Public commenter alleges Brown Act violations and criticizes district attorney

Michael Ackerman, a member of the public, addressed the Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee and criticized recent handling of ex parte communications involving the Charter Reform Commission. "Last week, the council approved a motion requiring that ex parte communications with the Charter Reform Commission be disclosed," Ackerman said. "Unfortunately, this won't solve the problem, which is that these communications are still a serial meeting violation of the Brown Act."

Ackerman said disclosure "won't change that" and argued the rule might only mitigate unavoidable violations such as conversations that occur incidentally in public (for example, "if someone sitting near you at a restaurant starts talking loudly about city business"). He added that "the district attorney's office is just plain bent," saying the office had not adequately addressed such violations and urging the possibility of elevating the issue to the governor to protect "Los Angeles residents' right."

The committee did not record a response to Ackerman's remarks in the transcript. No formal action, referral, or staff directive appears in the record; the meeting proceeded to a consent vote and adjourned. The meeting date is not specified in the transcript.