Readers Say
Many in favor of an Ethics Committee said they believe it would increase transparency and accountability.
Some Boston.com readers – and a Boston City Councilor – are calling for the creation of an Ethics Committee, after Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson said Tuesday she will plead guilty to federal public corruption charges.
Fernandes Anderson was arrested in December for allegedly orchestrating a kickback scheme involving a family member who she had secretly hired as part of her staff. Prosecutors allege she gave the staff member a $13,000 bonus, under the condition that $7,000 be funneled back to her. Authorities allege the handoff of cash occurred in a City Hall bathroom.
Fernandes Anderson agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, according to a status report filed by US Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley. In addition to her guilty plea, Fernandes Anderson also said she would resign, but it is unclear when she intends to do so.
“In coming days, I will evaluate transition plans and timeline with the District 7 Advisory Council. I will do everything possible to make an orderly exit to ensure my constituents’ needs are met,” she said Tuesday. District 7 includes Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway, and part of the South End. If she resigns before May 8, a special election will be triggered, according to the city’s charter.
Councilor Ed Flynn called for the creation of a City Council Ethics Committee after Fernandes Anderson was initially arrested, but the measure was struck down a month later. Now, he’s renewing the effort.
In the wake of Fernandes Anderson’s guilty plea, we asked Boston.com readers if the Boston City Council should have an Ethics Committee. Of the 85 respondents to our poll, the majority (89%) said they would support such a committee, while 11% were against the idea.
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson will plead guilty to federal corruption charges. Does the Council need an Ethics Committee?
Yes, it needs an Ethics Committee
No, it doesn’t need an Ethics Committee
Many in favor of an Ethics Committee said they believe it would increase transparency and hold public officials accountable. Those against the idea argued such a plan could be biased if committee members were Councilors themselves, as opposed to outside, unaffiliated officials (Flynn’s initial plan called for the Committee to be made up of Council members).
Below, readers share their thoughts on whether or not the Boston City Council should have an Ethics Committee, and if so, what it should look like.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Does the Boston City Council need an Ethics Committee?
Yes
“We’ve had three members of that council with heavy scandals (Kendra Lara, Tania Fernandes-Anderson, and Ricardo Arroyo), so maybe it’s time to establish a checks and balances type of department with an objective group of individuals that will keep them in line.” – Jayson C., Back Bay
“Ethics Committee? Yes. Composed of current councilors and/or any elected officials? No. That’s like giving a baby a lit cigarette. As a voter and a taxpayer, I’d rather serve as oversight than allow one council member to scrutinize another colleague. There are so many scenarios that clearly show common sense was never an option. As members of the council, your mission is to be the same – to serve your constituents. It appears that good governing allows taxpayers to protect their investment – the portion of our tax dollar that cover the salaries of elected officials. So we have the right to routine performance evaluations to include a morals/ethics assessment.” – K.C., Downtown Boston
“It seems there have been a lot of ethics problems in the council. I am also thinking of the woman who drove into the house and tried to get out of the consequences. I think she had an expired license, too.” – Meredith, Jamaica Plain
“This is exactly the reason why. Fernandes Anderson first vehemently denied any wrongdoing, now all of a sudden, she is pleading guilty to federal charges? Corruption runs amok in MA and an ethics committee should be established.” – L.F., South Shore
“Although I don’t believe it will stop individual acts of corruption, at least the actions or inactions of the Committee will show the public whether or not its members acted accordingly in the investigation. They then would be subject to the judgment of the voting public.” – Terence R., Revere
“We need the entire Boston City Council investigated because this is a repeating theme of waste, fraud and corruption of our tax dollars.” – John G., Lincoln
“There can never be enough ethics and oversight, especially when public funds are concerned. We can set an example locally that our federal officials fail to demonstrate.” – Baker B., Randolph
No
“Because the Feds already do a great job catching them breaking laws. An ethics committee made up of city councilors would only help to cover up crime.” – Dee, Boston
“The council cannot reasonably be expected to be able to oversee itself. It needs an external body to oversee it, as there have been way too many corruption cases involving council members in the past few years. That external body could come from within City Hall, but not the legislative branch.” – Scott, Shrewsbury
“An Ethics Committee would be a waste of taxpayers’ hard earned money.” – Anonymous reader, Tewksbury
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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