L.A. Councilman Speaks Out

By Steve Hymon, Times Staff Writer

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Also at Thursday's luncheon session, the often-outspoken [Los Angeles City Councilman Bill] Rosendahl conveyed his frustrations with City Hall since being elected to the council in 2005.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, he insinuated the real estate industry still holds great sway over City Hall.

"You know who hides around the poles and the pillars and works the council members," Rosendahl said. "I was there. I worked for the cable industry and started in that role. That is a professional role that lobbyists do, and that is good for the democracy, people present their points of views."

A few minutes later, Rosendahl worked his way back to the theme of who has influence at City Hall and in government.

"If you truly want a government that represents the people, you must take all political contributions out" of campaigns, he said. "If you want true transparency" in which "no one has influence over anybody else, nobody has more access than anybody else, then we people have to say we're willing to pay" for campaigns with public tax dollars.

Rosendahl, Garcetti and Greuel last year pushed for a greatly expanded public-financing campaign system.

But that idea has stalled because of a lack of funds and the unwillingness of their colleagues to ask for taxes for political campaigns.

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