Ethics commission votes to limit freebies

In a preliminary move that will eventually have to be validated by the City Council, the City Ethics Commission voted to bar top officials from taking free tickets to concerts and sports if the donor has business pending before the city. The ban would apply even if the recipient — an elected office holder, commissioner or top manager — has official city business to conduct at the event, as Mayor Villaraigosa claimed to justify his presence at dozens of high-profile events.