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California Limits Local Government Officials' Access to Free Tickets
Saturday, December 13th, 2008
Robert Wechsler
Sports and other event tickets are a constant issue in local government
ethics. Yes, mayors are often expected to attend major events, but who
else is? Why should city ownership of a facility matter in handing out
tickets? The ownership is not the officials' or employees', but the
citizens'.
According to an article in yesterday's Los Angeles Times, the California Fair Political Practices Commission has made a new regulation requiring full disclosure and major limitations on the giving of tickets to local government officials and employees.
The regulation originated in complaints about massive ticket perks in Anaheim, home of the baseball Angels, hockey Ducks, and lots of rock concerts. Also, in Pasadena, 2100 tickets were given to city officials and employees.
The regulations have the support of the League of California Cities.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
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According to an article in yesterday's Los Angeles Times, the California Fair Political Practices Commission has made a new regulation requiring full disclosure and major limitations on the giving of tickets to local government officials and employees.
The regulation originated in complaints about massive ticket perks in Anaheim, home of the baseball Angels, hockey Ducks, and lots of rock concerts. Also, in Pasadena, 2100 tickets were given to city officials and employees.
The new rules apply
to cities, counties and fair boards that own sports venues and concert
halls that provide tickets to the agencies for distribution to elected
officials and other government employees.
With two exceptions,
the new rules bar government officials from accepting tickets worth
more than $420 in a year from a single source, because it is a gift.
Tickets would not be considered gifts if the officials' attendance at
the event was deemed by the government agency to serve a public
purpose, or if the official accepted the tickets as taxable income.
The public agency is required to post on its website who is using the tickets and what events were attended, and to provide an explanation of the public purpose served by attendance.
The public agency is required to post on its website who is using the tickets and what events were attended, and to provide an explanation of the public purpose served by attendance.
The regulations have the support of the League of California Cities.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
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