Black Politicians Targeted, Wealthy White Lobbyists Walk Free
By
Actions this month by the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission have laid bare a glaring double standard that cannot be overlooked. Fines totaling $70,000 have been levied, predominantly against wealthy white lobbyists, for breaches of the City’s governmental ethics and lobbying laws. While these penalties don’t carry criminal implications, they raise serious questions about fairness and equity in our city’s governance.
Let’s examine the accusations:
Leslie Moonves, former Chief Executive Officer of CBS Broadcasting, Inc. (CBS), was fined the maximum penalty of $15,000 for aiding the misuse of confidential City information and exploiting a former police captain to further his personal interests.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and its policy director, Susie Shannon, admitted to failing to comply with lobbying registration and reporting rules, resulting in fines of $10,000 for AHF and $12,500 for Shannon.
The Western States Regional Council of Carpenters (WSRCC) and its ex-political director, Derek Mazzeo, racked up fines amounting to $20,000 for similar violations. Mazzeo failed to register as a lobbyist for 2023, failed to file three disclosure reports for that year, and made prohibited political contributions.
Finally, Richard Jacobs and his firm, RDJ Advisors, LLC, were fined $12,500 for failing to register as a lobbyists and file disclosure reports.
Let’s not forget, this is the same Richard Jacobs who previously cost the City of LA over a million dollars in a sexual harassment case stemming from his tenure as a senior advisor to then-Mayor Eric Garcetti.
The contrast is quite stark with the treatment of LA City Councilman Curren Price, who is facing allegations of conflicts of interest from the District Attorney’s Office. Despite Price’s strong denial of these charges, he finds himself caught in what seems like a targeted public campaign led by George Gascon. At most, these allegations against Price should warrant administrative sanctions, similar to those faced by the individuals mentioned earlier.
Meanwhile, LA City Councilmember John Lee, named in an FBI probe for his escapades with disgraced Councilman Mitch Englander, faces ethics violations for accepting gifts during a weekend in Las Vegas. The complaint against Lee appears to be weak and belated at best, yet he’s merely confronted with ethics violations. Meanwhile, Price is painted as a criminal.
The message is clear: Black politicians like Councilmember Price are held to excruciatingly painful standards, while wealthy, white individuals enjoy leniency for similar or even more egregious violations. This disparity amplifies the deep-seated racial inequities that infest our political landscape and society as a whole.
The District Attorney’s Office MUST answer for these atrocious inconsistencies. How can we trust a system that punishes some with fines while subjecting others to public scrutiny and potential criminal charges? This double standard isn’t just unjust—it’s a betrayal of the principles our city and nation claims to uphold.
Asia Oliver is a South L.A. resident and human rights activist.
