Blog: Money for Nothing?

Companies don't donate to local campaigns out of the goodness of their hearts. They donate to campaigns because they have some reason to believe that donation will benefit their business.

That is why I don't take donations from companies and special interests that may be affected by an upcoming city council decision. City Councilmen are elected by residents, not companies. And Councilmen are there to serve the people...again, not the companies.

My opponent seems to have a different philosophy.

Based on his latest campaign financial disclosure statements, my opponent took  about $11,750 in campaign donations from businesses, or groups that could benefit from the right vote by city council. About $8,800 of those donations are from companies and individuals who own, sell, develop or manage property in Redondo Beach. And just under $3,000 came from the Chamber of Commerce and four companies who face crucial Council votes in the near future. When you take out my opponent's loan to his own campaign, these special interest donations account for nearly 70 percent of his fundraising.

These donators include:

* Athens Corporation - the company who currently has our garbage collection contract, which is voted on by City Council

* Decron Properties - who own the lease at the south end of the harbor. They will be greatly impacted by Council decisions on waterfront development coming up in just a few months.

* Auto Spa - the company awaiting Council's decision on the new car wash residents oppose on Torrance Blvd.

With his Chamber ties and sponsorship, his affiliation with good ole boy group of City Hall insiders, and these donations from companies who will soon be impacted by Council decisions... do you really expect my opponent to have your best interests at heart?

So the question to ask yourself before you cast your vote, do you want a Councilman beholden to special interests or one whose only special interest is the residents' quality of life?

But wait there is more!

Beyond the influence special interests will have over my opponent, his own business brings into question of whether he can evaluate development, planning and other council decisions without the bias of the impact of those decisions on his own business, properties, clients, and family. My opponent owns and manages properties throughout Redondo. And his family owns even more. While City law requires him to recuse himself on decisions within 500 feet of his property or business concerns, two questions arise:

1. How will we even know where to draw the boundaries for every property he or his family owns or manages? Or,

2. If he reveals them all, how much can he actually vote on?

Owning a successful business that leases its own properties and manages properties for others is great. I applaud my opponent's business success.  But it brings to question whether he can deliberate zoning, permit, and development decisions without a conflict of interest.  Or if he recuses himself, as he should, how much can he actually vote on?

Mr. Ginsburg should show us a map with a 500 foot radius around all of the property in Redondo he and his family own, lease, and/or manage.  Then we could make the decision on how much he can vote on.  For example, right now, he would have to recuse himself on votes affecting both the north and south end end of the Riviera Village.  How much else would be off limits for  my opponent?   

District 1 deserves unbiased representation and decision making. 

How can Ginsburg represent us if he must recuse himself from crucial votes?  Or worse, if he doesn't recuse himself how can we trust that the vote will not be biased by his and his family's business interests and by the interests of those businesses and special interests who contributed thousands to his campaign?

My business is outside the borders of Redondo.  My contributions do not come from the Chamber and businesses that would benefit from a Council vote.  My only special interest is the quality of life of Redondo residents.

If you want unconflicted, independent representation at City Hall with an 11 year track record of defending your quality of life, vote for Jim Light on Tuesday.