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Kerry Cavanaugh noted in her column yesterday in the Daily News that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa isn't the only City Hall politico to pay a price for taking free tickets (though he took by far the most tickets, and is paying the highest price.) City Council members Eric Garcetti, Jose Huizar, Herb Wesson and Tony Cardenas "all face fines ranging from $2,100 to $4,800 for taking tickets to events in excess of gift limits," Cavanaugh reported. How they intend to pay the fines differs by politico.
Cavanaugh says that Wesson plans to open a legal defense fund to collect donations to pay the $3,900 fine for accepting tickets to the BET awards. Cardenas already has a legal defense fund and will use it to pay his $2,500 fine for accepting Emmys tickets. Huizar's office did not return calls by her deadline.
Garcetti was the only politician who said he plans to pay the $4,800 fine from his own pocket. His violation stems from failing to fully reimburse tickets to the Emmys and Academy Awards events."While I paid the full cost of the awards show tickets, I messed up when it came to the dinners afterward," he said. "That's my mistake, and I'm personally paying for the cost of these three dinners now to clear it up."