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Protecting the People's Right To Know
by Laura Chick
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Protecting the People's Right To Know
by Laura Chick
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is an Open Letter sent out by Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick:
Dear Friend,
There has been discussion in the press about a “fight” between the City Attorney and myself. I'm writing to personally up-date you regarding this issue.
In fact the disagreement is over the City Controller's charter mandated responsibilities to conduct performance audits. Section 261 (k) of the City Charter clearly says that the Controller shall “conduct performance audits of all departments and may conduct performance audits of City programs.
Despite this language, the City Attorney has formally interpreted the charter to prohibit the Controller from conducting performance audits of programs if they are housed in elected officials' offices.
The City Attorney has sued me to prevent my proceeding with an audit of his Workers Compensation program. The only appropriate resolution is to now turn to the Los Angeles Superior Courts.
I have exhausted all other options including trying to have this matter placed before the voters on the March ballot, which the Council refused to do
Yesterday the City Council asked me to “stand down” in my attempt to have the Charter clarified and refused to give me paid legal counsel for my defense against the City Attorney's lawsuit. This is a fight over transparency and accountability and your right to know how its government is spending your taxpayer dollars. I will not back down or step aside. I will pursue this fight so the people of Los Angeles can have clarification once and for all on this important issue.
Here are the links to two opinion pieces from today that really sum-up what this is all about:
http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2008/12/an-impatient-ch.html
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Chick-vs-Rocky-No-Decision.html
Best,
LAURA
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