Wow! Check this out! Los Angeles has a City Ethics Commission [1]! Do we have one and the link is not posted? I don't see it in our city website... we need one for the county government, too!
This site offers public access on such topics as
Campaign Finanace:
"City candidates and elected officeholders are subject to detailed public disclosure requirements regarding their political fundraising and expenditure activities. Complete and timely disclosure ensures that this information is easily accessible to the public."
Education:
"The goal of the Ethics Commission's education effort is to provide assistance to agencies and public officials in administering the provisions of the Charter and other laws relating to governmental ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying. We do this by advocating understanding of the Charter, City ordinances and the roles of elected and other public officials, City institutions and the City electoral process."
The City Ethics Commission was established as a semi-independent City agency by Los Angeles voters in June 1990 to bring a new level of accountability to local government. The Commission acts through its voter-established mandate to preserve the public trust through meaningful public disclosure and effective education. Dedicated to upholding the public interest, the Commission shapes, administers, and enforces City laws regarding governmental ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying to help ensure that Los Angeles elections and government decisions are fair, transparent, and accountable. The Commission has a staff of 31 and a 2006-07 operating budget of $2.8 million.
Links:
[1] http://ethics.lacity.org/