#  DWP Ratepayer Money Eligible for Political Campaigns

     Details    Paul Hatfield   ![logo](https://www.citywatchla.com//templates/ja_teline_v/images/logo.png)         February 20 2014       [ARCHIVE](https://www.citywatchla.com/archive)   - [  Previous Article **Diverse LA: From ‘Wine’ Street to the Wilshire Grand** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6481:diverse-la-from-wine-street-to-the-wilshire-grand&catid=16)
- [  Next Article **Garcetti Preps His Earthquake Lady to Shake Seniors Out of LA** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6483:garcetti-preps-his-earthquake-lady-to-shake-seniors-out-of-la&catid=16)

  ###### Typography

- [](# "Smaller Font")  ****Smaller** **Small** **Medium** **Big** **Bigger****  [](# "Bigger Font")
- [](# "Previous Font Style")  ****Default** **Helvetica** **Segoe** **Georgia** **Times****  [](# "Next Font Style")

- [ Reading Mode](# "Reading Mode")

> <a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a><a class="a2a_button_print"></a>[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
>
> ***![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2014/12015h.png)PERSPECTIVE***-Imagine if your bimonthly DWP bill included a line that stated “reserved for political activity.”
>
> Would you be upset?
>
> Well, $11.8 million of your ratepayer money is sitting in the accounts of the DWP’s Joint Training and Safety Institutes. The two nonprofits fall under 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code.
>
> Unlike a 501(c)(3), where campaign spending and lobbying are forbidden, a (6) is free to spend on political activity.
>
> This stash of cash is over three times the annual operating expenses, so its purpose must be more than a rainy day fund.
>
> Then what is it for?

 It is time to put that question to all present and past members of the boards of the two nonprofits. I certainly do not expect IBEW boss D’Arcy and his crew to provide an answer. But do you think we might be able to squeeze some information out of the boards’ DWP management representatives?

I really do not know, but I suspect no one is trying very hard.

Sure, everyone is waiting for the courts to rule on whether D’Arcy must hand over financial records, but those financial records may not provide a clue as to what’s in store for the $11.8 million cash balance.

Subpoenas should be issued for all the board members as well as the accountants and the trusts’ managers. Make them testify under oath. If any of them assert their fifth amendment rights and refuse to testify, they will not be shielded from the court of public opinion.

In the end, public opinion will largely decide who the villains are.

***(Paul Hatfield is a CPA*** ***and former NC Valley Village board member and treasurer******. He blogs at Village to Village and contributes to CityWatch. He can be reached at: <phinnoho@aol.com>)***

**–cw**

**CityWatch**

**Vol 12 Issue 15**

**Pub: Feb 21, 2014**

  - [  Previous Article **Diverse LA: From ‘Wine’ Street to the Wilshire Grand** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6481:diverse-la-from-wine-street-to-the-wilshire-grand&catid=16)
- [  Next Article **Garcetti Preps His Earthquake Lady to Shake Seniors Out of LA** ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6483:garcetti-preps-his-earthquake-lady-to-shake-seniors-out-of-la&catid=16)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>