News brief

Lobbyists now required to register in Los
Angeles

A new law requires the city’s 165 registered lobbyists to
identify themselves and their clients when communicating with
neighborhood groups.

Neighborhood councils, City Councilwoman Janice Hahn said,
“˜”˜need to know where (information) comes from, who sent
it and the possible motive.”

The ordinance, passed Tuesday by the City Council, takes effect
this summer. It was prompted when Howard Sunkin of Cerrell
Associates Inc., working for burglar alarm companies, failed to
formally disclose those connections when he spoke to neighborhood
groups about a police policy that would have stopped officers from
responding to unverified alarms.

Panel members trooped en masse to City Council chambers to
complain. Eventually, a new policy allowing homeowners and
businesses two false alarms per year before verification is
required was implemented.

Sunkin said he would abide by the new lobbying law.

Reports from Bruin wire services.