Senator Ed Hernandez has introduced a "reform" bill aimed at the City of Industry, a *ahem* industrial town of about 450 residents in the San Gabriel Valley. The bill basically targets nepotism and perks given to Industry's elected officials. As written in the SGV Trib earlier this week: Senate Bill 1236 requires that Industry rent no more than 5 percent of its city-owned housing to its employees, its elected and appointed officials and their family members. It also would require that Industry follow state law – rather than city ordinances – when selecting contractors for city projects. Other provisions would cap the council’s pay and call for annual audits."
Kinda sounds like a more nuanced version of the Vernon disincorporation effort of a few years ago. And Industry, like vernon, has seen it's share of controversy. The legislative analysis of the bill notes:
For many years, the City of Industry's government has attracted attention over allegations of corruption, misspending, and mismanagement. Just last year, an internal city audit reportedly found that the city had paid more than $300 million to companies owned by the city's former mayor and his relatives and that the payments were often not supported by accurate invoices or other documentation. In response, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution calling upon for the District Attorney to investigate possible fraud, corruption and illegal activity by Industry's former Mayor and City Council.
Whew.
All of that said, the proposal might not pass Constitutional muster, prompting a follow from the SGV Trib today "Why a bill meant to reform the City of Industry could be dead on arrival." Turns out, Industry is a Charter City, and that still means something. Jessica Levison, a Loyola Law School professor and president of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission is quoted "“I really don’t see this happening... Not only do I think this doesn’t have legs, it doesn’t have feet.”
Stay tuned.