Baltimore City Ethics Board Has Not Met in Years

[demopublican]

And why the hell should they anyway?

LOL.

You just can't make this stuff up.

Thank you Luke Boradwater?

According to the city's charter, Aisenstark — who was hired for his city position in the mid-1990s — reports to the Board of Legislative Reference, composed of the mayor, city solicitor, president of the Johns Hopkins University, deans of the University of Maryland and University of Baltimore schools of law, director of the Enoch Pratt Free Library and a member of the City Council.

"There is not currently a council member serving on that board," said Lester Davis, spokesman for Baltimore City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young. "The Council President believes that the board should certainly meet more frequently than once a decade. He will soon meet with his colleagues on the council to determine the best member to appoint to the board."

Aides to some other board members did not respond to inquiries from The Baltimore Sun about the panel's status, except to say they were unfamiliar with it and would research the matter.

So this guy is I charge of ethics compliance for the city. While he works as a lawyer for developers with interests in the city. While many elected officials fail to file ethics paperwork, Elected officials living outside their districts, sitting mayors kicked out of office, tickets to sporting events passed around like prizes, and these guys never had one meeting?

[demopublican]

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/201...-board-tickets

But the law that governs such gifts is complex, and City Hall officials have different views of what they can legally accept and what they should report on their ethics forms, a Baltimore Sun investigation found.

Moreover, the disclosure forms are rarely reviewed by the office that collects them. There has not been a comprehensive review of the forms in at least eight years, according to the former chairwoman of the city's ethics board.

Nine months ago the ethics situation in the city was splashed across the pages of the sun again. Did they meet?
Nope.

[octoburn]

It is outrageous. Why is Aisenstark in court representing other interests? Is this not a full~time position?

[demopublican]

It is outrageous. Why is Aisenstark in court representing other interests? Is this not a full~time position?

For one person it sounds like about 192 hours a week

[demopublican]

It is outrageous. Why is Aisenstark in court representing other interests? Is this not a full~time position?

So you really dont see a problem with the city ethics officer doing side business with major donors to the politicians that run the city?

If only it was Ehrlich. That would get you worked up.

[octoburn]

So you really dont see a problem with the city ethics officer doing side business with major donors to the politicians that run the city?

If only it was Ehrlich. That would get you worked up.

I absolutely see a problem with it. I said it was outrageous because I meant it is outrageous. The entire situation including the Ethics Board not having met in years is ridiculous. Geez ~ I was agreeing with you and the points you raised.

[demopublican]

My apologies. I misread the little eye roll thing

[octoburn]

My apologies. I misread the little eye roll thing

Quite understandable. It's a habit I have, like italicizing things.

[Steveg85321]

This is exactly what you get with a one-party monopoly that goes on for years and years with the individuals just rotating in and out; lawyers taking care of lawyers. Nobody cares if there's a hand in the till just as long as it's OUR hand.

An ethics board is needed here like a moose needs a hatrack. It would just get in the way of how business is done. But just keep on re-electing them...

[ybnormal]

Talk about an oxymoron [Baltimore City "Ethics Board"]!!!

[MDvet]

Even if the ethics board met regularly, nothing would have changed.

Doing the right thing is not about having meetings or having a board, rather it is what individual believes in.

Knowing Baltimore, if the ethics board met regulary, the headlines will be that the board failed to do its job, instead of unethical behaviors.