Only one problem with that: Tyron Freeman's union contributions on behalf of Board of Supervisors candidate Mark Ridley-Thomas are mostly so-called independent expenditures. So the money officially never got into Ridley-Thomas's hands, thus it would be impossible for him to return the cash. Bernard Parks has a better argument against Freeman's union raising as much as $5 million in mandatory dues from non-members. LAT

Related, in a way: The Engineers & Architects Association at City Hall has begun airing radio spots calling the Service Employees International Union, which includes Freeman's union, corrupt. The two labor groups have battled before. DN