Valley Perspective : Bernson Does the Right Thing

Last August, the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and the state Fair Political Practices Commission exposed an intricate money laundering scam that was designed to hide the source of contributions to politicians’ campaigns. The case led to the largest penalty of its kind in U.S. history--an $895,000 fine against Evergreen America Corp.

That left the not-so-insignificant matter of $170,000 in tainted campaign contributions to more than 20 state and local candidates. In response, the city’s Ethics Commission rightfully ordered local candidates to pay to the city treasury the money they had received from Evergreen.

One of only two local politicians to balk was L.A. City Councilman Hal Bernson, who said he deserved a hearing, had already spent the money, and had satisfied the spirit of the law by contributing to charity an even larger amount of money. He also said that he should not have to raise funds to cover money that he had accepted in good faith.

But Ethics Commission officials had already removed the taint of suspicion from the candidates by stating that the Evergreen contributions had been accepted unwittingly. The commission’s goal was reasonable: riding the political system of tainted money.

We’re pleased to note now that Bernson has decided to donate an amount equal to the Evergreen money he received ($11,000) to police in his district. That sounds like an excellent way to meet the Ethics Commission demand. We only wish that Bernson had acted as quickly as the other candidates so ordered.