Jimmy Blackman, who was a high level staff member for former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former City Councilman Dennis Zine, is facing a possible $22,500 fine for violating the city’s “revolving door” ethics laws, according to newly released documents.
Blackman started a law firm, Blackman & Associates, in July 2013 almost immediately after ending his employment with the city on June 30, 2013, and took on the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 as a client, according to a Los Angeles Ethics Commission report.
City law states that high level city officials must wait one year after leaving city service before receiving compensation for engaging in direct communications with a city agency.
By taking on the union as a client and advocating on its behalf to the city, Blackman was in direct violation of that law, the report found.
Blackman served as chief of staff for Villaraigosa from 2003 to 2005 when he was on the City Council, and as his deputy chief of staff when he was mayor from 2005 to 2010. From 2010 to 2013, he served as Zine’s chief of staff.
The report found that in March and April 2014, Blackman exchanged written correspondence with numerous high-level city officials and advocated on behalf of UFLAC.
According to the report, Blackman has agreed to the proposed stipulation of $22,500 and admitted to violating the Governmental Ethics Ordinance. Blackman did not respond to a request to comment.
Blackman faces two counts and a total possible fine of $45,000. Sergio Perez, director of enforcement for the Ethics Commission, recommended in the report that Blackman pay $22,500, or half of the maximum penalty, which is a common practice the commission does in order to encourage cooperation.
The Ethics Commission is scheduled to hear Blackman’s case and vote on the recommended stipulation on Tuesday.
–City News Service