City EthicsBreaking the oxymoron: "City Ethics"
Dallas Ethics Reforms Pass, But There Are Enforcement Problems
The Dallas ethics reforms described in a recent blog post were passed on Monday, according to the Dallas Morning News.
The Dallas ethics reforms described in a recent blog post were passed on Monday, according to the Dallas Morning News.
November 10, 2009
Plain Language in NSW, Oz
New South Wales, Australia Premier Nathan Rees announces plain language reforms
In an interview recently he said: "I want plain English to become an essential part of how the public sector does its business, every bit as essential as a financial impact statement."
His statement at the opening of the PLAIN Conference in Sydney October 16th included three points that he plans to implement:
- Issuing a Premier’s Memorandum to the entire NSW public sector directing all agencies to adopt plain English in their communications
- From 2010, including a special category for “Best Use o
Ethics Codes & Reform
November 10, 2009
Mandatory Local Government Ethics Training in Massachusetts Is Not Being Warmly Greeted
Update: November 13, 2009 (see below)
Conflicts of Interest
November 9, 2009
How a Board Should Handle a Member's Contract Conflict
An interesting disagreement has arisen over what is required for a contract with a council member to constitute a conflict of
interest in California. According to an
article in the Valley Chronicle, the city of Hemet and the League
of California Cities disagree with a grand jury about whether a particular council
member has a conflict. The council member is the executive director, and
her salary, taxes, etc.
Conflicts of Interest
November 9, 2009
The Problem with Gifts to City via Elected Officials
In past blog posts, I
have focused on the perjury charges against Baltimore mayor Sheila
Dixon that relate to her failure to disclose gifts from a developer who
was seeking tax breaks. But today, Dixon goes on trial for theft
involving gift cards allegedly given to the office of the city council
president, which she filled at the time, and used by her for personal
purchases.
Conflicts of Interest
November 5, 2009
Government Ethics Is Not About Character, But About Making Decisions in a Professional Manner
One thing I've failed to do in this blog is sufficiently emphasize that
making
ethical decisions in government is not primarily about being a good,
ethical person, as most people seem to think. Essentially, it is the
same as making other
decisions. As I
recently wrote, "with effective training, in an
ethical environment, government ethics should be just another
professional routine."
Dealing Responsibly with Conflicts of Interest Is Professional
Dealing Responsibly with Conflicts of Interest Is Professional
November 5, 2009
Gifts from National and State Associations
Many of the most difficult situations in government ethics involve
relationships that are not direct. For example, situations where the
company that provides a benefit does not do business with the local
government, but is owned by someone who owns another company that does
do business with or have an interest in legislation before the local
government (click here for
a recent example).
Ethics Commissions & Administration
November 4, 2009
Deception About Ethics Commission Approval and Another Problem with Ethics Self-Regulation
This week saw the opening of the trial of former New York state senate
majority leader Joseph Bruno for honest services fraud. According to
the assistant U.S. attorney presenting the
case, as quoted
in the Albany Times-Union, although a
criminal trial, "this case is about conflicts of
interest. It's about failure to
disclose conflicts of interest, and it's about concealment of
information that might have exposed conflicts of interest."
November 3, 2009
Anti-Ethical Electioneering
It's Election Day 2009, so what better topic than a particularly slimy
instance of negative campaigning that attacks a candidate for seeking
an advisory opinion from the local ethics board, and actually following
it.
November 3, 2009
Pension Board Reform in California
While on the subject of pension boards in California, it's worth
mentioning a new California bill, Bill
1584, signed into law on October 18.