Professor Elam

Weekend January 27 2013

The SA Express News has abandoned all semblance of journalistic fourth rail integrity regarding our Mayor. Indeed the paper reads more like the Mayor Castro Fan Club. Governonr Perry is continually under fire for his security expenses. I have yet to see a word on the Security Expenses for our globe trotting Mayor. But I digress. 

Today the SA Express News  endorses the idea of an Ethics Auditor, an idea Castro proposesd last week. I visited the idea in an earlier post.  In their own words, an ethics auditor will make sure such officials do know when such conflicts occur. 

Now what is wrong with this picture?  Here is where critical thinking comes in. 

1. Ethics should not arise externally to city officials, they should know first hand how to behave. This would result from explicit on line training as well as discussion groups using real world cases involving ethics. The rules need to be laid down prior to potentail violations not after. 

2. This is classic big governent lock the gate after the cows are out thinking. Handily the paper excuses Mayor Castro from any oversight responsbilibity. He was there on throughout this entire DiGiovanni Affair, and he is a lawyer. Where is the Mayor's responsibility to set the tone at the top? And what about our $355,000 City Manager, does that kind of money not buy some oversight?

3. Just wondering, does the Express News have an Ethics Auditor?  I bet not. But since we are spending other people's money it's a great idea for the City. By the way the City already has both an Ethics review Board and an comprehensive Internal Audit Department. Why not use existing resources?

4. The revolving door of City Council Members doing business with various City entities should already be verbotten. Again, where was the Mayor on this one, no doubt in London or making promoting pre Kindergarten education for 4 year olds. 

The media should fill a vital role of questioning all hte actions of elected officials and holding them accountable. In this instance the Paper has given the Mayor a free pass. And of course the Paper never really took a osition on whether the  DiGiovanni admonishment was appropriate.