Bass returns campaign donations from leaders of anti-gang nonprofit after Times inquiry

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Set us as preferred Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is returning $9,700 in contributions from entrepreneur Danny Bakewell Sr.and other leaders of a nonprofit group that received millions of dollars in gang prevention contracts from her office, according to her campaign.The Bass campaign’s decision came after The Times questioned whether the donations might run afoul of a city law that restricts campaign contributions by city contractors.Nearly two-thirds of the money came from Bakewell Sr., a longtime community leader who is also board chair of the nonprofit Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade-Black United Fund.

The rest came from other Bakewell family members who have served on the nonprofit’s board.Bass signed a $525,000 contract with Brotherhood Crusade last fall to provide gang prevention services in South L.A.Bakewell is listed in the contract’s paperwork as one of several leaders prohibited from making campaign contributions.The city’s ethics law forbids businesses and nonprofits — along with their principals, such as chief executives and board chairs — from engaging in certain kinds of fundraising once they submit a bid on a city contract.

The prohibition lasts until 12 months after that contract has been finalized.During that period, contractors are barred from making donations to elected officials with power over their contracts.Brotherhood Crusade has received more than $3 million in gang prevention work from Bass’ office since she became mayor, according to documents posted on RAMP LA, the city’s contracting website.Bass, seeking a second term as mayor, is in a runoff with City Councilmember Nithya Raman in the Nov.3 general election.

Raman’s campaign declined to comment on the donations.Bass campaign spokesman Alex Stack said the mayor would not accept an $1,800 contribution sent to the campaign from ...