Keith Brown at Triadwatch has a post (scroll down past irrelevant video) about a new law in Greensburgh, New York that would "make it illegal for public officials to accept campaign contributions from developers, contractors or their lawyers or agents for a year before and a year after an application is reviewed by a town board."
When asked about contributions from developers and attorneys who bring matters before city council, often to win a rezoning or multi-million dollar tax abatement, council people will often say, "My vote cannot be bought." Fine. If that's the way it is, then they should have no problem with an ordinance similar to Greenburgh's. I wonder if any council candidates will propose this.
thanks for the link on this issue. I want to try to get other aspects on what other municipalities all over this country are doing in regards to ethics like what you have picked up on.
ReplyDeleteIt might be a long term fight to get rid of the influence of pay to play but i will be around for a long time and so will the blog .
Thanks
Someone should take the current council and candidates to task on this one. Propose it at the next meeting, and then have all of the candidates speak on it. It's a great time to bring it up.
ReplyDelete--brandonB