Another councilmember was hit with public corruption charges Tuesday in the city where ethics too often go to die.
Los Angeles County prosecutors allege that L.A. Councilmember Curren Price voted to approve projects for developers who had given over $150,000 to his wife. He then failed to disclose the income she received on mandatory disclosure forms. Prosecutors also say his wife received $34,000 worth of city medical coverage before they were married.
Price, who has served on the dais for a decade, is facing five counts of grand theft by embezzlement, three counts of perjury, and two counts of conflict of interest. He is the fourth member of the city council charged with corruption in recent years, joining former councilmembers Mitch Englander, José Huizar, and Mark Ridley-Thomas. Three other councilmembers were recently forced to resign or kicked off of committee assignments for participating in a racist discussion that was captured on secret audio.
On Wednesday, Council President Paul Krekorian introduced a motion to suspend Price as the councilmember for District 9.
Responding to a reporter’s question about eroding confidence in government, Krekorian said elected officials carry the “personal burden” of regaining the public’s trust.
Read the full criminal complaint against Price here.