The City Council of Anaheim does not have a Gift Ban; councilmembers are currently allowed to accept up to $590 per person per year (soon to be increased) in the form of gifts. This means free meals, free tickets to various events and free travel – all paid for by those who have projects or contracts up for approval.
There is no legitimate reason for elected or appointed officials (or top management) to accept gifts from those who are looking for approval of their projects and contracts. It is a subtle form of obligation imposed on those who process and vote on the gift-givers projects.
Although Mayor Aitken has suggested a Gift Ban should be considered, there appears to be no desire on the part of the City Council to enact a “Gift Ban”. Guess they like their freebies too much!
I have proposed a “Gift Ban” where Anaheim councilmembers or top management or members of decision-making commissions could not accept more than $10 from any person who is doing business with the City of Anaheim. The Orange County Board of Supervisors enacted a similar Gift Ban over 20 years ago – why is Anaheim dragging their feet?
Disney, for instance, currently provides councilmembers with free tickets to Disneyland. These tickets are then distributed by the councilmembers to members of the public (their constituents) and to their families and friends. What better way for a Councilmember to gain favor with his/her constituents in the hopes they will vote for them when they are up for re-election.
Former Anaheim Councilmember Avelino Valencia told me that as a State Assemblyman he refuses all gifts even though State law allows him to be wined and dined to the tune of $590 per person per year. Anaheim Councilmembers should follow Assemblyman Valencia’s leadership and personal code of ethics by enacting a Gift Ban to stop this insidious practice.
It is long overdue in Anaheim!
“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” Quote by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart
Shirley Grindle is a retired Aeronautical Engineer, former County Planning Commissioner and author of the Orange County Campaign Reform Ordinance. She has long been recognized as the OC Watchdog because of her oversight of campaign reports for Anaheim, Orange and County candidates.
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