EDITORIAL FINES ARE FINE.DON'T let the record $53,500 price tag fool you - Mayor James Hahn For the Iowa politician, see . James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn (born July 3, 1950) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. He was the Deputy City Attorney (1975-1979), City Controller (1981-1985), City Attorney (1985-2001) and Mayor of Los Angeles, California is hardly fazed faze tr.v. fazed, faz·ing, faz·es To disrupt the composure of; disconcert. See Synonyms at embarrass. [Middle English fesen, to drive away, frighten by the fines 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 Ethics Commission has slapped on him for abuses during his 2001 campaign. ``While it may sound like a lot,'' explains Hahn's attorney, Ron Turovsky, ``we are talking about less than 1 percent of all that was raised and spent during the campaign.'' What's a mere 50 grand for a political campaign that rakes in special-interest millions? It's petty cash Petty Cash The small amount of cash and coins that an organization uses for minor purchases and providing change to customers. Notes: Petty cash is typically used by merchandising companies or small stores that are required to make change for customer purchases. in the business of Los Angeles city politics. City ethics fines are hardly a badge of shame in City Hall's ethical cesspool cesspool: see septic tank. . In reality, it doesn't cost the politicians a cent. L.A. politics is all about winning. Laws and ethics and even public policy are distant second priorities, at best. While campaigning, politicians raise money as aggressively as they can, and worry about the consequences later, passing the eventual bill on to their deep-pocketed contributors. It's how the game is played, and no slap on the wrist from the Ethics Commission is going to stop it. |
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