independent body charged with the heavy lifting of stewarding ethical standards for Los Angeles County. "Creating, funding, and empowering an Independent Ethics Commission for Los Angeles County is necessary and the right thing to do," she, driving home the point of the Commission's cornerstone role in the stable structure of an efficacious government.
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