Consultant Worked On $577,000 Airport Contract While Advising Bass For Free

An informal advisor to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass handled communications for her agency for free while simultaneously moving connected a three-year statement pinch Los Angeles World Airports worthy astir $600,000.

Yusef Robb, who runs nan patient tk/Communications, was an unpaid spokesperson and advisor for Bass from February done nan opening of June.

On June 19, Robb began moving for Lineage Logistics, whose acold nutrient retention installation successful Boyle Heights burned for much than a week past month. He continued to service arsenic an unpaid, unofficial advisor to nan mayor, though nary longer arsenic a spokesperson, until The Times and different outlets reported connected his activity for Lineage connected Saturday.

Robb said nan airdrome statement was unrelated to his activity for nan mayor. But a ineligible master said nan statement raises questions astir whether his free labour was a gift to nan politician — which could beryllium taxable to dollar limits and reporting requirements — and whether moving for nan metropolis and backstage clients creates conflicts of interest.

“This was done done a transparent and nationalist competitory bidding process,” Robb said successful an email to The Times. “I supply communications support and training.”

The Bass management said Robb’s unpaid assistance was “for nan use of nan city. It’s not a gift.”

In 2024, Robb signed nan statement pinch Los Angeles World Airports, aliases LAWA — nan metropolis section that operates Los Angeles International Airport and nan Van Nuys Airport — for $450,000 complete 3 years.

He won nan contract, which progressive “executive media training” arsenic good arsenic “crisis communications,” complete 10 different firms. It was updated successful April to see further activity for $137,500.

A study from LAWA successful support of nan statement update said that “executive guidance astatine LAWA person benefited from successful, master media training arsenic good arsenic support for LAWA situation communications and response.”

Because tk/Communications has subcontracted to astatine slightest 2 different companies, Robb said his patient has earned nary much than $315,000 complete nan three-year contract.

“There is nary relationship betwixt nan activity Mr. Robb performs for LAWA and nan assistance he provides for Mayor Bass’ Office,” said a spokesperson for Bass’ office. Bass is moving for reelection against City Councilmember Nithya Raman.

The LAWA statement was Robb’s 2nd pinch nan metropolis during nan Bass administration. The metropolis paid a full of $75,000 successful 2022 and 2023 to Robb’s patient to supply “various communications services related to nan start-up of nan administration,” according to a contract.

Tk/Communications has worked for authorities agencies arsenic good arsenic governmental campaigns and backstage businesses, including nan Los Angeles Department of Transportation, nan Los Angeles Unified School District and nan euphony and intermezo institution AEG, according to nan company’s website.

“We create powerful narratives and engagement to accelerate and amplify our clients’ messages, whether they’re grounded successful an finance connection aliases a governmental campaign,” nan website states. “We writer and show stories that build heavy connections and lasting relationships that present much than you asked for.”

Robb has worked successful and astir City Hall for decades. He was a property adjutant successful Mayor Jim Hahn’s administration, past worked for Eric Garcetti erstwhile Garcetti was a metropolis assembly personnel and past mayor. He near Garcetti’s agency successful 2015.

Robb said he has provided “unpaid thief to each sorts of group and businesses, to beforehand criminal justness reform, shape organization movements, aliases conscionable to find nan correct words.”

“I consciousness it’s important to thief nan metropolis if I can,” he said.

Jessica Levinson, a professor astatine Loyola Law School and erstwhile president of nan city’s Ethics Commission, said nan airdrome statement shows really valuable Robb’s labour is, raising nan mobility of whether he is providing a gift to Bass by moving for her for free.

Another interest for nan public, Levinson said, is that Robb is moving for Bass astatine nan aforesaid clip that he has different clients and could perchance usage his position astatine City Hall to beforehand those clients’ interests. His activity for Bass could besides make him much desirable for clients who judge he has nan mayor’s ear, she said.

“What we’re worried astir is undue influence, preferential entree and backroom deals that use definite people, arsenic opposed to nan public,” said Levinson. “We don’t want nationalist officials serving 2 masters.”

Still, Levinson said she does not judge that Bass has violated immoderate laws by utilizing Robb pro bono.

“This is an different group up,” she said. “That does not mean it’s illegal.”