New scandals show need for more scrutiny

Californians often like to think our state is somehow above the kind of corruption we believe is more common to other countries or even other areas of the U.S.

But as a recent wave of indictments and accusations show, the all-too-human temptation to become corroded by greed, lust and self-interest runs just as rampant in our state as anywhere else. With a lack of competition and effective public scrutiny, public disillusionment with the entire political system becomes endemic.

One familiar trap involves politicians who overstay their welcome in office. With little threat of losing their jobs, they can make decisions that have financial implications for millions of Californians, while at the same time believing they should personally benefit from the largesse they dispense. As CalMatters columnist and veteran Sacramento political journalist Dan Walters writes, “After years in office, they tend to view their positions as personal possessions, rather than as temporary opportunities to serve their constituents.”

Campaign contributions, while mostly legal, are the most widely accepted means where those who benefit from political decisions get the financial chance to express their appreciation. Then there’s “behested” payments made by special-interest groups who sidle up to those in power by making “contributions” to the politicians’ favorite charities – which sometimes employ leaders’ relatives. While there’s legal limits on campaign contributions, there are no limits on behested contributions, although the state Fair Political Practices Commission is looking into establishing tougher disclosure rules.

Another corruption variation was uncovered in the recent federal indictment of powerful Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas who stands accused of helping a University of Southern California administrator obtain lucrative county contracts in return for getting Ridley-Thomas’s son a no-cost graduate degree and a full-time faculty position at the school. Ridley-Thomas’ son is a former state legislator who resigned amid a sexual harassment investigation.

And while Los Angeles, in the words of Democratic Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, is a “corridor of corruption,” San Francisco is hardly immune. Several years ago, then-state Sen. Leland Yee, representing the city, was convicted of taking part in an international gunrunning scheme. And the city’s former public works director is currently ensnared in a widespread federal corruption case that has, according to news reports, “linked city officials, contractors, nonprofit groups and others in a web of alleged bribery and fraud.”

And it’s not just politicians. Earlier this month, the executive director of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California, Alma Hernandez, was arrested on corruption charges including grand theft and tax fraud. Hernandez and her husband Jose Moscoso were charged with under-reporting their income by $1.4 million between 2014 and 2018. California Attorney General Rob Bonta also said Hernandez had embezzled money from an SEIU California-sponsored political action committee. She resigned her $240,000-a-year position after the indictments. The SEIU, with 700,000 members statewide, is a major contributor to Democratic politicians across the state and helped bankroll Newsom’s effort to defeat the recall.

California’s Treasurer Fiona Ma also has been caught up in accusations she has abused the privileges of her position. Ma, according to news reports, repeatedly shared hotel rooms with employees, a practice she says saved money but that seemingly cross an ethical line.

Ma is being sued by a female subordinate alleging sexual harassment, racial discrimination and wrongful termination. Ma has said the allegations are without merit.

But the temptation when confronted by corruption scandals is to declare that most of those in power are crooks. They aren’t. Most public servants are honest and sincerely want to use their positions to help others.

But the danger in a state where one political party is completely dominant is that politicians and top contributors can feel entitled. Lacking meaningful opposition or scrutiny, corruption can sometimes be not far behind.