Irvine’s Tammy Kim on Nepotism; do as I say, not as I do.

We haven’t visited changes in Irvine’s anti-nepotism policy in some time but it’s time to do so because some hypocrisy has been detected.

Council member Tammy Kim pushed for a new policy that effectively removed Dr. Phyllis Agran off the city;s Childrem Youth and Famiily Advisory Committee — an unpaid position that she’s well-qualified for — because she’s married to Council member Larry Agran.  I have a couple of Public Records requests with the City of Irvine and noticed a new name copied on the emails — someone with a last name of Kim.  A few phone calls later, and we’ve confirmed that Tammy Kim’s son (who is over 18) is an unpaid intern for her city council office.  And he has a city of Irvine email address.  Do you think he’s chatted about what I’m diggng for with his Mom over dinner?  It’s possible.

So much for “we have so many talented people in this city. I would rather provide opportunities for them to serve,” and “we are all held to the same standard.”   Kim hired her son.  Yep, it’s unpaid so no harm done, right?

I have to wonder how many college kids majoring in political science or government affairs would relish the opportunity for an unpaid internship with a city council member.  So, for background, here’s the history of this policy change and an edit from 2022 and 2023.  Is Kim a hypopcrite for giving her son an opportunity? That will be for voters to decide.  And there’s a happy ending in the final paragraph of this post.

From the Voice of OC, April 2022

Phyllis Agran serves as Councilman Agran’s appointee to the city’s Children, Youth and Family Advisory Committee, and is a pediatrician specializing in pediatric gastroenterology who also teaches at UC Irvine’s school of medicine, according to a news release from the councilman when she was appointed. 

“When we’re married to someone or they’re living in our household, they already have our ear by extension, they already are at the table. We are providing opportunities for those who are not at the table,” Kim said at the council’s Tuesday evening meeting. “We have so many talented people in this city. I would rather provide opportunities for them to serve.” 

Council members voted 4-1 to adopt the new nepotism ordinance, with Larry Agran dissenting. 

Kim also repeated many times that it was never meant as an attack on any single councilmember or family member after she was quoted pointing out that Larry Agran’s wife served as his appointee, saying the goal was to allow more diverse opinions on the committees. 

“This is in no way meant to be an attack on any one individual,” Kim said. “We’re all held to the same standard.” 

….

The Policy was amended the following year with Republican Mike Carroll recognizing common sense changes were needed.

From an Irvine Watchdog post from January 2023:

Irvine’s Anti-Nepotism Ordinance restricts the employment of individuals having certain relationships to incumbent City employees. Last April, the Council approved an amendment to Municipal Code section 1-4-103 proposed by Vice Mayor Tammy Kim to extend these restrictions to commission and committee members related to council members. According to Voice of OC, “Kim said no one was violating any existing policies, but that she felt they should be changed because Councilman Larry Agran’s wife, Phyllis Agran, serves on the city’s Children, Youth, and Family Advisory Committee.”

Phyllis Agran is a pediatrician who teaches at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine and served as an uncompensated member of an advisory committee. She was forced to leave that committee when Kim’s amendment was approved.

Now Councilmember Mike Carroll is proposing a further amendment to specify that Kim’s amendment would only apply to a commission or committee “that has authority to make a final decision on behalf of the City.” Carroll’s memo states in part:

“In practice, the [Kim] revisions have disqualified many people with the expertise and relevant experience to offer our City from participation on City commissions and committees. As a result, we are denied their valuable insight and contributions.”

“The revisions continue to be appropriate in those cases where City commissions and committees have actual and final decision-making authority; however, as constituted, they are overbroad in those cases where the commission or committee is merely a recommending body with no actual decision-making authority.”

“In other words, the City should not be denied the expertise, participation, and voice of residents who wish to serve and contribute to our community, where their service has no actual decision-making authority.”

The Children, Family and Youth Advisory Committee has no actual or final decision-making authority. Thus, under Carroll’s proposal, Phyllis Agran would again be eligible to serve on the committee.

And the happy ending here is Dr. Phyllis Agran  was reappointed to the Irvine Children, Youth, and Family Advisory Committee earlier this year by Vice Mayor Agran.  The city and the committee benefit from this decision.

 

Irvine’s New Anti-Nepotism Policy Passes: #WeAreIrvine #ExceptForPhyllisAgran