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Ethics Commission endorses staff recommendation to bar officials from soliciting 'behested' payments from interested parties
Summary
The Ethics Commission voted unanimously Nov. 5 to authorize staff to tell the Board of Supervisors it supports prohibiting city officials and employees from soliciting behested payments from 'interested parties' (contractors, permit applicants, lobbyists and restricted sources), while preserving an exception for established city gift funds and continuing stakeholder outreach.
The Ethics Commission on Nov. 5 voted unanimously to authorize staff to tell the Board of Supervisors the Commission supports at least an initial prohibition on city officials and employees soliciting 'behested' payments from interested parties — a policy staff recommended after reviewing examples tied to the federal Nuru investigation and other cases.
Pat Ford, senior policy and legislative affairs counsel for the Ethics Commission, said the staff review found behested (’behest’) payments carry a high risk of pay‑to‑play and can be used as an end‑run around existing gift and contribution rules. He said the staff's principal recommendations are: (1) prohibit officials and employees from soliciting behested payments…
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