Mark Ridley-Thomas acknowledges home improvements by county workers

I am quoted in this article in the Los Angeles Times. 

Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor who studies governmental ethics, said it was troubling that an elected official would use government workers to perform work on a private residence, even if the official reimbursed taxpayers.

"The question becomes, 'What else would the workers be doing at that time?'" Levinson said. "Does reimbursement make the taxpayer whole? Is fair-market value paid?

"Our public officials should not appear to be using their position for their own benefit. These accusations are dispiriting to people who don't have access to county workers to improve their residences.

Work at Ridley-Thomas' residence went beyond security system

I am quoted in this article in the Los Angeles Times. 

Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School who studies governmental ethics, said that if the work at Ridley-Thomas' residence was ultimately deemed inappropriate, the supervisor would be responsible, no matter who first suggested the improvements.

"He's not unfamiliar with what it means to be a public official or the state ethics code," Levinson said. "He's the person who said yes to the work. Whether or not the idea started with him, he OK'd the project."