If Dick "dummy" Dadey traded his integrity to the governor for financial support would it be a reportable business relationship?

No surprise Dick "dummy" Dadey clarified his position on the "Milgram" rule today.

I'm sure he got the same phone call Milgram did.

And I'm sure the rest of the JJOKE posse that lack the ability to have an independent position that differs from what the 2nd floor demands are frustrated today that the media thinks the "Milgram" rule was created to shelter the Duffy house purchase from criticism.

And while I think my last blog clearly established how wrong the "Milgran" rule was, afterall it was in direct contradiction to JJOKE's own guidelines, FAQs, training materials and Ellen Bibens public statements, let me provide some additional examples that according to JJOKE and Dick "dummy" Dadey would not be required to be disclosed as reportable business relationships under the "Milgram" rule.  Remember these are hypotheticals to the best of my knowledge.

Dick "dummy" Dadey promises to provide Governor Cuomo a case of rare spark plugs for the governors old car in return for the Governor paying $5000. The spark plugs are not available to the general public at any price.

Dick "dummy" Dadey promises to provide Governor Cuomo the use of his luxury vacation home in return for the Governor paying $5000. The home is not available to the general public at any price.

Dick "dummy" Dadey promises to provide Governor Cuomo ethics compliance consulting in return for the Governor paying $5000. The consulting is not available to the general public at any price.

Dick "dummy" Dadey promises to endorse Governor Cuomo's ethics reform legislation in return for the Governor paying $5000. The endorsement is not available to the general public at any price.

Dick "dummy" Dadey promises to clarify his public statement about the Duffy home purchase in return for the Governor paying $5000. The clarification is not available to the general public at any price.

or how about the following

Dick "dummy" Dadey trades what is left of his integrity to the Governor in return for the Governor's promise of support for Dick's organization.  Wait that would not be reportable because Dick's integrity is worthless.

I think you get the point.  The "Milgram" rule's reliance on the flow of money only going in one direction, from the lobbying entity to the public official, is just wrong.  It's not what the law says, it's not what the JJOKE guidelines say,  it's not what the JJOKE FAQs say,  it's not what the JJOKE training materials say, it's not what Ellen Biben said, it's only what the powers that be want it to say now that the Duffy house deal is being questioned.

And unfortunately the media once again is missing the point.  You need to ask why would Milgram change his quote, why would Dick need to clarify his position, why are the JJOKE commissioners refusing to go on the record to explain the "Milgram" rule.  I think the answer is they were told to use their official position to provide an unwarranted exemption to the reportable business relationship disclosure for the Duffy home purchase.  And that would be a violation of the Public Officers Law.

I'd like to know what Susan Lerner thinks.

I'd like to know what Barbara Bartoletti thinks.

I'd like to know what Russ Havens thinks.

They all had supported the reportable business relationship requirements, is this what they thought it would be?

I'd like to know what the JJOKE commissioners think, do any of them have the guts to explain the "Milgram" rule in public?  in a forum where I can debate them?  I'm ready willing and able anytime anywhere.

This is just one more pathetic example of how controlled JJOKE and the good government phonies are.  Sonny Liston would be proud.

Drink the cool-aid and eat the pizza

Well well well Barry finally got the call I referenced in twas the night before JCOPE. "Tell your employees to come to work until further notice" I wonder who called you Barry? And are they right? Come on Barry you're a smart NY lawyer how do you read the statute? And now do you change your website that says you are defunct on Monday?

I am laughing so hard I don't know if I can finish the blog.

But here comes the best part.

After 4 months of silence, when he failed to communicate with PIC staff about their future Barry did not even have the class, skill or talent to call a staff meeting and announce this news in person. He wasn't available to answer questions, he just told a couple of supervisors and left it to them to spread the "good"? word. Thats how Barry spells leadership. Let those passengers on the Titanic know we have a leak.

I guess I'm not surprised he could'nt sack up and face the rank and file but he did tell them to pass the word that he might buy everyone pizza today. Free ice for everyone on the ship just collect it from the deck chairs. Hey Barry here's a free hint next time do it yourself it has more meaning.

BTW I think the pizza is a great idea make a list of who eats the pizza and give it to the new executive director so he/she will know who to fire immediately.

If you are afraid to lose your job in an integrity agency you don't deserve to have it to begin with.

Speaking of drinking the cool-aid look at what Dick Dadey the googoo leader said in todays Wonkster "Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union (Gotham Gazette is published by Citizens Union Foundation the sister organization to the Citizens Union) Said that he is not concerned if there is a small gap between the 120 day deadline and the start of JCOPE. “I expect the governor will apply the law and meet the required deadline,” said Dadey adding. “A couple days won’t hurt.”

Compare that to Dadey's comments made several months ago:

“There is no reason to believe at the moment that the deadline will not be met,” said Dadey. “There are weeks to go. There is a strong argument for the appointments to not be rolled out in phases but announced as one. I don’t think piecemeal announcements make sense. We are not concerned, because this governor has kept to his commitments and he will keep to this one. He owns it all. All eyes will be on him. He has to make sure it is fully ready.”

“We were satisfied, but we didn’t have any great expectation that this would be pulled together much prior to the 12th,”

Dadey says the rationale behind the delay was that the agency had to be built from the ground up. “CPI was essentially a merger between two state agencies into one. This effort is essentially tearing down a house and starting from scratch. We accepted that explanation and we look forward to seeing a strong new house.”

Hey Dick about that house I think you are going to need a tent at this point because the closing is next week and nothings built.

And when it comes to missing deadlines do you think the new JCOPE will let the lobbyists be a couple of days late with their filings? remember when it comes to ethics “A couple days won’t hurt.”

Too funny the GOOGOOS are doing a pretty good Charlie Brown impersonation.

Dick Dadey ridden hard and put away wet

I can't believe I actually agree with Rich Assonfire or Azzopardi.

Dick Dadey and his fragile ego are hypocrites.  Truer words were never spoken.

That Dadey is upset that the governor's people have not spoken to him about ethics reform is priceless.

Dick they've been giving you, Blair and the rest of the goo goos a mercy reach around for years and now you are upset that you have to jerk yourself off?  Too funny.   Look at the bright side at least this year when it comes to the goo goos and ethics reform the pleasure given will equal the pleasure received.

It's not like you were ever relevant when it came to changing ethics in NY government

I've ridiculed Dick for years  here are some of my favorites:

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/search?q=Dadey

But I don't remember seeing Dick at JJOKE meetings.  Too busy covering for the Gov in the old days when Steve Cohen was on his board.

Dick Dadey has a short . . . memory

PreDICKtably DICK Dadey is all over the news saying this is the moment for ethics reform.  It's our Watergate moment.  What a DICK!!!

Since DICK can't seem to remember all the times he and his friends have DICKed up ethics reform and since it appears to be okay to just say the same things over and over again I've listed a selection of previous blog posts on the subject rather than writing anything new.

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2015/03/let-them-eat-cake.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-goo-goos-and-creelan-strike-again.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2013/02/dick-dadey-is-dope.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2012/10/things-need-to-change.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2011/02/leave-it-to-goo-goos-to-screw-up-ethics.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2013/10/senator-call-for-investigation-of.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2013/06/an-ethics-mulligan.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2013/04/whom-do-we-blame-for-new-yorks.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2012/06/duck-duck-goo-goose.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2011/02/look-but-dont-touch.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2015/03/when-governor-met-with-goo-goos.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2015/04/historic-ethics-reform-or-just-more.html

http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2015/02/im-not-playin.html


I do have 2 constructive suggestions for the governor and the legislature if they want to take a step in the right direction and avoid more criminal prosecutions:

First, hire me to review your financial disclosure reports and provide you ethical guidance.  Pay for it from your campaign accounts and think of it as insurance or an ethical bullet proof vest.  I've been pitching this idea for years and a couple of legislators now former legislators have been honest enough to tell me that most electeds don't even want their wives to know their financial dealings (I get it)

But that brings me to point 2.

Simple fix to the disclosure requirements and one I would advise all legislators to do voluntarily right now.  ATTACH YOUR TAX RETURN TO YOU FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT.  No question about where the income is coming from and conflicts would be disclosed for all to see.  Of course those that don't want to disclose their tax returns are probably the same ones that don't want to hire me to do their financial disclosure forms.

Thank god DICK Dadey is their to protect us.

A list of all the legislators doing the Spitzer with the media, lobbyists and/or their staff

How many of you actually looked at the blog expecting a list? 

I've written on this issue before http://davidgrandeau.blogspot.com/2013/06/irresponsible-allegations.html

so instead

I'm going to channel that chickenshit no dick sackless wonder Dick (and he is a dick) Dadey and wait until after the media reports on it before I comment.

As an aside Dickless Dadey, why don't you tell us right now all you know on the issue.  I guarantee you would get front page coverage for a tell all on the issue.

Unfortunately Dickless Dadey is what is wrong with the good government groups and a large part of the media when it comes to ethics and integrity.  THEY ARE SCARED SHITLESS TO UPSET THE POWERFUL so they wait for someone else to wound and weaken the powerful and then they come out to strip the dead and dying of their valuables.

Read Teddy Roosevelt's speech about the man in the arena “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” 

Dickless Dadey is a cold and timid soul in fact he reminds me of the Arabs stripping dead soldiers in the opening scene of "PATTON".

Prove me wrong Dickless and join me in bringing a complaint about the new executive director of JJOKE, Seth "Yeti" Agata for misuse of his office in helping the governor get permission from JJOKE to write his book and for good measure for not investigating the governor's misuse of his office in promoting the book.

What do you say Dickless?  I'll be the fluffer and for once in your life you can provide the moneyshot.

DICK DADEY IS A DOPE

Quickly on the heals of JJOKE's not too subtle tossing of a media hand grenade yesterday came Dick Dadey's press release lauding JJOKE's historic accomplishment.

Now excuse me if I sound cynical Dick but I'd love to see you under oath explaining what prompted that press release and if you coordinated it with anyone in government.

But putting aside for the moment how completely the goo goos have been coopted lets talk about the merits of your praise.

After a six month investigation prompted by a complaint from your sister goo goo prompted by a "suggestion" from the governor prompted by the Assembly's own investigation of Lopez . .  JJOKE determines that . . oh my god the assembly investigation was correct Vito Lopez IS a pig.

Now that is indeed historic

I'm not sure any other ethics agency has ever wasted that much time energy and resources to prove something so widely known.  It was in a word underwhelming

Now while I have been consistent in saying JJOKE is the wrong entity to investigate sexual harrassment in government, and trust me Vito Lopez isn't the only one, if you are going to get involved do it well.

Did JJOKE investigate sexual harrassment thruout state government Dick?

Did JJOKE investigate why no other agency was able to prevent Mr. Lopez from continuing his behavior?

Did JJOKE investigate all the leaks surrounding the investigation?

And lets think about all the things JJOKE did not investigate while it was busy proving that the Assembly investigation that proved Lopez was a pig six months ago was accurate. HISTORIC

JJOKE did not:

Investigate Boyland's per diems - DiNapoli did

Investigate per diems thruout the legislature

Investigate Shirly Huntley - the feds did

Investigate member item corruption in general

Investigate unregistered lobbying related to fracking

Investigate unregistered lobbying for campaign finance reform - you may be a witness in that one Dick

Investigate unregistered lobbying by the state democratic party in recent television advertisements

Investigate Susan Lerner's Common Cause source of funding disclosure

I could go on and on and I might later today but I thought I'd give you a chance Dick to followup on your press release and tell the public what JJOKE has accomplished in its first year.

Take your time make some calls to the 2nd floor get your story straight and then pray you and I never end up on a panel together talking about "ethics reform"

Senator calls for an investigation of Governor's office

I never thought I would be saying this I AGREE WITH SENATOR LIZ KRUEGER

Read Senator Krueger's quote in the New York Times:

"If what was reported is true, that there are people in the governor's office who have directed the commission not to follow through on subpoenas, that is worthy of it's own investigation."

It's actually a very easy investigation to perform.

The Moreland Commission has 3 co-chairs who approve subpoenas.   Put all 3 under oath and ask them about the issue.   For good measure ask the other Moreland Commissioners what they know.  And then to put icing on the cake ask Barbara Bartoletti to disclose to the public what is going on.  Barbara should have done that already without an investigation.  All those years being a goo goo calling for more disclosure and she finally gets to work in the sausage factory and doesn't tell us how the sausage is being made.  Another goo goo hypocrite co opted  and joining the list of Dadey and Lerner.

Anyway once you get the under oath testimony you will know if anyone in the governor's office violated the Dopp provisions of the Public Officers Law or if anyone on the Moreland Commission committed perjury during the investigation.

The only problem is the investigation would have to be commenced by the governors wholly owned ethics agency JJOKE.   JJOKE to investigate MOREJOKE?  That doesn't seem likely . . . or does it?

Remember JJOKE is now split internally between the cut dog gubernatorial appointees and the newly empowered legislative employees.

All it takes is some of the legislative employees to bring the issue up in a public session and we are off to the races.

Or JJOKE can do nothing and play right into the media perception that MOREJOKE is a rigged game.

How bad can these folks get at doing the PR spin surrounding ethics?

Maybe I should send Susan Lerner and Dick Dadey a strongly worded letter explaining how foolish they look. . .

One last thought on MOREJOKE and money in politics  How about the following as the theme song for the governor's birthday fundraiser?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6xp54Y39uM

It's not Marilyn Monroe at the Garden but hey you gotta start somewhere

JJOKE Hides Source of Funding data

JJOKE Hides Source of Funding data

 

January 16, 2013, one day after the vaunted source of funding disclosures were required to be filed by the states numerous well funded and sometimes shadowy advocacy groups.

 

Everyone had to file their client semiannual report by the 15^th.

 

If they met the $50k/ 3% threshold set in statute they had to report to JJOKE the source of their funding.

 

JJOKE has known of the requirement for the entire year of their existence.

 

Ellen “eBay” Biben has known of the requirement for her entire tenure heading the JOKE.

 

There have been numerous hearings held by the JOKE on the subject.

 

The public has had a chance to comment on the issue.

 

Regulations have been drafted and debated at JOKE meetings.

 

Revised Regulations have been drafted and debated at JOKE meetings.

 

JOKE commissioners have commented at the meetings and inquired about the issue (some intelligent and some not).

 

Emergency Regulations have been drafted and debated at JOKE meetings.

 

Emergency Regulations have been passed at JOKE meetings.

 

JJOKE held an educational meeting for the lobbying community (JJOKE’s education coordinator missed it as she was sick . . . again) where JOKE lawyers explained the process for source of funding disclosure.

 

The JOKE website has on its front page instructions about the source of funding regulations.

 

The JOKE website has FAQs about source of funding (they are inaccurate and were never approved by the commissioners but they are there)

 

So as I look at a clean blanket of snow in Albany this am I think how wonderful it will be to go to the JOKE website from the comfort of my office computer and find out who provided the funding for . . . take your pick of controversial issues.

 

But NOOOOOOO that information is not available to the public.

 

How is this possible you ask?

 

Was Ravi Batra successful in his lawsuit against the JOKE?  Nope he never brought one

 

Did some association get a TRO on the grounds that the regulations were arbitrary and capricious?  Nope I’m not aware of anyone putting up a fight about the statute or the regulations.

 

Did every client simply ignore the law?  No in fact from what I saw at the JOKE offices this week it’s the exact opposite there are boxes and boxes of paper client semiannual forms that have been filed with source of funding disclosure.

 

So who is responsible for the fact that the public can’t access this data?

 

Well as always it’s a self inflicted wound.

 

JJOKE leadership didn’t consider the why and the how of source of funding disclosure.

 

Why did this requirement come about?

 

I think it’s obvious that the governor and the legislature intended the information related to groups source of funding to be disclosed to the public, in short to promote transparency.  But don’t take my word for it ask the stars of ethics reform what they think:

 

“What we need to do here is maximize disclosure” Ellen Biben

 

“JCOPE should generally seek to promote transparency of those who fund lobbying activity” Dick Dadey Citizens Union

 

“The public has an interest in the disclosure of all major entities that may be involved in a layered organizational structure. Common Cause/NY urges the Commission to draft rules which will provide information regarding the original source of funding”.  Susan Lerner Common Cause

 

“we believe that they play a very important role in informing the public” Barbara Bartoletti League of Women Voters

 

“provide for unprecedented disclosure in an area where no such disclosure has been required before.” John Milgram

 

So the why is clear let’s turn to the how?

 

They had a year to prepare; the JOKE has an electronic filing system so they must have added a data line for the source of funding disclosure right?

 

Electronic filing would have allowed for real time disclosure in a format that would allow the public a searchable database, so why can’t you see these disclosures today?

 

Because JJOKE required clients who wanted to list their source of funding to file on paper pdf forms.

 

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

 

That’s right in 2013 clients were using pen and paper to report these disclosures maybe JJOKE should have required quill and ink or rock carvings.

 

What’s the end result  it will be months and months before commission staff get done with the data input and that’s if everyone including the lawyers sit at a computer amid stacks of forms inputting the data.

 

On my first day at the old lobby commission I wandered around the office and saw a small cubbyhole with paper forms stacked to the ceiling and an attractive young women sitting in front of an old desktop computer pecking away.  I asked her what she was doing and I was told she was inputting forms she did it 7 hours a day 5 days a week 50 weeks a year.

 

She was way too smart to waste time with data input.

 

When they finally abolished my agency she was in charge of an IT staff and a state of the art electronic filing system that allowed New York’s lobbyists to file online and made those filings available in real time.

 

She is still in charge of the IT department at the JOKE but I’m betting she remembers those stacks of paper too.

 

So who is to blame for JJOKE returning to the dark ages?

 

Comeon Mr. Dadey, Ms. Lerner, Ms. Bartoletti tell us how that source of funding disclosure is working out.

 

Ellen care to take responsibility for the JOKE?

 

How about you Milgram?  Oh that’s right your busy fulfilling that FOIL request I made this morning for the source of funding disclosures.

 

And for my friends in the media if you can pry yourself away from the debate about how much safer we are because I can’t buy a semi auto with a bayonet mount AND a grenade launcher ask JJOKE who funded the NRA or who funded the anti fracking group Artists against Fracking or who funded the campaign finance reform group New York Leadership for Accountable Government.  Because you don’t know and they will not tell you without a FOIL request and a long wait.

 

And the JJOKE commissioners that have any self respect and intelligence, Pat Bulgaro, George Weissman, Mitra Hormozi, Ellen Yaroshefsky, Gary Lavine, Marvin Jacob should immediately get on the phone to Biben and ask why.

And if you do not believe the answer think about this  while we all wait for the data  Ellen has it and much like the investigations at JJOKE if Ellen has it its a safe bet that Linda Lacewell has it and if Linda Lace well has  ityou can be sure Larry Schwartz has it which means you might not know who is funding those groups critical of the governor but he does.

Maybe Ellen "eBay" Biben is not incompetent afterall.

JUNE 14 2013

That was the date that I posted on the blog that JJOKE should be investigating a whole bunch of unregistered lobbyists, among them the state democratic committee.

Don't say I didn't give everyone a heads up

Here's what I wrote

Unregistered lobbyists does JJOKE care? does the media care? why should I care?

Back in the old days this time of year brought lots of unregistered lobbyist cases to investigate. All I needed to do was listen to the radio, watch television, drive around and see the billboards. Old habits die hard and I still make note of all the lobby ads and occasionally see who isn't registered. I wonder if anyone at JJOKE does that? I wonder if anyone in the media does?

Well it's not my job and unless someone is paying me to help or hurt an unregistered lobbyist I should just mind my own business, but old habits die hard so here is one last list of unregistered lobbyists I'd be looking at if the lobby commission still existed. Hope it helps whomever still cares about this sort of thing.

Artists Against Fracking - Yoko Ono . . . hot issue celebrity involvement make it a good case to look at http://artistsagainstfracking.com/

Fair Elections for New York coalition . . .hot issue celebrity involvement make it a good case to look at http://fairelectionsny.org/dontcomehome/

New York State Democratic Party . . . it doesn't get any bigger possible gift to public official is a bonus http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/video-gov-andrew-cuomo-s-clean-up-albany-television-ad/article_d65fc416-b80c-11e2-b68b-001a4bcf887a.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Feminists Choosing Life of NY Action, Inc. . . the top issue today http://statepolitics.lohudblogs.com/2013/04/10/anti-abortion-billboards-coming-soon-to-albany-interstates/

I could go on and on but for anyone interested its a good start and for JJOKE it represents 10 Vito Lopez investigations worth of time and energy

"We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us"

The Wandering Dago

And no we are not talking about the state police code name for the Governor's helicopter.

Why would the blog care about an ethnically insensitive name on a food truck?

I love food trucks and the wandering dago's menu looks delicious but there is a significant ethics issue related to the wandering dago.

What am I talking about?

No not the use of the helicopter to fly to the Adirondacks to float down a river . . . although that might be worth looking at.

No I'm talking about a Cuomo appointee, Bennett Liebman, use of his official position to  secure unwarranted privileges or exemptions for others.  A clear violation of the Public Officers Law.

It was Liebman using his official position that provided NYRA the motivation to ice the wandering dago.

Now Darren Dopp never tried to harm a wandering dago, although Joe Bruno, an Italian-American that traveled quite a bit on state aircraft, might disagree, but Dopp never the less was investigated by the Public Integrity Commission and ended up paying a significant fine for his actions related to his official position.

I know I would sleep a lot better if JJOKE did a thorough investigation of Bennett Liebman's role in this whole wandering dago fiasco.

What do you think Dick Dadey? Susan Lerner? Barbara Bartoletti? Blair Horner?

Shark Fins at JJOKE

Are those fins we see along Broadway?

Could it be that others are actively hunting JJOKE?

Right on the heals of my conversation with New York Post reporter Carl Campanile, reported here on the blog, a conversation initiated by the Post reporter btw.  I've received a call from a former ethics commissioner (thats how I protect Ravi's identity) who told me that a New York Post reporter was asking questions about JJOKE staffers having no show jobs and putting in requests for reimbursement for expenses related to travel to Albany when Albany was the official JJOKE work station (prior to May 15, 2012).

This generated two thoughts in my mind.

First would I be helpful and show this New York Post reporter how to put the pieces together about Biben's working from home for the first three months of her tenure.

The downside of doing so is it would seriously piss off some of my "friends" who are big Biben fans especially if they think I'm the one pushing the story.  On that point lets be clear I'm not pushing the story.  I did all the research last summer, I have all the documents that prove the allegations against Biben, and I've blogged about it but I'm saving my work in case I decide to do something with it, not for the New York Post AND I told the Biben supporters last year that she had ethical vulnerabilty on this and other issues.  They didn't care then after all they are wayyyyyyyyy smarter than I am so this one isn't my fault.  When I do the hit on Biben I'll sign my name on the card after I deliver it all wrapped up with a bow. 

Second and more importantly for the second time in a week the NEW YORK POST is sniffing around JJOKE and it doesn't appear that they are going to be writing a puff piece with a whole bunch of Dick Dadey and Susan Lerner brown-nosing quotes.

Now I'm not a sophisticated analyst of news related to New York politics but isn't the Post suppose to write flattering prose about all the positive reforms this governor has accomplished including ethics reform ... translated aren't they suppose to kiss Biben's ass?

Whats going on?

Is the Post doing this on their own?

Has someone in the legislature been feeding them unflattering info about Biben in retaliation for the Lopez/Silver leaks?

Or is it the governor's office trying to put a little distance between the governor's sterling record of success with reforms and the stench coming off the dead fish known as JCOPE?

In any event as someone who has been in the water when the shark fins break the surface Biben better hope that the sharks want someone else or pray that a seat opens up in the lifeboat (also known as the lawfirm of . . . nah no point in going swimming in shark infested waters in a raw meat bathing suit)

Mrs. Agata can you straighten your husband out?

So I have it from a very reliable source that Seth Agata's wife is an avid reader of the blog.  Now she is Jewish so I'm guessing she either gets my neurotic side or she absolutely is disgusted by me.  I've been around a lot of Jewish women, including my mother so I know how I am perceived by that segment of society (it's also why I married a Sicilian).  In the hopes that she is a fan I am going to appeal to her to talk to her husband so he gets his head out of Dan Horwitz'z ass and doesn't repeat the mistakes of the executive directors that came before him.

At today's meeting he made a point to tell us how he has been on a listening tour of the good government groups and the various sides of the legislature, including the independent democratic conference aka Jeff Klein's I have to be a leader of something group.  How many times have I heard this same bullshit before?  If the good government groups and the legislature had answers we wouldn't need to keep replacing executive directors.  Changing the ethics laws is not the answer Seth.  YOU are the answer Seth, if your wife can get you to sack up and take control.  Blair Horner, Dick Dadey and Susan Lerner may make you comfortable but they are ethics losers, always were always will be (I kind of sound like Trump, huh?).

Todays meeting was a perfect example, instead of the inhumanely boring 30 minute lecture on the revolving door ban why not spend 5 minutes explaining how Joe Percoco violated that same ban and what JJOKE is doing about it.  That would have been memorable.  It also would have gotten you fired and into the private sector where you can earn the kind of living that will make Mrs. Agata happy.

See Mrs. Agata I am looking out for you.

No thanks necessary.

By the way Seth you meet with the good government groups but not with me?  Don't take this the wrong way but FUCK YOU.

You can pay for lunch next week.

Things need to change

 

 

I know regular readers are probably going to look at the title and say here he goes again, complaining that New York’s ethics agency is incompetent, partisan, and lacking in independence in short a laughingstock. 

 

But this blog is different it’s not JJOKE that I think needs to change it’s my approach to ethics enforcement in Albany.

 

I’ve turned into a one trick pony, the Don Quixote of ethics, tilting at windmills.

 

I’ve been writing the same blog for 4 years detailing one ethical misadventure after another.  I’ve been answering reporters’ questions on and off the record providing roadmaps to getting at the heart of the ethical hypocrisy that is New Yorks government, be it JJOKE and Biben or PIC and Teitelbaum.  And while I’ve enjoyed some success both intellectually and financially, at the end of the day while I’m in a far better place than I was when Spitzer and Bruno eliminated my job (far better than both of them that’s for sure) and I’ve been able to help nudge Albany to change ethics enforcers and agencies (Feerick, Tietelbaum, Cherkasky, Ginsberg,and the entire PIC)  I don’t think JJOKE and Andrews attack dog Ellen Biben are a significant upgrade over the past and in fact some might argue that independent ethics enforcement has never been more endangered than it is right now.

 

But it wasn’t until a series of news articles over the last few weeks that I realized I need to change how I approach whatever role I choose to have.

 

In no particular order here are the news snippets that have led to my epiphany.

 

Our Governor goes fishing and invites the media to tag along. The media take canoe rides on a pristine Adirondack lake and watch the governor enjoy a guided trip to fish for trout.  All on private land owned by the Nature Conservancy, a registered lobbyist governed by the Lobby Act and its rather laxly enforced gift ban.  Does anyone question why JJOKE is not commencing an investigation to determine if this is an illegal gift?

 

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings while answering a question regarding his city owned vehicle being parked at Saratoga Race Track in a very preferred parking spot admits that he was there to attend a party hosted by the AFL-CIO, you guessed it, another registered lobbyist governed by the Lobby Act and its rather laxly enforced gift ban.  Does anyone question why JJOKE is not commencing an investigation to determine if this  is an illegal gift?

 

Campaign finance reformers meet with the governor to plot strategy, they are well financed and connected but they are not registered to lobby.  Does anyone question why JJOKE is not commencing an investigation to determine if these folks are unregistered lobbyists?

 

Speaker Silver’s Counsel Jim Yates hires Paul Schectman as his attorney in the JJOKE investigation of Vito Lopez an investigation commenced as a result of the goo goos formal complaint following the governor’s informal complaint.  Does anyone question why goo goo leader and JJOKE sycophant Dick Dadey  was the media’s choice to comment on the propriety of that arrangement?

 

The answer to all the above is NO, no one cares or at least no one cares enough to risk the wrath of the folks holding the leash on the attack dog.

 

And that includes me.

 

I don’t get paid to do that kind of work.

 

My clients pay me to be their ethical bodyguard and sometimes their ethical assassin but not to get involved in the bigger issues, those surrounding Albany’s hypocricy.

 

And that was when it hit me, I can’t help myself I want to point out these ethical transgressions but there is no benefit in doing so.

 

The solution?

 

Let’s see if anyone is willing to put their money where their mouth is.

 

I’m going to create a not for profit entity to do the job these ethics agencies have failed to do because they are controlled by government.  I’ll pay to set it up and get it off the ground.  If others see value in it, it should take on a life of its own if not then at least I tried and knowing that there is no support from the public for honest ethics reform has value in and of itself.

 

Step one I need a name does anyone out there have a suggestion?

 

Is anyone else amused?

By how absolutely clueless the good government groups are on ethics?

By how clueless certain members of the media (Casey Seiler) are on ethics and the good government groups?

By how many different ways the governor and the legislature can say fuck you to the good government groups?

Case in point, even though it was a "Watergate moment" (btw Blair that is a weak quote you should have gone with "it's time we learned the difference between chicken salad and chicken shit") the good government groups failed to focus on Cuomo's national search, that anyone who watches JCOPE knew would end up at the governors office (I admit I had Gagan not Agata but really what was the difference) and then to put the cherry on top vouched for Agata after the selection.   That idiot Dadey even said effectively Agata is the right man at the right spot at the right time.  Hey Dick how about you get the right man at the right spot at the right time to tell us his start date, his salary, how he will handle his conflict with the assembly, an explanation for his potential violation of the public officers law related to his role in Cuomo's book deal or why he filled out his financial disclosure report in the past incorrectly (Gagan had a similar problem)  JJOKE is already incompetent, installing a leader who can't fill out his own forms correctly does not bode well. 

And of course the Albany Times Union's punctuation police wrote the same old story about good government groups complaining about a lack of transparency during Blair's "Watergate moment"  News flash Casey try being a real reporter and getting Agata on the record about the questions his selection raises.  You might even pick up that thing they call a phone and call some people starting with Agata but move on to JJOKE commissioners past and present, you know, be a real reporter.

As for the Governor, those of us who know the players can only tip our hat to you and say you are a master at understanding what will and will not fly politically.  Agata will prove to be the wrong choice but who cares.  He will cover your ass and watching you tell the media and the good government groups to fuck off is worth the price of admission.   Knowing that they can't hurt you on ethics allows you to do or not do whatever you want on ethics reform.  But just remember there are some other folks that can hurt you quite a bit, they are the ones you can't tell to fuck off.

FORE . . .play

Well yet another case of sexual harassment by a member of the legislature is in the news.

It's weird but Susan Lerner and Dick Dadey haven't filed a complaint with JJOKE yet.

For that matter the gov has not said publicly that JJOKE should investigate.

If I was Vito Lopez I'd be claiming he was targeted for some reason other than his being a pig.

Remember I did warn you that if JJOKE started investigating sexual harassment under the Public Officers Law it would be a slippery slope to a rocky bottom.

There is supposed to be a JJOKE meeting next week to ram thru the new Executive Director vote maybe by then JJOKE can leak that they are investigating this new case of sexual harassment.

As an aside Insider X has returned and told me a very interesting tale.  As always I can not speak to the truth or veracity of the account but it is thought provoking.

Insider X claims the 2nd floor has a mole in the Assembly.  This mole is well placed to know what's going on and to report back to the 2nd floor.  The mole supposedly got caught up in the Lopez investigation and was represented by counsel with ties to the 2nd floor.  1 + 1 quickly added up to 2 for the mole and he got himself clear of the Lopez case.  Now Assembly secrets go straight to the 2nd floor.   Might explain how the most recent sexual harassment complaint that has not been investigated by JJOKE got to the media.  

Doesn't sound plausible to you?  Ask David Patterson if it could happen.

If Joe Bruno was smarter or less of an old school standup guy he'd learn a lesson and do the same thing.