Quickly-to-be-convicted Tania Fernandes Anderson continues to be clinging to her $120.000 a yr seat on the do-nothing Boston Metropolis Council, which tells you all it’s worthwhile to know in regards to the ethics of that esteemed establishment.
Not even Fernandes Anderson pleading responsible to a kickback scheme stealing $7,000 in taxpayer {dollars} in a Metropolis Corridor rest room is sufficient to immediate Council President Ruthzee Louijeune to think about appointing an ethics committee to supervise Mayor Michelle Wu’s minions on the council.
“It might be a bit awkward to have members of the physique calling out different members of the physique,” Louijeune stated.
Awkward? Voters suppose the Legislature is like Animal Home. What does that make the out-of-control and ethically challenged metropolis council?
If all the metropolis council have been to name in sick tomorrow, would anybody discover? They make the state Home of Representatives appear to be workers of the month.
Fernandes Anderson was seen smiling and waving within the council chambers on Wednesday, simply hours after her alleged resignation was introduced. She wouldn’t say when she was quitting. It have to be robust to surrender a high-paid comfortable job.
Her lawyer stated she “will do every little thing doable to make an orderly exit to make sure my constituents’ wants are met.”
She must go. Now. And Louijeune needs to be main the best way, ensuring she quits instantly.
However Louijeune doesn’t have a sterling file with regards to cracking down on ethics violators — each as councilor and council president.
When two of her colleagues misplaced their seats due to scandals, Louijeune did nothing.
When Fernandes Anderson was caught on video making an obscenity-laced rant on the council ground, Louijeune stated nothing. And when Fernandes Anderson wouldn’t say the oath of workplace, her colleagues did nothing.
After Fernandes Anderson acquired a $5,000 superb from the state ethics fee for hiring kin to her council workers, the silence was deafening.
When Fernandes Anderson was arrested and charged within the corruption scheme, Louijeune did nothing. She referred to as for Anderson’s resignation however solely after the indictment was launched.
When Councilor Ed Flynn proposed launching an ethics committee, Louijeune shortly killed it.
“As a lawyer, as somebody who has labored on one ethics investigation, I nonetheless don’t really feel certified to take a seat as choose and jury in opposition to you, my colleagues,” she stated. “I believe it’s actually vital that something relating to ethics stays unbiased so we preserve the general public belief and that we maintain it in excessive regard.”
One thing stinks on the Boston Metropolis Council and Louijeune must take it significantly earlier than the subsequent scandal erupts and additional tarnishes the elected officers in Metropolis Corridor.
“The sensation domestically, statewide, nationally is, elected officers can’t be trusted,” stated Councilor Erin Murphy, who voted for the ethics measure.
Congress has an ethics committee. So do state lawmakers. Why shouldn’t the town council maintain themselves accountable to comparable requirements?
Councilors routinely hand out bonuses to staffers yearly. That should come to an finish with Louijeune main the best way.
A lot of the councilors act as a rubber stamp for Mayor Wu and do nothing to earn their elevated pay. Good luck calling their places of work – you’re more likely to go straight to voicemail.
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