DWP revising ethics policy

Facing harsh criticism from city leaders over conflict of interest concerns in the awarding of multimillion dollar contracts, the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners will consider new ethics and disclosure procedures today.Kerry Cavanaugh in the Daily News.

Last month, the City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa blocked two power contracts worth $5 million until the DWP could adopt a new ethics policy to ensure there was no involvement or influence by the utility's No. 2 executive, Raman Raj, who was a consultant for the two firms.

While DWP General Manager H. David Nahai assured leaders that he had built an "ethical wall" around Raj during the awarding of the contracts, he agreed to revise the department's conflict of interest procedures.