Official Warned of Conflict of Interest

Newly appointed city airport Commissioner Lee Kanon Alpert has been advised by the Los Angeles Ethics Commission that his financial ties to companies operating at Van Nuys Airport could disqualify him from some agency votes.

Alpert, a Northridge lawyer and prominent San Fernando Valley civic leader, was named to the Los Angeles World Airports Board by Mayor Richard Riordan last month and confirmed Aug. 8 by the City Council.

Alpert disclosed in required filings with the city Ethics Commission that his law firm has received income of more than $10,000 over the last year from the Van Nuys Business Airport Operators, jet operators Clay Lacy Aviation and company owner Clay Lacy.

Lacy and the airport business group have actively campaigned against noise rules proposed at the airport and long sought by nearby residents. Last year, Alpert testified as an area resident to the City Council against the proposed noise rules.

Some community leaders called for Alpert’s resignation Tuesday, but others supported his appointment.

The Airport Commission, which Alpert joined this month, was asked in April by City Council members Mike Feuer, Joel Wachs and Cindy Miscikowski to eliminate all of the older and noisier Stage II jets by 2010 to address concerns by neighbors of the airfield. The panel has not yet acted on the proposal.

“There is no question that there is a conflict,” said Gerald Silver, head of Stop The Noise!, a coalition of residents who support the phaseout of noisy jets. “The mayor’s appointment of Lee Alpert is a slap in the face of every Valley resident because he has actively represented the airport interests.”

Silver was joined Tuesday in calling for Alpert to step down by David Rankell, co-chairman of the Van Nuys Airport Committee for the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.

“In light of his representation of the Van Nuys Airport business community, he should resign his position as an airport commissioner,” Rankell said.

Any opinion or action that Alpert takes will be subjected to questions about whether he was influenced by his airport clients, Rankell said.

Alpert declined comment through a representative Tuesday about the potential conflict.

But a spokesman for Riordan said the mayor is satisfied that Alpert can serve in the post objectively.

“He has been an excellent commissioner,” said Peter Hidalgo, a spokesman for the mayor. “The mayor is very confident with Mr. Alpert’s track record with the city. We feel we can trust him.”

Don Schultz, president of the Van Nuys Homeowners Assn., said he believes Alpert can objectively consider the noise issue.

Alpert is a veteran of the Riordan administration, having served previously as president of the city Neighborhood Empowerment Commission and as head of the city Building and Safety Commission.

He has served as president of the San Fernando Valley Bar Assn. and last year won the Fernando Award, which is given to Valley residents who distinguish themselves with public service and volunteerism.

The advisory letter by the Ethics Commission states that Alpert’s law firm, Alpert and Barr, “represents several aviation clients.”

“Therefore, Mr. Alpert should seek advice of the city attorney prior to acting on any matter before the board involving his investments, his law firm, his clients, or any other of his personal financial interests,” the letter reads.

Such letters are routinely sent to the City Council when commissioners have financial interests that could pose a conflict, an ethics official said. The City Council confirmed Alpert’s appointment, 31 to 1, Aug. 8 after receiving the Ethics Commission letter.

If a commissioner is disqualified from acting on three or more agenda items in a year because of the same conflict, the Ethics Commission would determine whether a continuing conflict exists that requires divestment, the letter said.