Campaign for LACity Ethics Enforcement

As a candidate for Los Angeles City Council, you are required to go through hours of ethics training via the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. Ethics is important because it ensures equal protection and a free and fair campaign season for all.

If we all follow the rules, your voting rights are protected, my rights as a candidate are protected.

Except for Nury Martinez and staff, who clearly operate their election campaigns as if fairness is for fools.

Below is my complaint as filed and confirmed with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. You’re gonna have to take my word on it. Unless I published it here, odds are you would never hear about it because once a complaint is registered with the city, it goes into a proverbial black box – no sunlight, no comment, no confirmation – until, possibly, after several months of investigations – by the City of Los Angeles.

This lack of transparency is stunning. But it certainly reduces Los Angeles’ liabilities if they investigate themselves and announce the results (if any) without further comment.

Here is my formal complaint to Los Angeles City Ethics dated Tuesday February 25, 2020;

Ethics Complaint – Nury Martinez and Staff
Violations – Political Activity Limitations on City Officials and Employees

LAMC § 49.5.5(B)(1)

LAMC § 49.5.5(B)(2)

LAMC § 49.5.5(B)(4)

Text (as provided by City of Los Angeles)
1. CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES In addition to the prohibitions in Section A, certain rules apply specifically to City officials and employees. A City official is an elected City officer or an agency board member, officer, employee, commissioner, or consultant who is required to file a California Form 700. City officials may not engage in political activity in the following situations: a. While on duty for the City. LAMC § 49.5.5(B)(1). b. In a manner that implies the individual is speaking on behalf of the City or communicating a City position (e.g., wearing a City uniform, wearing City insignia, using a City title, etc.). LAMC § 49.5.5(B)(2). c. Using City resources (e.g., equipment, vehicles, supplies, mailing lists, email, electronic data, etc.). LAMC § 49.5.5(B)(4)
Source:

https://ethics.lacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2020-City-Candidate-Guide-Chapter-7.pdf

Date of Violation: Thursday February 20, 2020

Location: Lake Balboa, Victory Blvd just east of Woodley Avenue

Timeframe: 10:00a to 11:00a

Statement: While this photo was taken by myself just last Thursday morning, I believe that Nury Martinez’s use of a City of Los Angeles vehicle during campaign season to promote her image, name and elected office during workdays may have been going on from December 4, 2019 through February 20, 2020. In order to protect my civil rights as a candidate and the civil rights of the voters in this district, a thorough investigation including truck schedules, employee interviews, security video at entry and exit points of city facilities and local dump sites, and interoffice email exchanges is warranted.

I am extremely concerned that election fraud appears to now be an established pattern in her campaigns.

One day of a city vehicle promoting Nury Martinez’s image, name and elected office while repeatedly traveling a specific, targeted district like ours would make thousands of marketing/communication impressions during eight hours on the street. This “Clean Team” service is ONLY available in Council District 6. Multiply that by a possible three months of under-the-radar activity and the market value of Nury Martinez’s self-promotion utilizing City of Los Angeles resources becomes highly significant. Suffice to say that, for me as a candidate vying for her seat, the idea of a free and fair election in this district is now dead – along with the civil rights of every Council District 6 voter.

Nury Martinez voted for the above mentioned laws which were adopted in 2019.

Nury Martinez should be disqualified as a candidate in this election.