By Bernard Parks
[Editor’s Note: The former chief of the LAPD, representing the Eighth Council District in Los Angeles, will be termed out next year.]
Dear Constituents,
[img]2756|right|Councilman Parks and wife Bobbie.||no_popup[/img]It’s hard to believe, but I’m nine months away from leaving office and celebrating my 50th year of public service. Election season is well underway for the state general election on Nov. 4 (you can view official candidates here and ballot measures here) and the 2015 Los Angeles city elections for even-numbered council districts will be here before you know it.
The Los Angeles Times is preparing their editorial endorsements and yesterday I was interviewed on the traits I’m looking for in my successor.
These upcoming months are sure to be interesting. Don’t miss out on the fun and be sure to register to vote. National Voter Registration Day is on the 23rd so check out their website to see the events and voter drives taking place near you.
If you’re thinking of running for Los Angeles City Council next year, make sure you live in the district you’re seeking to represent (the residency deadline is Oct. 4). No one knows this better than former state Sen. Roderick Wright (oh, and Richard Alarcon) who resigned this week after being convicted of perjury in January for residing in Baldwin Hills instead of in the Senate District 35 that he represented. District 35 comprises of communities like Inglewood, Torrance, Compton, and Gardena.
Mr. Wright is set to serve three months in jail, and can’t hold any public office for the rest of his life. A special election to fill his seat should take place in December. I wonder if any termed out Council members will try to dip in that pool.
For any candidate considering a career in public service, I say don’t get a big head, and don’t think that people aren’t watching your every move. Their tax money is bankrolling your life and people don’t like it when you play with their money.
Another part of being involved in government means sometimes preventing people from pulling fast ones.
Last Tuesday, Council adopted forthwith a plan to move forward towards enforcing an Administrative Citation Enforcement pilot program. Mayor Garcetti has until Sept. 26 to approve.
From the report from the Public Safety and Personnel and Animal Services Committee’s report:
“ACE is an alternative method of enforcement for violations of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. An administrative citation would be issued to a violator in place of a criminal citation or an arrest.
Presently, a citation results in a criminal conviction with penalties that may include probation, fines, and jail. An administrative citation, on the other hand, can be resolved through the payment of a fine and there is no resulting criminal record, probation, or threat of jail. ACE fines start at $100 and increase to $250 for a second offense, $500 for a third offense, and $1,000 for a fourth offense.”
The program seeks to hold those accountable who have been getting away with violating municipal codes largely unpunished.
I don’t want similarities drawn between this program and the ‘broken windows’ policy cited with Eric Garner’s death in New York where some linked the enforcement of the problematic policy to his death due to officers using deadly force on him for selling loose cigarettes (a quality of life crime). I certainly hope that the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies won’t go rogue in imposing this program.
Mr. Parks may be contacted at Bernard.C.Parks@lacity.org
