Transparency watchdogs say elected officials should disclose financial conflicts of interest in real time to avoid corruption, while Republicans warn the measures will make politicians even less accountable as billions in state, and eventually, federal aid comes pouring in. 

“As Los Angeles rises, we will continue to remove the barriers that would stand in the way,” said Newsom in a statement on the multifaceted order. “This executive order provides targeted relief from regulations that impact victims and would otherwise slow this community’s quick recovery.”

The order provides a 60-day extension for financial ethics reporting due on or by April 1, 2025, for three categories.

The first category for extension is behested payments, which occur when an elected official or government employee asks someone to donate money to a third party such as a charity, nonprofit or other organization, rather than to themselves directly. Due to ethical concerns about the practice, state law require strict reporting of behested payments, which could otherwise appear as bribes. 

The second and third categories are for arriving and departing officials, who are required to disclose their personal finances and possible conflicts of interest regarding businesses or organizations that may be seeking business or contracts with the bodies they oversee.

With a $2.5 billion state wildfire aid package now signed by the governor opening a spigot of recovery spending in Los Angeles County, and further federal relief in the billions likely to follow, these delays could obfuscate connections between officials’ decisions and their direct or indirect financial interests until well after votes or decisions are made. 

Watchdogs note that some officials may personally have been impacted by the fires and may need extra time, but that the rest should be expected to file as usual, especially if there are any conflicts of interest.

“I’m not offended by giving public officials directly impacted by the fires, who may be trying to rebuild their lives, a little leeway in filing ethics reports,” said Carmen Balber, executive director of progressive advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, to The Center Square. “But the public should reasonably expect representatives who are able to file to do so on time, despite the deadline extension. And any clear conflict from companies seeking to benefit from the disaster, through a contract award at city hall for example, can and should be disclosed in real time by public officials.” 

Republicans, meanwhile, warned the measures would only worsen the existing corruption and special interest dominance in the region.

“California and Los Angeles politics are already a cesspool of corruption and special interest money laundering, and now Gavin Newsom is making politicians even less accountable,” said Los Angeles County Republican Party chairwoman Roxanne Hoge to The Center Square. “The people of our state deserve better, and it’s a shame this reporting delay does nothing to increase trust or allay fears of malfeasance.”