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Edwards, Chen Latest Aides to Leave Hahn Staff

Edwards, Chen Latest Aides to Leave Hahn Staff Deputy Mayor Troy Edwards, who has been named in an investigation of corruption in city contracting practices, has stepped down from his post. His resignation is effective April 9. Edwards, who was most recently deputy mayor for special projects, had been responsible for overseeing Los Angeles World Airports and the Port of Los Angeles. A grand jury probe launched by District Attorney Steve Cooley earlier this month is seeking to determine whether city commissioners and mayoral aides had engaged in questionable fund-raising tactics by offering contractors who work with those agencies favorable treatment in return for campaign contributions. The city’s practice of allowing civilian commissioners to purchase contractor services amounting to millions of dollars in contracts from the airport, harbor and power authorities, has since been outlawed, but a federal grand jury has subpoenaed documents from the various agencies and begun calling officials, including Edwards, to testify. Calling Edwards a “long-time key advisor,” Mayor Jim Hahn said he would appoint Phillip Depoian senior advisor on aviation to serve as his liaison for the LAX master plan and other aviation issues. Meanwhile, Hahn has announced a blue ribbon city commission panel to study best practices for contracting at the city’s proprietary departments. Among the officials named to the panel is Roberto Barragan, president of the Valley Economic Development Center. The commission will be chaired by USC Law Professor Erwin Chemerinsky. In an unrelated move, the deputy mayor for workforce development has also resigned effective April 16. Joy Chen said she would remain as a consultant to the Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board, a group involved with the 25 One-Stop centers providing job training and placement services. Deputy Mayor Renata Simril will oversee Chen’s areas, which also included Mayor Hahn’s L.A. Workforce Literacy Project and the L.A. Free Cash for College Project. Also resigning from Hahn’s staff was Sarah Dusseault, deputy mayor for housing, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family. Business Journal Staff

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