Safra Working Papers
"City of Hope," A Great Local Government Ethics Film
Robert Wechsler
I was fortunate today to see an American film focused almost entirely on local government ethics. Although it is an excellent film, it has not been included in City Ethics' (but not my) Top Ten Ethics Films list or in any of the comments suggesting additions. The film is City of Hope (1991), written and directed by the great John Sayles, most of whose films involve important ethical quandaries.
"Constituent Services" Can Be Another Term for Quid Pro Quo
Robert Wechsler
Today’s New York Times has an article that focuses on John McCain’s dealings with a big Arizona developer, Donald Diamond.
There are two issues here that I would like to bring up. First, the ultimate defense, which McCain’s campaign employs: helping a constituent. McCain “had done nothing for Mr. Diamond that he would not do for any other Arizona citizen.”
Diamond is not any other constituent. He traveled with McCain during the early primaries in 2000, and is on the campaign trail again this year.
"De Minimis" Is a Big Term in Government Ethics
Robert Wechsler
One of the biggest little problems in government ethics is the
inability to filter out very minor violations, which can be dealt with
either by dismissing the complaint or by requiring, say, an additional training
course. It is a waste of limited time and resources to investigate and hold hearings on minor
violations. An EC needs to be able to use its judgment to decide when a
violation is not worth investigating.
"Frivolity" in Kenosha, WI
Robert Wechsler
"Frivolous" is a word that, I believe, has no place in a government ethics
program. A look at an attempt to add it to Kenosha's ethics program
shows how, well, frivolous the word is.
"Indictment Friday" has become just another day
Robert Wechsler
| By Andy Grimm / Post-Tribune staff writer |
HAMMOND '' What ever happened to 'indictment Fridays'?
This time last spring, the tension in Lake County political circles used to build like a lottery jackpot each week before Friday news conferences hosted by U.S.
"Interest" vs. "Benefit"
Robert Wechsler
In my most
recent
blog post, I pointed out how vague the concept of an "interest" is
for most people. I would
like to discuss this problem further, because I think it is the cause
of much misunderstanding, as well as weaknesses in ethics code drafting.
Ethics codes are essentially conflict of interest codes. But the idea of an "interest," not to mention how they conflict, is not very concrete and, therefore, confusing to many people.
Ethics codes are essentially conflict of interest codes. But the idea of an "interest," not to mention how they conflict, is not very concrete and, therefore, confusing to many people.
"Perception of Impropriety"
Robert Wechsler
I am interested in getting some feedback on this point:
In a recent incident, there was perhaps no legal issue, but there was an undeniable perception that something unethical had occurred. What are your views on the thin red line between these points (i.e. "legal" and "perceived as unethical")
Should we try to step up to the plate and keep to the high moral ground where we even avoid the perception of unethical behaviour ?
How can we do this without moving far from what the average elected official can think with ?
Any thought/comments are welcome.
"Unfair Competitive Advantage" in Procurement Matters
Robert Wechsler
A
November audit by Tennessee's Comptroller applies the Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to a state procurement situation,
since there are no relevant state rules. The particular provision
involves "unfair competitive advantage." This is a useful concept to
keep in mind with respect to local procurement matters, as well.
"Vulgar Ethics"
Robert Wechsler
After reading my recent blog post about bridging the gulf between administrative
and government ethics, one of the great scholars of public
administration, George Frederickson, sent me a copy of a 2009
lecture of his, which appeared in 2010 in the journal Public
Integrity.
A Big Disability Scam and the Revolving Door
Robert Wechsler
Long Island (NY) Railroad (LIRR) retirees are many times more likely to
be on disability than other rail workers, and the New York Times has been focusing on this
story (click here
for a page of articles and information).
A Big-City EC That Won't Meet or Stay Out of Politics
Robert Wechsler
The Kansas City, MO ethics commission situation is a mess. Last month,
I wrote about the problem that arose regarding EC members who made
campaign contributions to candidates over whom they had jurisdiction,
leading to two resignations. Soon after, the council prohibited EC
members from making contributions, and two more members resigned, leaving
only three members. But that's only the icing on the cake.
A Bullying Head of a Local Fiefdom
Robert Wechsler
In an article in the New York Times this
Monday,
the Robeson County (NC) district attorney described his
predecessor's bullying ways, which are typical of those of an
individual who heads a local fiefdom:
“He is a bully, and that’s the way he ran this office. People were afraid of him. Lawyers were afraid of him.
A California Recipe for Conflicts of Interest
Robert Wechsler
Update below (August 19, 2009)
Here's a recipe for conflicts of interest. Create a new kind of county commission to hand out grant money. Require that commission members include representatives from public and private agencies that handle the very services the grants are intended for. Stir until frothy.
Here's a recipe for conflicts of interest. Create a new kind of county commission to hand out grant money. Require that commission members include representatives from public and private agencies that handle the very services the grants are intended for. Stir until frothy.
A Call for Academics to Provide Assistance to Government Ethics Programs
Robert Wechsler
I read something very exciting today in the April 1 newsletter of
the Ethics Section of the American Society for Public
Administration. In a short essay entitled "Living in Glass Houses:
Ethics Commissions in the United States," Stuart C. Gilman, who has
had an illustrious career both in academia and on the front lines of
ethics and anti-corruption efforts, wrote the following:
I believe it is time for the ethics section to become more activist by encouraging targeted research or an ASPA commission to look into what makes ... ethics commissions effective. ...
A Campaign Ethics Pledge
Robert Wechsler
Usually an ethics pledge is something required of a town official or something requested by a good government organization.
A Cincinnati Council Member's Situation Touches on a Number of Important Ethics Issues
Robert Wechsler
There is a situation involving a Cincinnati council member that touches
on many important government ethics issues, which I will deal with it
in multiple blog posts over the next couple of days. In this post, I
will set out the basic facts and the issues.
A Circuit Judge in Chicago Gets the Government Attorney-Client Privilege Wrong
Robert Wechsler
A city creates the position of inspector general in order to root out, and hopefully prevent, corruption. The inspector general decides to investigate a situation. A city attorney is involved. The attorney-client privilege is invoked. The investigation is blocked. And the word goes out: if you want to hide your corrupt conduct, involve a city attorney. It's that simple.
A City Attorney Providing Ethics Advice in a Big City Is Indefensible
Robert Wechsler
Update: December 19, 2012 (see below)
A City Attorney Wearing Too Many Ethics Hats
Robert Wechsler
How many hats can a local government attorney wear when it comes to
government ethics? This question arises out of a state bar grievance
filed against Houston's
city
attorney by a member of the city council.
A City Land Sale That Requires a Broader Investigation
Robert Wechsler
Here's an interesting case study from Hartford, CT. The facts come
from an
NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters post from Friday and a
report of the city's Chief Auditor dated June 27, 2013.