EDITORIAL CLUFF WALKS L.A.'S ELECTED LEADERS ARE THE REAL CULPRITS IN THE EIDC SCANDAL.THE legal saga of Cody Cluff is at last over, and the disgraced former president of the quasi-public Entertainment Industry Development Corp. has received a punishment for embezzlement embezzlement, wrongful use, for one's own selfish ends, of the property of another when that property has been legally entrusted to one. Such an act was not larceny at common law because larceny was committed only when property was acquired by a "felonious taking," i. that seems both too lenient le·ni·ent adj. Inclined not to be harsh or strict; merciful, generous, or indulgent: lenient parents; lenient rules. and too severe. Too lenient because Cluff's punishment is hardly punishment at all. Too severe because his former superiors in city and county government face no punishment whatsoever. A judge has sentenced Cluff to three years' probation, not jail time, other than the 91 days he's already spent behind bars. And Cluff has had to make $80,000 in restitution In the context of Criminal Law, state programs under which an offender is required, as a condition of his or her sentence, to repay money or donate services to the victim or society; with respect to maritime law, the restoration of articles lost by jettison, done when the payments, although the EIDC squandered squan·der tr.v. squan·dered, squan·der·ing, squan·ders 1. To spend wastefully or extravagantly; dissipate. See Synonyms at waste. 2. as much as $1 million under his leadership. Meanwhile, a golden-parachute deal with the EIDC provided him with $300,000 for his legal costs. And Hollywood has rewarded him with an office manager's position and a $120,000 salary at an entertainment- industry law firm. Not bad for a man who used public funds See Fund, 3. See also: Public to take trips to strip clubs, to promote his kids' football team and to romance his girlfriend. Not bad for a political insider who curried favor with elected officials by pouring public money into their campaigns. Still, in a strange way, it's hard not to feel a little sorry for the guy. After all, at least Cluff owned up to his crimes. The 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. city and county elected officials who enabled him have admitted nothing. Unlike Cluff, the politicians face no criminal sanction for turning a blind eye to his abuses, while happily pocketing his ill-gotten campaign contributions. As Deputy District Attorney Max Huntsman noted, Cluff is ``not the real villain here. The real villains are the public officials who did not take their responsibilities seriously.'' It's hard to advocate throwing the book at someone when those guilty of much greater offenses get off scot-free with their political offices, their status and their perks perk 1 v. perked, perk·ing, perks v.intr. 1. To stick up or jut out: dogs' ears that perk. 2. To carry oneself in a lively and jaunty manner. intact. Cluff is the one L.A. political insider to admit his crimes and do some time. What does it say when the most honorable person in local government is a convicted criminal? |
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