Los Angeles’ City Ethics Commission changed campaign finance rules just weeks before a primary election, enabling a radical Green Party controller to access $500,000 in taxpayer funds while his challenger opted out of public financing.
Rule Change Hands Socialist Controller Half-Million
The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission eliminated a long-standing requirement that candidates participate in public debates to receive matching taxpayer funds. The timing delivered Green Party incumbent Kenneth Mejia $500,000 ahead of the June 2 primary. Under previous rules, candidates received $6 in public money for every $1 raised privately, but only if they debated opponents. The city expects to distribute $15 million in matching funds during the primaries alone.
Los Angeles Controller Kenneth Mejia says they found $80 million dollars allocated for things like infrastructure that Democrats chose not to spend it
“$80 million that we could have spent over these past 2 years but didn't”
– $9.7 million that we could spend on parks
– $7.1… pic.twitter.com/exRWQ7lmV2— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) April 11, 2026
The rule revision followed challenger Zach Sokoloff’s decision to reject both public funding and debate participation. Under the old system, his opt-out would have blocked Mejia from accessing taxpayer money or participating in debates. Campaign consultant Rick Taylor, representing Sokoloff, called the commission’s action the most outrageous he has witnessed in his career. The new guidelines allow campaigns to host their own town hall events instead of formal debates to qualify for matching funds.
Audit Record Raises Questions About Oversight
Mejia, who earns $274,000 annually overseeing city finances, has completed just 11 audits in three years compared to 108 by his predecessor Ron Galperin. His highest-profile review targeted the LAPD’s $46 million helicopter program, yet he has not audited the billions flowing into homelessness programs. Los Angeles has spent at least $2.6 billion on buying and renovating hotels, motels, and dormitories for the homeless since 2020, including units costing up to $1.5 million per room.
Promised Reviews Remain Incomplete
Nearly three years after pledging to audit Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe homelessness initiative, Mejia has not delivered that review. The controller has audited only about five of the city’s roughly 40 departments during his tenure. Hundreds of millions in unpaid cannabis taxes remain outstanding, according to the Sokoloff campaign. The $2.6 billion in homelessness spending includes roughly $1.3 billion from Governor Gavin Newsom’s Homekey program, matched by another $1.3 billion from Los Angeles city and county sources. The City Ethics Commission and Mejia’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.