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Prosecutorial Interference with a Local Government Ethics Investigation

Thursday, February 26th, 2015
Robert Wechsler

Yesterday, two members of a New York City council member's election campaign were indicted on criminal charges brought by a special prosecutor, who was appointed in 2012. Read this December 2014 New York Law Journal op-ed piece by Brennan Center (NYU) Chief Counsel and longtime New York City Corporation Counsel Frederick A.O. Schwarz, which argues very well that this...

The Value of a Chicago Referendum on Public Election Financing

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015
Robert Wechsler

Is it, as Every Voice says in its celebratory e-mail last night, an "exciting victory [that] sent a loud and clear mandate to city and state governments to fundamentally reform the way we fund elections so that everyday Americans can take back control of their democracy"?

Or is it, as the more cynical...

Fundraising for a Political Convention: Pay to Play, Transparency, and a Blind Spot

Thursday, February 12th, 2015
Robert Wechsler
Even the most enthusiastic good government politicians often have a serious blind spot:  themselves. They believe that everyone else is into pay to play and selling out to big contributors. But not them. They're only doing what's best for their city.  They have only the community's best interests in mind. And sometimes the community needs those big contributors, and who but he is best situated to get them to open their wallets? However, the big contributors don't have the same blind spot, so...

An End-of-Year Miscellany

Tuesday, December 30th, 2014
Robert Wechsler
Call for a State Municipal Lobbying Code
It may be a big holiday week and the end of the year, but there has still been some news on the government ethics front. The Boston Globe has called for the state to institute disclosure requirements for local lobbying. According to the editorial, the only rule now is to file a letter...

Lobbying Oversight Programs Are Hot in Canada

Wednesday, December 17th, 2014
Robert Wechsler
When it comes to local lobbying oversight, cities are falling like flies. At least in Canada.

According to an article yesterday on the Vancouver, BC Metro News website, the city council voted unanimously to look into establishing a lobbying registry and hiring an independent ombuds, apparently to run the registry and more. This follows the vote to...

A Uniformed Union Fiefdom in NYC

Monday, December 15th, 2014
Robert Wechsler
I've written several posts about individuals who have created fiefdoms (a D.A., a housing authority director, a city pension board attorney, the...

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