City Ethics | Breaking the oxymoron: "City Ethics"

Local Government Practice August 31, 2009

Council Fiefdoms and Unethical Behavior

If you want to encourage unethical behavior, give individual officials independent power over the sorts of decisions where people have the greatest incentive to tempt officials, and officials are in the best position to enforce pay-to-play.

Conflicts of Interest August 31, 2009

An Interesting Three-Headed Potential Conflict

Here's an interesting potential conflict.

August 29, 2009

Attending: City Council considers the Jacksonville Ethics Office Budget

This morning the Jacksonville City Council finance committee continued their deliberations on each line item of the city's budget. This morning's agenda begins with the Office of General Counsel, which includes the budget for the City's Ethics Officer. Council members Yarborough & Joost comment that they want to ensure that the office does NOT report to the General Counsel.

August 28, 2009

EC Member Conflicts, Anonymous Complaints, and the Relocation of an Airport

Here's a mind-twister of a situation, from St. Marys City (GA; pop 17,000). According to an article on jacksonville.com, four members of the city council wrote the state attorney general asking for a ruling on whether a fifth council member violated state law by refusing to disqualify himself from voting on the proposed relocation of the St. Marys Airport (he owns a business there).

Conflicts of Interest August 27, 2009

Gifts: Prohibition, Disclosure, or Both?

One of the most contentious topics in local government ethics is prohibition vs. disclosure of gifts to officials. As with so many government ethics issues, the best answer is both, but reaching the best answer requires a thinking outside the box, along with a sincere interest in ending pay-to-play, in this case, the use of gifts as a way to reward officials for past or future conduct.

Transparency & Disclosure August 26, 2009

Paying for a Lack of Government Transparency

Who should pay for a lack of government transparency, the officials keeping the secrets or the citizens who lack access to information?

As it is now, in most jurisdictions, when a complaint is made under a freedom of information/sunshine (FOI) act or ordinance, either local government attorneys represent the respondent or the respondent is compensated for reasonable legal fees. In effect, the complaint is treated as if it were filed against the local government rather than against the official.

Transparency & Disclosure August 25, 2009

The Positive Effects of Applicant Disclosure, and How to Enforce It

Applicant disclosure is an effective part of local government ethics that is usually ignored. Usually it is officials who are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest, either in the form of annual disclosure statements, revised when circumstances change, or in the form of announcements that they have a potential conflict and are withdrawing from involvement in a matter.

Local Government Practice August 24, 2009

Playing Games with Local Government Ethics

Explaining a political decision on the basis of government ethics, when that really isn't the reason, can lead to government ethics reform made on the basis of politics. That's what appears to have happened in Boerne (TX), a small "city" of 6,000 residents outside San Antonio.

Conflicts of Interest August 22, 2009

Chicago Alderman Expense Allowances: Conflicts Between Public, Political, and Personal Interests

"I believe that an alderman's office is a political office," said Chicago alderman Suarez, one of 50 aldermen to get their expense allowances doubled last year, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune.

August 21, 2009

Ethics Reform Suggestions in Cumberland County (NJ): Transparency and an Odd EC Setup

Republican candidates in Cumberland County, in southern New Jersey (pop. 150,000), are pushing for several ethics reforms, including some fresh ideas.

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