City Ethics | Breaking the oxymoron: "City Ethics"

April 22, 2013

Disappointing Report from Ethics Task Force in Phoenix

Phoenix has followed Chicago in taking a task force approach to ethics reform. As in Chicago, the mayor selected the task force. The Ethics Task Force, which according to an article in the Arizona Republic, consists of "prominent attorneys and judges," filed a report with the council on March 6. I have been unable to locate a copy of the report, but I did find a 5-page executive summary of the supposedly 20-page report (attached; see below).

April 19, 2013

Proposed Ethics Reforms in San Antonio

This week, San Antonio's mayor and city attorney proposed a number of reforms to the city's ethics code and campaign finance regulations. I will deal here only with the ethics reforms. A summary of the proposed reforms and a red-lined copy of the ethics code are attached (see below).

Conflicts of Interest April 15, 2013

Gifts to Officials' Family Members

Many major cities do not prohibit gifts from those seeking special benefits from the city government (restricted sources) to family members of city officials. Such a prohibition may seem a stretch, at least theoretically. How can a government interfere in the gifts given to an official's family members? Consider this situation, from 2011, which recently became public.

April 12, 2013

A Miscellany

Applicant Disclosure Is Good for Officials
If Ontario or Mississauga required broad applicant disclosure, Mississauga's mayor would not be in court this week arguing that she didn't know that her son had invested in a huge hotel and convention center deal. According to an article yesterday on the 680 News Radio site, she has been alleged to have voted with a conflict, and could be forced to resign as mayor.

April 8, 2013

Appearance Problems Surrounding a Request to Audit a County EC

Appearances are very important in government ethics. A situation that has arisen with respect to a proposed state audit of the Palm Beach County ethics commission has created serious appearance problems.

Conflicts of Interest April 5, 2013

Special Benefits Via Secret Bills and Amendments

Yes, another New York state legislator has been arrested on bribery charges. That's scarcely news. According to an article in today's New York Times, he was helping developers get permits to open adult day care centers in his district. In other words, he was doing local constituency work as a state legislator, using his influence rather than his votes.

Campaign Finance & Pay-to-Play April 4, 2013

What to Say Instead of "I Can't Be Bought"

We often hear elected officials saying, "I can't be bought at any price." The assumption behind this statement is that there is no amount of money, no job offer, nothing that will make the elected official act or vote any way than the way he otherwise intends to act or vote, that he cannot be influenced.

Local Government Practice April 3, 2013

Too Much Discretion

Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said yesterday, in reference to a sting operation that led to the arrest of several elected officials in New York City and the village of Spring Valley, NY, “A show-me-the-money culture seems to pervade every level of government.” However, that's not really the moral of the story.

Resources & Learning April 3, 2013

Now Available! An Introduction to Local Government Ethics

More and more each year, the City Ethics website has been the go-to place for local government ethics information. First a blog, then a Model Ethics Code, and then a huge resource book. Thousands of pages of useful information. What more could anyone ask for?

How about clearing away some of the debris? In other words, a short introduction to local government ethics. An explanation of what it is and what it isn't. A summary of the basic concepts. A description of the key elements of a local government ethics program.

Campaign Finance & Pay-to-Play April 2, 2013

Local Campaign Finance Laws Are Also Minimum Requirements

Government ethics is a process issue. Process issues appeal more to, and are better understood by, lawyers. Although corruption may be seen as a substance issue, the ways to prevent it are considered procedural. So at election time, most candidates choose not to talk about ethics reform, at least in any detail. When they raise the issue, it is usually to portray themselves as clean and ethical, and sometimes to portray others as corrupt.

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