COUNCIL WILL STUDY OTHER MARATHONS : PLAN TO AUDIT L.A. RACE DRAWS FIRE FROM BERNSON.Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer Even though the city has a 10-year contract with Los Angeles Marathon The Los Angeles Marathon is an annual marathon held in Los Angeles, California since 1986. It was inspired by the success of the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. The race starts at about 8:15AM and runs through Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown, the Crenshaw district, and Inc., the City Council on Friday called for a study on how New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Boston and other cities stage their annual races. ``I recognize we have a contract that we voted to extend until 2005, but whatever we learn from this will be instructive for a future council,'' said Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Councilman Mike Feuer. ``This is about prudent fiscal management and we are providing tax dollars (to the marathon) every year.'' The council voted last week to extend the contract with Los Angeles Marathon Inc., to enable it to negotiate with sponsors and television networks for future races. However, several council members protested the extension unless the city is allowed to audit the firm's books and attempt to recover the city's costs for the event. Los Angeles Marathon Inc. pays the city $100,000 a year, but officials estimate the cost at more than $300,000 for traffic officers, police and street closures. Councilman Mike Hernandez, who called for the study on how nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. groups stage marathons in other cities, tried to bring in a resolution allowing the city to examine Los Angeles Marathon's books. That proposal was referred to the council's Budget and Finance Committee, and some council members said the audit would not be appropriate. ``I don't think it's any of our damned business on what their proceeds are,'' Councilman Hal Bernson Hal Bernson served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 12th district. He was chair of the Transportation Committee. Prior to being on the City Council, he served in the Navy. Preceded by Robert M. said. ``This is a private firm, not a nonprofit. If we want the marathon here, I don't think we have the right to audit them. When we do things like this, we just discourage people from coming here.'' Councilman Richard Alatorre Richard Alatorre is a politician, and a member of the Democratic Party. Alatorre has served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. He was the first Latino to serve on the council in 23 years. said if the proposal is approved, he will seek to have an audit of every firm that stages similar events in the city. But Feuer said the issue was different because of the history of Los Angeles Marathon Inc. In October 1994, the company was fined $200,000, after officials admitted that $73,000 in political contributions were laundered through the firm. ``It's about giving scrutiny to a company with whom we contract and was fined for wrongdoing wrong·do·er n. One who does wrong, especially morally or ethically. wrong  do ,'' Feuer said.
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