City Related | City Ethics

Transparency & Disclosure April 12, 2011

Financial Disclosure Requirements Are Minimal

Update: May 14, 2011 (see below)

An ethics controversy in Hartford presents a perfect opportunity to show the difference between ethics and law, and the right way to approach financial disclosure requirements.

April 11, 2011

Local Official Involvement in Shadow Banking

An interesting question arises from a big investigative article in yesterday's Miami Herald: is it unethical for a mayor and his wife to be part of a shadow banking network in their city?

April 8, 2011

A Miscellany

Model Ethics Code Promotion As Community Service
I promise you that I did not write the City Ethics Model Code in order to shorten my prison sentence. According to an article in yesterday's Connecticut Post, that is effectively what a Shelton, CT developer offered to do to shorten his sentence for lying in court about gifts he made to Shelton officials, including the mayor.

Enforcement & Complaints April 1, 2011

Penalizing Ethics Proceeding Transparency

Transparency is one of the most controversial aspects of government ethics. It's so controversial that it is rarely discussed in terms of transparency. It is almost always discussed in terms of confidentiality, which is rarefly referred to by its popular name: secrecy. This careful use of words leads people to devalue transparency.

Ethics Commissions & Administration March 31, 2011

Independence of Ethics Administration Should Trump Independence of Agencies and Districts

Two types of independence often clash when it comes to government ethics. It is important that government ethics programs be administered by independent commissions. But independent agencies often do what they can not to be subject to a local government ethics commission.

Conflicts of Interest March 27, 2011

Council Chair and Chamber Director: How Conflicting Are These Positions?

Without giving it any thought, it would be hard to think of a better fit than a city politician running the local chamber of commerce. After all, the goals of a chamber of commerce and of a city government are pretty much the same: security, good government, good services, low taxes.

Conflicts of Interest March 25, 2011

Is An Attempt to Improve Appearances Worse Than Serving Oneself?

Some local government ethics codes include a provision prohibiting officials from acting outside of their authority, which is especially directed at council members interfering in a city or county's management. I don't consider this a government ethics issue, since it does not necessarily involve favoritism, the official's personal interest, or anyone's personal interest. It is most often just a matter of the official trying to get things done through improper channels, which is a political issue that should be dealt with in council rules or in standards of conduct.

March 24, 2011

A Miscellany

Some Problems with Mayoral Executive Orders in Philadelphia
On January 25, Philadelphia Mayor Nutter signed three ethics-related executive orders, which I would love to link you to, but cannot. How effective, except as a way to get the council moving on ethics reform, are executive orders that can't be found online? These orders deal with nepotism, family-oriented conflicts, outside employment, and gifts.

Ethics Commissions & Administration March 22, 2011

Ethics Commissions Should Stick to Their Area of Jurisdiction and Should Stay Out of Politics

A recent decision of the Wilton, NY ethics board (attached; see below) raises important issues regarding the selection of ethics commission members, their withdrawal from participation when they have a conflict, and the way an ethics commission handles allegations that are not covered by the ethics code.

Allegations That Do Not Constitute Violations

March 15, 2011

A Miscellany

Conning Citizens

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