Lobbyists Exert Their Influence on Lobby Reform

They claim to be misunderstood, unfairly maligned.

But a new trade group formed by City Hall lobbyists has used its collective muscle to fight back, halting proposed new restrictions on the profession in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lobbyist and Public Affairs Assn. was formed in January by 20 legislative advocates working City Hall.

When the Los Angeles Ethics Commission recently recommended for the second time in eight years that city commissioners be banned from paid lobbying, the group sprang into action. The association issued a letter of opposition, and influential members descended on the City Council.

The result: When the ordinance reached the council, it was continued once and then dumped back into the rules committee, which had passed it a month earlier.

"It's been our belief that this is an attack on lobbyists," said Steve Afriat, a founder of the group. "The intent of this is to convey to the public that lobbyists are not to be trusted."

Council President Alex Padilla confirmed that he and his colleagues heard from lobbyists before he sent the proposal back to the committee, which he heads.

"Some council members said they wanted to look at it a little more," Padilla said, adding that he wants to consider the restriction along with other reforms recommended by the Ethics Commission but not expected to reach the full council until next year.

A few council members suggested the issue should go back to the Ethics Commission for reconsideration as part of the larger package of reforms.

That angered members of the Ethics Commission, who agreed last week to write a letter to the City Council reminding the elected officials that the commission has recommended the ban twice.

Only four of the city's 200 registered lobbyists serve on city commissions, and three of them would be affected by the ban. They are: Dominick Rubalcava, chairman of the city Board of Water and Power Commissioners and a lobbyist for Wal-Mart; Mike Roos, a parks commissioner and lobbyist for URS Construction and PPM Energy; and James Acevedo, a harbor commissioner and lobbyist for New Century Financial Corp.

Acevedo has more than a dual role. He has also served as a political consultant for some council members, including Padilla.

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