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 [ LOS ANGELES ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=312)

#  Popular Talking Head Secretly Paid by Developers to Kill the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative

October 17 2016

Written by Patrick Range McDonald.

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VOX POP--On October 11, at a Los Angeles City Council meeting, Christopher Thornberg, the founding partner of Beacon Economics and a popular talking head, chose not to reveal a little known, yet important fact — he’s a paid campaign consultant for the developer-funded campaign that seeks to kill the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative and stop reform of LA’s rigged development approval process.

You see, the [Neighborhood Integrity Initiative](http://2preservela.org/plain/), a March 2017 ballot measure that’s sponsored by the Coalition to Preserve LA, seeks a much-needed fix of LA’s broken planning and land-use system. Even [Mayor Eric Garcetti agrees it should be revamped](http://2preservela.org/los-angeles-planning-land-use-system-needs-reform/).

But the Coalition to Protect LA Neighborhoods and Jobs, the misleadingly named campaign that’s funded by [billionaire developers and LA business interests](http://2preservela.org/deep-pocketed-developers-contribute-722335-stop-reform-la-planning-land-use-system/), is hell-bent on maintaining the status quo for developers, smashing anything that gets in the way of huge profits. Miami-based Crescent Heights and Australia-based Westfield are major funders of that anti-reform campaign.

Enter Christopher Thornberg (photo above), who’s often quoted by the *Los Angeles Times* and other news outlets and a founder of the LA-based research firm Beacon Economics.

According to the city’s Ethics Commission, Beacon Economics and Thornberg have been hired by the Coalition to Protect LA Neighborhoods and Jobs as a high-priced campaign consultant. So far, Beacon Economics [has incurred $11,400 in fees](http://ethics.lacity.org/PDF/disclosure/CA460/BM/Coalition%20to%20Protect%20LA%20Neighborhoods%20and%20Jobs_4.1.16_6.30.16.pdf).

Now cut to October 11 at LA City Hall inside Council chambers. An articulate, glad-handing [Thornberg shows up in front of the LA City Council](http://lacity.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=130&clip_id=16244) to deliver a presentation about the economic health of LA.

“It’s nice to be back today,” says Thornberg, “particularly to present all sorts of wonderfully good news.”

He makes a strong sell for more development in LA — and says that the reforms in the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative must be stopped.

“We know the propositions that are coming up,” he says. “We know the rules that people are trying to put into place…My only last message to you is: Please, don’t allow them to win.”

Thornberg adds, “You are seeing a growing interest in urbanization…it’s the dense, urban cities that are growing. And that’s a wonderful opportunity for the city to capitalize on.”

Defeating the reform movement that’s the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative and building more luxury development will also help wealthy developers — the people who are paying Thornberg’s bills — reap millions upon millions in profits. And often at the expense of lower-income and middle-class Angelenos.

But does Thornberg disclose to citizens who are watching the Council meeting that he’s a paid consultant for the anti-reform campaign funded by billionaire developers? Nope. Never.

That’s how things work at City Hall, where lack of transparency, backroom deals and soft corruption are the norm. And that’s why citizens across LA are joining the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative movement.

*(Patrick Range McDonald writes for Preserve LA. Read more news and find out how you can participate: [2PreserveLA.org](http://2PreserveLA.org).)*

*-cw*

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