EDITORIAL : JUDGING THE CITY CONTROLLER VOTERS SHOULD DEMAND MORE VISION IN THE NEXT TERM.LOS Angeles City Controller The Los Angeles City Controller is an official in the government of the city of Los Angeles, California. The City Controller is the auditor and chief accounting officer of the city. Rick Tuttle Rick Tuttle (born 1940) was Los Angeles City Controller from 1985 to 2001. He stressed the importance of creating a strong democratic influence at UCLA, which was in his words "the best large public university in a major city. is seeking a fourth term on April 8 against two little-known challengers. Despite some misgivings, the Daily News endorses Tuttle for re-election in part because his opponents haven't made a convincing case that they would make better warriors against the waste at City Hall. Figuratively speaking, during his years in office Tuttle has had his eye on the nickels and dimes while remaining silent too often on the big picture - the city's ballooning multibillion-dollar budget and soaring debt. In June 1995, for instance, Tuttle asked the mayor to crack down on travel expenses by the city's two pension boards, questioning $48,855 in travel expenses for one board and $32,540 for the other. In April 1993, Tuttle responsibly criticized overseas travel by a lame-duck appointee APPOINTEE. A person who is appointed or selected for a particular purpose; as the appointee under a power, is the person who is to receive the benefit of the trust or power. to the Harbor Commission, saying the $6,000 cost of the trip seemed unjustified. These, and similar instances in which Tuttle blew the whistle on wasteful spending, are actions hard-pressed taxpayers can appreciate. On occasion, Tuttle has tried to see some of the larger, long-term issues. Last August, for instance, he issued a report expressing concern about the rise of debt financing Debt Financing When a firm raises money for working capital or capital expenditures by selling bonds, bills, or notes to individual and/or institutional investors. In return for lending the money, the individuals or institutions become creditors and receive a promise to repay by the city. But, even then, he wasn't saying that it was a crisis. So, what were the most critical problems facing the city then, as now? One is the inefficient downtown government and the unresponsive City Council. Yet when legislation was proposed last year in Sacramento to eliminate the City Council veto over secession, and to restore the right of political self-determination to dissatisfied voters in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. and elsewhere in 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. , Tuttle was against that. He went to Sacramento at taxpayer expense and lobbied against the legislation, which could have ended the council's unconscionable Unusually harsh and shocking to the conscience; that which is so grossly unfair that a court will proscribe it. When a court uses the word unconscionable to describe conduct, it means that the conduct does not conform to the dictates of conscience. veto power. Now running for re-election citywide, Tuttle sounds supportive of charter reform. This shows it's important for the public to keep heat on the incumbent, and educate him about issues of public concern by direct contact such as letters and phone calls demanding action and attention. That kind of reality check is one reason for regular elections, even if an incumbent isn't facing a strong opponent. We certainly hope the voters will let Tuttle know, both now and after the election, that they have higher expectations for him this time. |
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