In the news

The land deals of Congressman Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar, CA) could provide fodder for numerous blog entries on various topics. I wrote about him and ethics recidivism, to show how important it is to deal with a local politician's unethical actions so that they don't turn into much bigger ones as he rises through the ranks.

Now I'd like to look at a way in which municipal officials, feeling they're helping out,...

Six weeks after my blog entry on the mass resignations in Eastern Oregon towns due to new financial disclosure requirements, the predictions of government coming to an end (still being fanned to flames by Fox News) have turned out to be highly exaggerated.

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One of the most frustrating problems many cities and counties face is all that untaxable land owned by nonprofit organizations. Some states, such as my state, Connecticut, pay local governments part of what they lose out in property taxes, but when things are hard, as now, and the taxes are most sorely needed, there's less in the kitty to hand out.

So there is increasing pressure on local governments to act, as reflected in...

An article in today's Modesto Bee provides an excellent example of problems that arise when a city's redevelopment is accomplished by people who can benefit directly from it.

The five-person Riverbank, California Council has three members who own property downtown, which is going through a redevelopment phase (apparently, things like theaters, not low-cost housing).  The council members also sit on the...

According to an article in today's New York Times, a spokesperson for Christopher Christie, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, spoke in defense of an agreement made with Bristol-Myers Squibb to avoid its prosecution, which agreement called for the company to endow a chair at Seton Hall University Law School, which happens to be Mr. Christie's alma mater. The spokesperson said that the...

When should governments provide counsel for officials who have had an ethics complaint brought against them? This has become a big issue recently in my state, Connecticut.

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