The Metropolis Council is poised to cross laws that extends lobbying restrictions to cowl extra energy brokers within the Mayor’s workplace after they depart the federal government — however the more durable regulation to crack down on potential affect peddling conveniently excludes the Council’s personal members and workers.
The invoice, championed by Brooklyn Councilman Lincoln Restler, would develop the variety of ex-Metropolis Corridor decision-makers who could be lined by a two-year ban on lobbying Massive Apple officers once they depart authorities service.
The measure comes at a time when Mayor Eric Adams is contesting federal corruption and bribery costs — and several other former high aides have additionally both resigned or face prison costs.
Hizzoner helps the enlargement of Metropolis Corridor staffers lined by the lobbying ban as a very good authorities measure, nevertheless, a mayoral rep slammed the Council for refusing to cowl its high decision-makers as effectively.
“It’s unfortunate that City Council staff and leadership are using their powers to push forward ‘rules for thee but not for me’ legislation,” a mayoral spokesperson kvetched.
“While we hoped the Council would want to partner with us in crafting the strongest bill possible, it’s unfortunate that Council staff and leadership hold themselves to a different standard,” they added.
The Council has proposed extending the lobbying ban to the next municipal staff:
- Chief of Workers to the mayor
- Communication director
- Press secretary
- Senior advisors reporting to the mayor
- Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Chief counsel
- All chiefs of workers to deputy mayors
- All deputy chiefs of workers to the mayor’s chief of workers
Adams’ staff additionally complained that the laws doesn’t lengthen to different citywide elected officers — together with the comptroller, public advocate, and council speaker — which solely may be accepted through voter referendum.
Nor does it embrace the council speaker’s chief of workers, deputy chief of workers, and the speaker’s chief common counsel.
Restler mentioned it was wealthy of the scandal-scarred Adams administration to be lecturing lawmakers about conflicts of curiosity.
The push for the invoice was triggered partly by Adams’ former chief of Frank Carone’s consulting enterprise, he mentioned.
“This bill focuses on limiting the lobbying activities of the most senior staff in the Mayor’s office because they are responsible for personnel, policy, and budget decisions for the 300,000 workers at City agencies that report directly to them,” Restler mentioned.
“Based on feedback we received at the hearing from the Conflicts of Interest Board and good government groups, we narrowed the original legislation to target the most powerful people in City government — so no one can replicate the corruption of the Adams administration and Frank Carone ever again.”
Adams and the Council — led by Speaker Adrienne Adams — have sparred over quite a few insurance policies, together with police accountability and dealing with of the migrant disaster.
