Thursday, April 12, 2007

The Carlisle Case and the Ethics Board






First meeting now ordered







In the wake of the criminal charges filed against Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl now says he wants the Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board to meet:



"It raises our awareness in my administration. I've directed my administration to have the ethics board meet as soon as next week to ensure that they deal with this issue and other issues that are important, very serious matters. And we want to ensure that these types of activities do not occur in city hall."


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8 comments:

Char said...

I'm still confused here. I thought the Ethics Board was an independent entity. One that could and SHOULD act when and how they see fit. Why then is the Mayor "directing" them to do anything?

Anonymous said...

Why does everything have to be about race? It has to do with honesty and integrity.

Anonymous said...

Did Luke just "wake up" and figure out he should do something about Ms. Carlisle's behavior?
WAKE UP PITTSBURGH!!! He's the wrong guy to be our Mayor!!!

EdHeath said...

Bob, can I ask for an update, or clarification, or sumpin'. DOes the Mayor still have a vacancy on the board to fill?
Ed

Bob Mayo said...

Ed,

David Scott--the only attorney named to the panel--resigned around the end of 2006, That Bob O'Connor appointment still hasn't been replaced, but after the Carlisle charges were filed, the Mayor indicated to me that he now plans to submit a nominee to council to replace Scott.

Bob Mayo said...

Char,

Ethics Board members have made it clear to me that some of them are now waiting for the mayor to fill the vacant post. Others seem to feel dependent on the acting city solicitor and the mayor's chief of staff to guide them through their startup phase.

EdHeath said...

How many years ago was the ethics board started? Sorry, your phrase "startup phase" bothers me. I guess their phrase. Ironic that the interim Mayor might get the credit for finally getting the ethics board running. In spite of himself, he is actually accomplishing some reforms (cost recovery and the ethics board), along with his shenanigans (the city traffic light contract). It’s kind of scary to think who the mayor might appoint to the ethics board.

Bob Mayo said...

Ed,

If you click this link, you'll see all of my blog posts on this topic. Read them from oldest to newest and check out the links provided in them, if you're curious about how things developed.