TITLE
Recommendation to refer to City Council on Elections Oversight Committee potential ordinances to: ban political contributions from contractors and those having business before City Council; require Elected Officials to disclose non-public communications about public business; and require Councilmembers to disclose any communications being received during City Council meetings from lobbyists and request a recommendation on each within 90 days.
DISCUSSION
Ban on Contributions from Contractors, lobbyists and Those Having Business Before the City Council
The District Court in the District of Columbia upheld the long time ban on political contributions from any person negotiating or performing a federal government contract stating:
The ban on such contributions guards against "pay-to-play" arrangements, in which people seeking federal contracts provide financial support to political candidates in return for their help securing government business. It a/so protects such contractors from pressure to contribute or risk losing their work.
The Court further stated that it was not the "courts' practice to "'second-guess a ... [legislative] determination as to the need for prophylactic measures where corruption is the evil feared'."
It seems then it might be time for the City of Long Beach to enact a similar contribution ban. Conceivably, that ban could be applied to those who seek approval for a development, an entertainment permit, a city contract or those who are lobbying for a specific ordinance.
Long Beach should handle this situation in two ways: Ban the contributions from anyone who is negotiating/bidding with the City or doing work for the City and require the elected official to disclose before voting at City Council if he or she has received a contribution and a statement that he or she does not believe there is a conflict of interest.
Several cities have enacted laws which disqualify a council member from participating in decisions affecting ...
Click here for full text