Ever since the job of public advocate was created 15 years ago in New York City, there have been questions about whether the position should exist.
The job is something of a hodgepodge established after a streamlining of city government. It is commonly known as the city's ombudsman, the official who can criticize other elected officials, including the mayor. And that may be one reason why the last two mayors have argued strenuously to get rid of the office altogether.
No one really knows what a Public Advocate is supposed to do and the city charter is thin on details so every candidate is coming up with the details to fill in the black-hole-sized blanks of the job. Mark
Green is up to idea #32 in a plan to use to twitter to spread his 100 new ideas for New York City. Brooklyn Councilman Bill De Blasio meanwhile is out today with a four-part government transparency and accountability plan.
As Public Advocate, Will Implement Plan to Increase Government Transparency and Accountability, and Help New Yorkers in Need
NEW YORK - Bill de Blasio today released a comprehensive, four-part policy proposal in his campaign for Public Advocate. De Blasio's agenda, Advocacy for New York City, is a detailed plan to utilize the Public Advocate's charter-mandated powers to work to reform City government, help New Yorkers in need, strengthen public schools, and rebuild the City's economy.
"I am pleased and proud to endorse Bill de Blasio for Public Advocate. The last time I endorsed Bill was when he was a candidate for City Council in 2001. I was right then and I'm right now. Bill de Blasio has a proven record of making government more responsive and responsible. He will continue in that effort with his "ReformNYC" Five-Point Plan that will use the powers of the Public Advocate to increase democracy, transparency and accountability in our city government.," said Governor Mario Cuomo.
Public Advocate candidate Bill de Blasio will roll out a new plan today that he claims will help: Creating a Web site where the public (and the press) can report city agencies when they unfairly deny FOIL requests - or ignore them.
Democrat de Blasio, a Brooklyn councilman, says if elected, he would have a staffer whose job it would be to help people fill out and submit their FOIL requests.
De Blasio Unveils Reform Proposal to Increase Democratic Choice and Governmental Accountability in New York City
New York - Public Advocate candidate Bill de Blasio today joined one hundred supporters at a rally to unveil a series of reforms calling for broad changes to increase government accountability and make New York City elections more open and fair.
"I take Mayor Bloomberg at his word that he did not hear the question regarding his comments about the State Senate and mayoral control. On an issue this sensitive, the Mayor and all leaders should choose their words carefully. Millions of public school children and their parents are depending on the reauthorization of a reformed version of mayoral control.
NEW YORK – Public Advocate candidate Bill de Blasio today held a press conference with Council Member Annabel Palma and Assemblymember Marcos Crespo to demand that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its newly nominated Chairman, Jay Walder, provide public transit users basic levels of service and accountability in the face of rising fares. De Blasio sent a letter to Mr.
NEW YORK – Councilmember Bill de Blasio today proposed legislation to make the Public Advocate, Comptroller, Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), and Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) independently funded. The legislation would create more budget autonomy for these oversight agencies by tying their funding to that of the Mayor’s Office and the New York Police Department (NYPD).
“Right now we need more checks and balances in our City Government, not less. The Mayor’s move to cut the Public Advocate’s budget by an astonishing forty percent is a blatant attempt to once again silence independent voices. It is imperative that any office which provides oversight and a check on the Mayor's power should have independent budgeting. This is the only way to ensure that the Public Advocate is able to perform its charter mandated role of holding the Mayor accountable to the people instead of being held hostage by his political agenda.”
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