As Long Beach City Hall reviews matters involving lobbyists' access to employees and elected officials, I asked Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, the other day what she thought of reviving the lobbyist ordinance she championed a year ago while still on the Long Beach City Council.
Lowenthal, a Democrat who still lives in Long Beach when not in Sacramento, spent much of her time on the council seeking ethics reform, often at the committee levels. But she had trouble getting support from other officials on regulating lobbyists' interactions with city officials.
A year ago she and Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske were the lone votes when the proposed lobbying ordinance went before the City Council.
"Gerrie was very supportive of getting this done," Lowenthal recalled. "After I was elected to the Assembly, 'I thought this is my last opportunity. I believe in, it's good government, it creates transparency, I would really like to see it passed.' But I couldn't get it passed. The vote was 7-2 with just Gerrie and I."
Lowenthal said she finds it ridiculous that Los Angeles and other large cities have lobbying ordinances and that Long Beach does not.
She is not opposed to lobbying, as she views it as a form of free speech, advocacy and education, but would like to see relationships disclosed so that the public is aware of them.
"I strongly believe relationships between lobbyists and city staff, as well as council members, can be clarified for the sake of the taxpayer for the sake of transparency and ethics," she said.
Lowenthal, a Democrat, said she would be fine if Long Beach adopted a policy forbidding officials from accepting gifts, particularly those of any value.
She said she has accepted gifts in the past that fall within those acceptable in state guidelines and has declared them on state disclosure forms. However, she has turned down vacations and other generous offers.
"If you're offered something, if you want to do it, you can pay for it," she said.
