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THE FACTS OR ELSE - For months, Los Angeles voters have been told to trust politicians, trust government, trust commissions, trust investigations, and trust that someone, somewhere, is looking out for the public interest. Trust, however, is in short supply.
That is why Spencer Pratt's recent claims deserve immediate attention.
Pratt has publicly suggested that he possesses recordings so damaging that they could force one or both remaining mayoral candidates from the race. That is an extraordinary allegation. Extraordinary allegations require extraordinary evidence. Not next month. Not after the election. Not after taxpayers spend millions of dollars administering a campaign that may allegedly be built on information the public does not yet know.
Now.
If the recordings reveal corruption, misconduct, dishonesty, abuse of power, or any behavior that voters should consider before casting their ballots, then withholding that information is not an act of public service. It is the opposite. The public cannot make informed decisions when critical information is deliberately kept from them.
The longer the recordings remain hidden, the more the focus shifts away from what may be on the tape and toward a different question: Why are they being withheld?
That question grows more important every day.
If Pratt truly entered politics to challenge corruption, expose wrongdoing, and hold powerful people accountable, then he should be the first person demanding full transparency. Instead, voters are being asked to accept a promise, a tease, a warning, and a threat.
Trust me, the public is told. Something big is coming. Maybe. Eventually.
That is not accountability.
That is political theater.
Los Angeles has seen this movie before. A public figure claims to possess explosive information. The media chases the story. Supporters speculate. Opponents deny. The public waits. And trust in institutions sinks even lower.
Meanwhile, the city continues facing real challenges. Homelessness remains a crisis. Public safety remains a concern. Budget deficits continue to grow. Residents are struggling with rising costs, deteriorating services, and increasing frustration with government performance. The last thing voters need is another political sideshow built around information that may or may not ever be released.
If the recordings are legitimate, release them. Let journalists examine them. Let investigators review them. Let voters hear them. Let the facts speak for themselves.
That is how transparency works.
That is how accountability works.
That is how democracy works.
Anything less creates the appearance that the recordings are being treated as a political weapon rather than evidence in the public interest. And that distinction matters. Because once information becomes leverage, the conversation is no longer about truth. It becomes about power.
No candidate, activist, influencer, or political outsider should be allowed to hold potentially important information over the heads of voters while demanding public attention for possessing it. The public is not a captive audience. The electorate is not a reality television audience waiting for the season finale. The future of Los Angeles is not a ratings stunt.
Voters deserve facts.
They deserve evidence.
They deserve honesty.
Most importantly, they deserve the opportunity to evaluate information before they cast their ballots, not after.
Political credibility is earned through action, not headlines. If Spencer Pratt possesses evidence that could alter the course of a mayoral election, then releasing it immediately would demonstrate courage and conviction. Holding it back accomplishes the opposite.
Every day the recordings remain hidden, the credibility of the claim weakens. Every day the public is asked to wait, skepticism grows. Every day the threat continues without proof, voters become less likely to believe that the evidence is as significant as advertised.
The choice is simple.
If the recordings expose wrongdoing, release them.
If they do not, stop using them as a talking point.
Because Los Angeles does not need more political drama.
It needs leadership.
And leadership begins with telling the public the truth.
Right now.
Not later.
Not after the election.
Now.
(Mihran Kalaydjian is a seasoned public affairs and government relations professional with more than twenty years of experience in legislative affairs, public policy, community relations, and strategic communications. A respected civic leader and education advocate, he has spearheaded numerous academic and community initiatives, shaping dialogue and driving reform in local and regional political forums. His career reflects a steadfast commitment to transparency, accountability, and public service across Los Angeles and beyond.)
(Jay Handal is a veteran community advocate and longtime CityWatch contributor who plays a central role in holding Los Angeles City Hall accountable. He serves as treasurer of the West LA–Sawtelle Neighborhood Council. With decades of grassroots organizing and civic leadership, Jay is a relentless voice for transparency, fiscal reform, and empowering neighborhoods to challenge waste, mismanagement, and backroom decision-making at City Hall.)
