Mayor Eric Adams has dispensed with a de Blasio-era policy to voluntarily disclose meetings top administration officials take with lobbyists — further obscuring an already-opaque system of outside influence over government actions.
Two City Hall attorneys alerted administration employees of the change in a March 1 memo laying out rules governing communication with lobbyists, a lucrative line of work that brought firms $104 million last year, according to a recent report from the city’s lobbying bureau. The top firm, Kasirer LLC, took in north of $15 million — nearly double the earnings of the second-place company, James F. Capalino & Associates, Inc.
The two-page memo, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO, defines lobbying as “the attempt to influence certain government actions” and advises the staffers that they may be subject to this type of outreach.
The city lawyers go on to explain common motivations for lobbying — land use changes that impact multi-billion-dollar real estate deals, competitions to win city contracts, an effort to shape pending legislation.
“Mayor’s Office employees are not required to maintain or file any reports or documents in connection with their meetings with lobbyists,” the attorneys wrote, effectively undoing a discretionary policy former Mayor Bill de Blasio instituted to mandate routine disclosure of lobbying meetings. The former mayor, who had his own ethics problems during his tenure, demanded his deputy mayors and agency heads report their interactions with lobbyists and the information was made public through a city-run portal.
“It is nonetheless important to preserve communications with lobbyists,” the lawyers added. “You should not delete emails, texts, calendar entries, or voicemails related to lobbyist communications or meetings. As you engage in email and text communications with lobbyists, please remember that these communications may be disclosed in response to a FOIL request or a civil or criminal subpoena.”
Adams spokesperson Jonah Allon did not explain the reason for the change, instead providing a statement highlighting the new mayor’s commitment to ethics. Allon also declined to provide a list of lobbyists who have met with the mayor so far.
“Even before he took office, Mayor Adams made clear that everyone in his administration would be held to the highest ethical standards, and that is exactly the kind of administration he has run since day one,” Allon said.
Literally de Blasio 2.0
8 comments:
The only return that matters to the city is the savages and their crime wave !
https://nypost.com/2022/03/15/video-shows-26-year-old-man-slashed-during-dispute-on-manhattan-sidewalk/
So, what Sliwa said about this crook was correct! You mean he's worse than DiBlasio? What a surprise!
MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON !
As expected, dumber and more communist then deBlasio.
Good job stupid voters
Jooy Reeid said...
Well flip my wig !
Can’t wait for CNN and MSNBC to NEVER report this! :D
"Good job stupid voters" Good point but I think they are insane not stupid !
An embarrassment to primates. Savagery and barbarism will forever consume city life with a vengeance, and the ever burdened taxpayer (mostly a people of color) will continue to pay, in perpetuity (taxation WITHOUT representation). But, only the poorest have bartered their souls up to a diabolically evil, Democratic Party force: The mass city exodus of (mostly white) freewheeling Republicans have already permanently moved to Florida, where life and liberty are back in business. Law and order, like help itself, are all illusions in THIS City Hall and Albany. And speaking of Albany, get ready for CUOMIGULA II's gubernatorial challenge campaign against his equally feckless nemesis, The HOKUL-Yokul, where hubris and incompetence never die.
You need steel balls to live in NYC !
Prove me wrong...
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