(The Center Square) – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has filed hundreds of state-mandated “transparency” reports intended to disclose millions of dollars donated to third parties at her behest, but at least 23 filings reviewed by The Center Square show her requesting money from "Anonymous."
Anonymous donations are legal in some circumstances, but they defeat the purpose of a California transparency system intended to let the public know who elected officials are soliciting for money and what their underlying motivations could be.
kA 52E2\A>\D=:46lQ` ` ,.Qm%C2?DA2C6?4J C6A@CED 42? =62G6 D@>6 DFCAC:D:?8=J 32D:4 BF6DE:@?D F?2?DH6C65i (9@ 24EF2==J 82G6 E96 >@?6Jn (92E 3FD:?6DD 5:5 E96 5@?@C 92G6 367@C6 r:EJ w2==n (92E 6I24E=J 5:5 q2DD @C 96C DE277 5@ E@ D@=:4:E E96 A2J>6?En x7 E96 >@?6J C624965 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ H92E H2D :E 24EF2==J DA6?E @?nk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq2DD 92D ?@E C6DA@?565 E@ >F=E:A=6 C6BF6DED 7C@> %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmu:=:?8D D9@H E96 2?@?J>@FD A2J>6?ED E@E2=65 Sac_[deb 2?5 H6C6 C@FE65 E9C@F89 E96 !=6586=:?8 u@F?52E:@? 5FC:?8 2 `a\52J DA2? :? y2?F2CJ a_ad] q2DD 5:C64E65 E96 7F?5D E@ E96 ?@?AC@7:E r2=:7@C?:2 r@>>F?:EJ u@F?52E:@? WrruX :? DFAA@CE @7 7:C6 C6=:67 2?5 C64@G6CJ 677@CED]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 !=6586=:?8 u@F?52E:@? W!=6586X 56D4C:36D :ED6=7 2D 2 d_`W4XWbX k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:CD]8@G^492C:E:6D\?@?\AC@7:ED^492C:E23=6\@C82?:K2E:@?D^5@?@C\25G:D65\7F?5DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m5@?@C\25G:D65 7F?5k^DEC@?8mk^2m 2?5 492C:E23=6 4=62C:?89@FD6] r@>A2?:6D @C :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ H2?E E@ 5@?2E6 >@?6J 42? FD6 5@?@C\25G:D65 7F?5D =:<6 E96 !=6586=:?8 u@F?52E:@? E@ 9:56 E96:C :56?E:E:6D 2?5 @7E6? 62C? 86?6C@FD E2I 565F4E:@?D] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmvC68@CJ *@C<6[ E96 49:67 7:?2?4:2= @77:46C 2?5 G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 3FD:?6DD @A6C2E:@?D 7@C !=6586[ 564=:?65 2? :?E6CG:6H C6BF6DE 3FE AC@G:565 QD@>6 A@DD:3:=:E:6DQ G:2 6>2:=]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmQ%96 r:EJ 4@F=5 36 AF==:?8 5@?2E:@?D E92E 5:DA=2J 2D V2?@?J>@FDV k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A=6586]E@^447H:=57:C6C6=:677F?5Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m@? D:E6D =:<6 E9:D @?6 WD6E FA 3J rruXk^DEC@?8mk^2m[ H9:49 ;FDE >62?D E92E E96 5@?@C 5:5 ?@E H2?E E96:C ?2>6 >256 AF3=:4[Q *@C<6 HC@E6] Q$@>6 A6@A=6 H:== 49@@D6 E@ 5@?2E6 G:2 2 5@?@C\25G:D65 7F?5 AC64:D6=J E@ DE2J 2?@?J>@FD] %96J 2C6 ?@E 2?@?J>@FD E@ FD[ 3FE E96J 42? @AE E@ 36 D9@H? 2D 2?@?J>@FD E@ E96 @C82?:K2E:@? H6 C68C2?E E@[ =:<6 rru]Qk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp44@C5:?8 E@ DE2E6 C68F=2E:@?D[ 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7AA4]42]8@G^D:E62DD6ED^5@4F>6?ED^E25^724E0D966ED^3696DE650A2J>6?ED^3A0C6A@CE07@C>0g_b0724E0D966E07:?2=]A57Qm92G6 2 5FEJ E@ :56?E:7Jk^2mk^DEC@?8m E96 F?56C=J:?8 5@?@CD @7 3696DE65 A2J>6?ED E@ E96 r2=:7@C?:2 u2:C !@=:E:42= !C24E:46D r@>>:DD:@? Wu!!rX H:E9 2D >F49 DA64:7:4:EJ 2D E96J <?@H @C 42? 56E6C>:?6 3J 2D<:?8 E96 DA@?D@C:?8 @C82?:K2E:@?] x7 E96 DA@?D@C:?8 @C82?:K2E:@? H:== ?@E :56?E:7J E96 5@?@C[ u!!r CF=6D 2==@H A@=:E:4:2?D E@ 5:D4=@D6 E96 A2J>6?E H:E9@FE AF3=:4=J C6G62=:?8 E96 ?2>6 @7 E96 A6CD@? @C 4@>A2?J 369:?5 E96 >@?6J]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp44@C5:?8 E@ !=6586[ q2DD =:<6=J 5:5 ?@E C6BF6DE F?56C=J:?8 5@?@C :?7@C>2E:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmQx 2> ?@E 2H2C6 @7 2?J C6BF6DED E@ D92C6 5@?@C :?7@ H:E9 E96 |2J@C’D @77:46 @C p}* @E96C bC5 A2CEJ[ H96E96C C6=2E65 E@ rru @C 2?J @E96C 492C:EJ – 2?5 x 2> DFC6 E92E 2?J DF49 2D< H@F=5 92G6 366? CF? 3J >6[Q *@C<6 HC@E6 :? 2? 6>2:=] Q(6 H@F=5 ?6G6C D92C6 5@?@C :?7@ H:E9 2?J bC5 A2CEJ[ E96 |2J@C’D @77:46 @C H9@>6G6C[ F?=6DD H6 925 E96 @C:8:?2= 5@?@C’D A6C>:DD:@?]Qk^Am
k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\2=:8?>6?E\=67E E?4>D\:?=:?6\H:5E9\EH@\E9:C5DQmk^2D:56m
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmr2=:7@C?:2 E:89E6?65 :ED CF=6D DFCC@F?5:?8 5@?@C\25G:D65 7F?5D :? a_a` 5F6 E@ EC2?DA2C6?4J 4@?46C?D DFCC@F?5:?8 2?@?J>@FD 5@?@CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(96? 2 5@?@C 4@?462=D 9:D @C 96C :56?E:EJ[ E96 AF3=:4 42??@E 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C E96 5@?2E:@? H2D 6E9:42==J 2AAC@AC:2E6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ AF3=:4 EC2?DA2C6?4J H2E495@8 8C@FAD =:<6 r2=:7@C?:2 r@>>@? r2FD6] %96 AF3=:4 42??@E 4964< H96E96C 2?@?J>@FD 5@?@CD 925 2 4:EJ 4@?EC24E[ 6>A=@J65 =@33J:DED @C 925 2?@E96C AC@4665:?8 E92E H2D A6?5:?8 367@C6 {@D p?86=6D 2E E96 E:>6 @7 5@?2E:@?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmQxE DA62<D G@=F>6D[Q D2:5 $62? |4|@CC:D[ H9@ >2?286D E96 EC2?DA2C6?4J 2?5 6E9:4D AC@8C2> 7@C r2=:7@C?:2 r@>>@? r2FD6] Q%96 =6DD E96J D92C6[ E96 >@C6 E96 AF3=:4 :D 8@:?8 E@ 2DDF>6]]] %96 AF3=:4 D66D E96D6 E9:?8D] %96JVC6 ?@E DEFA:5] %96J 42? 4@??64E E96 5@ED]Qk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|4|@CC:D 92D C676CC65 E@ E96 DJDE6> 2D “C:A6 7@C 23FD6]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmQp== @7 E96D6 244@F?E23:=:EJ =2HDn |@DE @7 E96> 92G6 =@@A9@=6D 3642FD6 >@?6J 2=H2JD 7:?5D 2 H2J[” |4|@CC:D D2:5] “%9:D 6?E:C6 DJDE6> :D 32D65 @? ECFDE H:E9@FE G6C:7:42E:@?] xEVD :?96C6?E=J 7=2H65]]] 2?5 A@=:4J>2<6CD 2C6 G6CJ 2AAC696?D:G6 E@ 2>6?5 =2HD E92E C68F=2E6 E96>D6=G6D]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmrru 92D C646:G65 >@C6 E92? Sc]a >:==:@? 7C@> 5@?@CD 2E E96 >2J@C’D 3696DE] q2DD 5@6D ?@E D6CG6 @? E96 rru 3@2C5[ 3FE E96 @C82?:K2E:@? 92D 364@>6 2 A2CE?6C “H@C<:?8 2=@?8D:56 |2J@C z2C6? q2DD” @? :?:E:2E:G6D DF49 2D {pc{p[ 2? 277@C523=6\9@FD:?8 A2CE?6CD9:A] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmv:=:6? $:=D3J[ 2 DA@<6DH@>2? 7@C rru[ 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|@DE ?@?AC@7:ED 2C6 C6BF:C65 E@ >2<6 E96:C E2I C6EFC?D AF3=:4[ C6G62=:?8 3C@25 42E68@C:6D @7 C6G6?F6 2?5 6IA6?D6D] u656C2= =2H 5@6D ?@E C6BF:C6 E96 C6=62D6 @7 5@?@CD’ ?2>6D @C 255C6DD6D[ 2?5 E96 7:=:?8D 5@ ?@E AC@G:56 2 C646:AE\3J\C646:AE 244@F?E:?8 @7 6IA6?D6D 4@>A2C23=6 E@ 2 8@G6C?>6?E 4964<3@@< E92E H@F=5 36 AF3=:4 F?56C E96 r2=:7@C?:2 !F3=:4 #64@C5D p4E]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(9:=6 5:D4=@DFC6 7@C>D 2C6 :?E6?565 E@ D9@H E96 492C:E23=6 AFCA@D6 @7 2 5@?2E:@?[ E96 C62D@?D =:DE65 2C6 7:==65 @FE 3J E96 >:55=6>2? A@=:E:4:2? C6BF6DE:?8 E96 >@?6J] }@?AC@7:E C64:A:6?ED 2C6 ?@E ?646DD2C:=J =682==J 3@F?5 3J E9@D6 56D4C:AE:@?D] k^Am
k9c 5:ClQ=ECQm|:?:>:K:?8 E96 >2J@C’D :?G@=G6>6?Ek^9cm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 |2J@C’D ~77:46 92D ?@E 6IA=2:?65 9@H q2DD H2D 42A23=6 @7 D@=:4:E:?8 >@?6J 7C@> 2?@?J>@FD 5@?@CD] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 2?DH6C >2J 36 E92E q2DD 5@6D ?@E A6CD@?2==J DA62< H:E9 >@DE 5@?@CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq2DD 92D 925 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=2>2E6C:2=]4@>^A^=2\<2C6?\32DD\5@?2E:@?\=:?6286Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m“>:?:>2= E@ ?@ :?G@=G6>6?E”k^DEC@?8mk^2m :? 7F?5C2:D:?8 7@C E96 |2J@C’D uF?5 7@C {@D p?86=6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ?@?AC@7:E’D AC6D:56?E 2?5 49:67 6I64FE:G6 @77:46C r@?H2J r@==:D] w6 >256 E96 4@>>6?E E@ =@42= ?6HD @FE=6E {]p] |2E6C:2= :? 2 DE@CJ A@DE65 62C=:6C E9:D >@?E9] }6G6CE96=6DD[ r@==:D D2:5 q2DD C6A@CED 2== 8:7ED E@ E96 |2J@C’D uF?5 2D 2 3696DE65 A2J>6?E kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7AA4]42]8@G^D:E62DD6ED^5@4F>6?ED^E25^7@C>D^286?4J0C6A@CED^g_b]A57QmG:2 u!!r u@C> g_b]k^2mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 DE2E6>6?ED 7C@> r@==:D 92G6 C2:D65 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE H96E96C q2DD 92D 366? E2<:?8 4C65:E 7@C 5@?2E:@?D :? H9:49 D96 A=2J65 ?@ C@=6] x7 2 5@?2E:@? ECF=J 925 ?@ 4@??64E:@? E@ q2DD @C 96C DE277[ E96 =2H H@F=5 ?@E C6BF:C6 :E E@ 36 C6A@CE65 2D 2 3696DE65 A2J>6?E :? E96 7:CDE A=246]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 u@C> g_b :D ?@E 2? :?7@C>2= AC6DD C6=62D6] t=64E65 @77:4:2=D 7:=6 E96> H:E9 E96 u!!r F?56C A6?2=EJ @7 A6C;FCJ] p 3696DE65 A2J>6?E :D[ 3J 567:?:E:@?[ 2 A2J>6?E 4@??64E65 :? D@>6 H2J E@ 2? 6=64E65 @77:4:2=’D C6BF6DE[ DF886DE:@? @C 5:C64E:@?] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 u!!r[ A@=:E:4:2?D 2C6 =682==J C6BF:C65 E@ 5:D4=@D6 A2J>6?ED 3642FD6 @7 E96 6=64E65 @77:4:2=’D C@=6 :? E96 EC2?D24E:@?] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq2DD D6CG6D 2D 2? Q25G:D@CQ E@ E96 |2J@CVD uF?5 3FE 5@6D ?@E D:E @? E96 3@2C5] s6DA:E6 E96 |2J@CVD uF?5 rt~ 56D4C:3:?8 q2DD 2D 92G:?8 Q>:?:>2= E@ ?@ :?G@=G6>6?EQ :? 7F?5C2:D:?8[ 96C 677@CED 92G6 366? 56D4C:365 5:776C6?E=J 3J @E96CD 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 4@?E6IE] %96 |2J@CVD ~77:46 92D C6A62E65=J 4C65:E65 q2DD 7@C 96=A:?8 C2:D6 @C D64FC6 A9:=2?E9C@A:4 5@==2CD] %96 ?@?AC@7:EVD AF3=:4\724:?8 >2E6C:2=D D9@H q2DD HC:E:?8 AF3=:4 =6EE6CD E@ E92?< 5@?@CD 2?5 6>A92D:K6 E@ C6256CD E92E E96:C DFAA@CE :D 4C:E:42=]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|6=2?:6 |6?5@K2[ 2 DA@<6DH@>2? 7@C E96 |2J@C’D uF?5[ DA@<6 3C:67=J H:E9 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 3J E6=6A9@?6 3FE F=E:>2E6=J 5:5 ?@E 2?DH6C BF6DE:@?D 2?5 DE@AA65 C6DA@?5:?8 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 92D ?@E 7@F?5 2?J 2?@?J>@FD 5@?2E:@?D E@ E96 |2J@C’D uF?5 2E q2DD’ 3696DE] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“xE’D E96 4@??64E:?8 @7 5@ED E92EVD E96 AC@3=6>] yFDE 86EE:?8 E96 5@ED 42? 36 5:77:4F=E 7@C >@DE A6@A=6[ 3FE =:?<:?8 E96> FA[ x E9:?<[ :D E96 92C5 A2CE[” D2:5 #:492C5 qC:772F=E[ 2 r@=F>3:2 &?:G6CD:EJ =2H AC@76DD@C 2?5 42>A2:8? 7:?2?46 6IA6CE] “%96D6 2C6 ?@E W>@?6JX EC2:=D] %96D6 2C6 H63D] xE’D =:<6 7@==@H:?8 E96 2:C >@=64F=6D] xE’D E96 H2E6C :? H9:49 E96 7:D9 DH:>D]”k^Am
