“In Albany, they’re really, really good at coming up with something that looks like reform, and that they tout as reform, but really falls short.”

—New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, quoted in yesterday's New York Times [2] with respect to the chances of the state legislature passing the governor's public campaign financing plan. This is the same problem that faces local government ethics reform:  ordinances and amendments that pose as reform, but miss the target by failing to create an effective government ethics program.