They are invited

Organizations that lobby the city are allowed to give elected officials free admission to events they host, the city's Conflicts of Interest Board said yesterday in an advisory opinion.

Lobbying Group Freebies Okayed

The city in 2006 banned gifts to elected officials and civil servants from lobbyists as part of a larger bill to limit the influence of City Hall lobbyists, but the specifics of the law were unclear to at least two nonprofit organizations that contacted the city for clarification.

The opinion does not explain if the same rules would apply to lobbying firms. A lawyer for the Conflicts of Interest Board would not provide more clarity, deferring to the opinion.