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 essential know concerning 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 lavatory 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 would be a bit awkward to have members of the body calling out other members of the body,” Louijeune mentioned.
Awkward? Voters assume the Legislature is like Animal Home. What does that make the out-of-control and ethically challenged metropolis council?
If your complete metropolis council had been to name in sick tomorrow, would anybody discover? They make the state Home of Representatives appear like 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 should be powerful to surrender a high-paid comfortable job.
Her lawyer mentioned she “will do everything possible to make an orderly exit to ensure my constituents’ needs are met.”
She must go. Now. And Louijeune ought to be main the way in which, ensuring she quits instantly.
However Louijeune doesn’t have a sterling file in the case of 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 flooring, Louijeune mentioned nothing. And when Fernandes Anderson wouldn’t say the oath of workplace, her colleagues did nothing.
After Fernandes Anderson obtained a $5,000 fantastic from the state ethics fee for hiring relations to her council employees, the silence was deafening.
When Fernandes Anderson was arrested and charged within the corruption scheme, Louijeune did nothing. She known as for Anderson’s resignation however solely after the indictment was launched.
When Councilor Ed Flynn proposed launching an ethics committee, Louijeune rapidly killed it.
“As a lawyer, as someone who has worked on one ethics investigation, I still don’t feel qualified to sit as judge and jury against you, my colleagues,” she mentioned. “I think it’s really important that anything regarding ethics remains independent so we maintain the public trust and that we hold it in high regard.”
One thing stinks on the Boston Metropolis Council and Louijeune must take it severely earlier than the subsequent scandal erupts and additional tarnishes the elected officers in Metropolis Corridor.
“The feeling locally, statewide, nationally is, elected officials can’t be trusted,” mentioned 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 related requirements?
Councilors routinely hand out bonuses to staffers yearly. That should come to an finish with Louijeune main the way in which.
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 workplaces – you’re more likely to go straight to voicemail.
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