Here are three instances of ethics reform that, I hope,
would not happen if someone involved had read the chapter on ethics reform in my
Local Government Ethics Program book.
Today, the
New York Times ran a length investigatory report on Walmart's
extensive bribery of local Mexican officials intended to rush
through permits and zoning approvals, reduce environmental impact
fees, and gain the allegiance of these officials.
The Independence of Investigators
The report raises a few important local government...
A few days too late for St. Patrick's Day, today's
Irish Examiner has a wonderful story about catching officials
involved in ethical misconduct relating to land use. It's an old
story, but new to me, and probably new to you, as well. The occasion
of the article is the publication of a 3,...
It's amazing the lengths people will go to when they are accused of
bribery. Take Zehy Jereis, a former Yonkers, NY party chair who gave
nearly $175,000 to a Yonkers council member, and is being accused of
doing this in order to get her to make a pivotal vote in favor of his
client's controversial mall, according to an
article in yesterday's New...