If anyone has been the public face of the Las Lomas housing project, a controversial plan to build 5,500 homes in north Los Angeles County, it is Hillary Norton Orozco. A seasoned political operative who worked at Los Angeles City Hall a decade ago, Orozco has spent the last year drumming up support for the project by testifying at hearings, chatting up civic groups and meeting privately with members of the Los Angeles City Council reports the Los Angeles Times.

Yet Orozco, who works for Las Lomas developer Dan Palmer, has not registered as a lobbyist. This week, she said she had not logged enough hours to meet the city’s definition.

After inquiries by The Times, Orozco said she will probably register in April.

Foes of Las Lomas say she should have been registered all along.

They argue that by not registering, Orozco has shielded her company from having to reveal exactly how much it has spent promoting the controversial project. Such disclosure is required under the city’s ethics laws.

Read it here: Confusion over L.A.’s rules on lobbyists