Many have called this year “unprecedented,” but even that does not seem to capture the unequaled disruption that 2020 wrought upon us all, the California State Legislature included. The the normal legislative calendar was constricted and fierce debates took place over how to legislate during a pandemic. In the end, the number of bills sent to the Governor’s desk for his signature was a mere fraction of what the Legislature typically passes in a year.
This article provides newly elected officials an overview of some
of the key conflict-of-interest rules under the Political Reform
Act — and a refresher for more seasoned council members.
Americans’ confidence in government is at an all-time low.
Leaders in every level of government will need to do their part
to address this trend, but local governments in particular can
play a unique and important role to help stem eroding confidence
in democratic institutions and principles.
This plan is the result of advocacy and a collaborative process
with city staff, community-based organizations, and residents
that increased public engagement, public dialogue, and trust and
brought new leadership into planning processes.
As elected officials, we have the responsibility to work toward
the goals of equality and justice for all in the services we
provide to our diverse residents. It’s imperative that we commit
to addressing systemic racial bias wherever and whenever we
encounter it and provide greater access, transparency, and
oversight to build strong trust within our communities.
It’s helpful to remember that leadership isn’t always about
remaining stoic and displaying optimism. Allowing yourself to be
vulnerable is both human and acceptable, especially in
relentlessly difficult circumstances.
We are committed to supporting city leaders to secure the
resources necessary to create an environment where all residents
are protected and treated equitably by the institutions created
to serve them.
Brian P. Walter is a partner with the law firm of Liebert Cassidy
Whitmore and can be reached at bwalter@lcwlegal.com. Alexander
Volberding is an associate with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore and can
be reached at avolberding@lcwlegal.com.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the League remains a
strong organization that continues providing the resources cities
need to make informed decisions for their communities
It is a common misconception that old insurance policies are good
only for museums and archival research; some old policies are
capable of providing substantial coverage even today.
While different regions and industry sectors opened at various
times, the desire to safely reopen businesses and give residents
opportunities to carefully move about their communities was a
common theme guiding city leaders’ decisions.
As our communities move through the phases of recovery, cities
are benefiting from new ways of doing the public’s business and
also confronting the challenges associated with COVID-19’s
impacts.
