Top Villaraigosa Manager Resigns Following CBS2 Investigation

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Randi Levin, one of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's top managers, resigned Friday two days after a CBS2 investigation revealed her husband owed the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power more than $56,000, at the same time the municipal utility asked consumers to pay a huge rate increase.

In all, CBS2 investigative reporter David Goldstein found the DWP had more than $2.4 million in uncollected funds. Despite already owed that money, the agency also wants a 10 percent hike in power and a 5 percent hike in water rates.

Randi Levin made more than $200,000 a year reporting directly to the mayor as general manager of the city's information technology department.

Levin's husband, Maurice, owed DWP more than $56,000 in unpaid rent for land he leased for a garden in North Hollywood.

Goldstein asked Maurice Levin why he owed so much and if he felt he was being treated unfairly by the agency to justify not paying. "Absolutely," he replied.

In April, Goldstein reported on another scandal involving the Levins. Randi Levin called LAPD Charlie Beck after her husband's car was impounded.

Goldstein asked Maurice Levin if he felt there was an appearance of impropriety a second time involving his wife. He shot back, "Are you about real news, or the appearance of impropriety?"