New York Metropolitan Chapter ASPA NEWS

This is a new column for this newsletter. I am a professor at Baruch College, where I teach ethics, budgeting, and research methods. My plan is to alternate between writing about ethics ideas and about cases. Anyone wishing to suggest cases can send those suggestions to me at EthicsProfessor@yahoo.com.

The concern that is most commonly raised about the ethics of public employees has to do with honesty. We, the society, act as if public employees have one hand in the government’s cash drawer and the other hand in the pocket of anyone seeking public services. So ethics of the public sector is sometimes confused with rules designed to prevent public employees from using their public office for private gain. While there are some notable cases of public officials using their office for gain, they are notable largely because they are few.

While it is important for public employees to be honest, too much focus on this topic can distort our ethical reasoning. So too, can be an excessive interest in the private vices of public officials. It can be distressing to see high public officers engaged in petty and not-so-petty vices that we would prefer to see them working to eliminate. Still, these vices are, at most, merely an indicator of moral character, and not, in themselves, of much significance.

If these are not the main issues of public ethics, what are those issues? One issue of great concern is: How can public officers accomplish the expressed will of the public without forfeiting autonomy? This is a knotty problem that involves issues of democratic governance and personal responsibility. What does it mean for government officers to do what the public decides? When is it proper to "obey orders"? When should government officers refuse the public’s will because it is wrong? Should public officers be free to meet the objectives through their own best judgement, or should the public spell out the means, as well as the goals, of public service? With a little luck, we can discuss these issues in this column.

Your views, proposed topics, and suggested cases are welcome at EthicsProfessor@yahoo.com.

On May 11, 2000, a panel of speakers addressed the issue of term limits for New York City elected officials. The program was held at the Baruch College School of Public Affairs. The panelists were Dean Stan Altman, Regina Calcaterra, Paula Gerard, and Jo LoCicero.

Ms. Calcaterra provided some background information on term limits. Ronald Lauder provided funding for the initiative to place term limits on the Ballot. The term limit referendum was approved in 1993 and limited officials to two consecutive terms. There have been some efforts to reverse, or at least modify, the term limit rules but these efforts have been squashed.

The public needs to be aware of the seriousness of a large portion of officials leaving office within a short timeframe. The incumbents are often dedicated public servants who have put years of effort into lawmaking and the community. One perceived problem is the loss of institutional history since there will be staff turnover along with the change in elected officials. A related problem is that there will be a huge learning curve for the new office holders and their staffs. Only the civil service will remain in place. Ms. LoCicero pointed out that within six weeks after taking office, the elected officials will be dealing with a new budget.

There are some grassroots training efforts underway for those who have an interest in running for office. The training covers how to get on the ballot, fund-raising rules, and other issues that may appear daunting to a novice office seeker. Ms. Gerard said that the 2000 Census will result in re-districting for later elections.

An advisory board has been established to help new council members. An educational retreat for all council members was also proposed. Efforts are being made to develop a budget simulation game as a learning tool. Dean Altman said that both universities and ASPA should play a role as these transitions take place in government.

We encourage all Members to visit our Chapter web site at: http://www.homestead.com/mvjnymetroaspa/index.html. Members may also wish to visit the National ASPA web site at: http://www.aspanet.org.

Erik Bergrud, National ASPA's Director of Information Services issued the following announcement:

Donald F. Kettl, Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science at the Robert M. La Follette Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will be the guest at ASPA's inaugural moderated online chat session on Wednesday, October 25, from 5:30PM - 6:30PM EDT. He will address the topic, "OK, so you've been elected president in November. Now what do you do?"

Professor Kettl has consulted broadly for agencies at all levels of government and regularly contributes to discussion of public issues on radio and television. He is a regular columnist for Governing magazine and he served as chair [for] the Wisconsin Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Campaign Finance Reform. He is also Nonresident Senior Fellow at Washington's Brookings Institution.

The chat will take place in ASPA's online community (OLC) - http://www.memberconnections.com/ASPA. When you visit on the 25^th, look for a special chat link on the community's front page. Only registered users may participate!

Summary of September 13, 2000 Chapter Governing Board Meeting

Programs: The attendees discussed the scheduling of the Annual Awards Dinner and dates and topics for Program Events during the upcoming Program Year. Ms. Roberts suggested that we market the Programs to a broader audience than just our traditional membership base. Ms. Hubbard, Mr. Justice, and Mr. Meyer will coordinate the Annual Awards Dinner, which has been scheduled for June 7, 2001. A Lunchtime Program Event on "Careers for MPAs in the Private, For-Profit Sector" was scheduled for October 18, 2000; Mr. Van Ryzin will be the coordinator. A Program Event on "Elections Results: Implications for Public Policy" was set for November 15, 2000; Ms. Gerard will be the coordinator. A Holiday Party was scheduled for December 8, 2000; Ms. Gerard and Ms. Roberts will be the coordinators. A Program Event previewing the 2001 National ASPA Conference was scheduled for February 8, 2001; Mr. Justice will be he coordinator. The event will be a reception with speakers, a question and answer period and a video presentation. An outreach effort will be directed towards NY Metropolitan area schools of public administration. A program event on "Ethics of Public Service" was scheduled for April 5, 2001 [later re-scheduled to April 4, 2001]; Mr. Williams will be the coordinator.

Governing Board Meetings: Mr. Van Ryzin said that he will select proposed dates for future Governing Board Meetings and then share that calendar with the Governing Board members for their concurrence.

Conference Scholarships: Mr. Joseph said that National ASPA has a scholarship program to underwrite the costs for students to attend the ASPA National Conference. He will obtain additional information from National ASPA. Mr. Tinker will handle the scholarship contest and call for nominations.

[The Meeting was convened at 6:11PM and adjourned at 7:16PM. The Meeting was held at Baruch College, CUNY, School of Public Affairs, 137 East 22^nd Street, NYC, Room 303. Attendees: Ms. Gerard, Mr. Jameson, Mr. Justice, Ms. Roberts, Mr. Tinker, Mr. Joseph, Mr. Rolandi, and Mr. Van Ryzin]

The Chapter welcomes our newest members: Anne Adair, Rose Banton, Daryl Cochrane, David K. Hepinstall, Miriam Hill, Christopher Holder, Francis Jones, Jr., Anthony Lawrence, Richard W. Lee, Romauld Litwin, Stefan Lock, MaryAnn Marrocolo, Susan Morris, Elizabeth Owens, Deirdre Rice-Reese, Peter J. Rendeiro, Luisa Y. Rios, Latonya C. Rumph, Ray Schwartz, Vincent Scotto DiLuzzio, Tara L. Smith, Blondelle Daphne Taylor, Edwin Torres, Shermaine Wade, Suzanne E. Woodard, Sheldon Zeitlin.

All NY Metro Chapter Members are encouraged to attend our monthly Governing Board Meetings. If you plan to attend a meeting, please call any Chapter Officer to confirm the meeting date, time, and location. The meetings usually begin at 6:00PM. If you have an item to be placed on the Meeting Agenda, please call Gregg Van Ryzin. Please also contact Gregg if you are interested in serving on a Chapter Committee (listed below).

If you have an item of interest to report to our members (a "Member News" item or an event to be listed under "Other Regional and National Events"), please call Mike Jameson at 718-557-3733.

October 18, 2000: Baruch College, School of Public Affairs Public Policy Breakfast Series: Election 2000: What is at Stake for NYC (Baruch College Conference Center, 151 East 25^th Street, Seventh Floor, NYC) (8:30AM - 10:00AM) (Space is limited and reservations are required. RSVP to 212-802-5900 or SPA_CONFERENCE@BARUCH.CUNY.EDU.)

November 2, 2000: Baruch College, School of Public Affairs Public Policy Breakfast Series: Election 2000: Pollsters, Pundits & Politics (Baruch College Conference Center, 151 East 25^th Street, Seventh Floor, NYC) (8:30AM - 10:00AM) (Space is limited and reservations are required. RSVP to 212-802-5900 or SPA_CONFERENCE@BARUCH.CUNY.EDU.)

November 16 - 19, 2000: ASPA's Mid-Year Meetings (Washington, DC) (Contact: Leslie Fain, 202-393-7878, lfain@aspanet.org).

November 28 - 29, 2000: Government Technology Leadership Institute (co-hosted by ASPA) (Washington, DC), Ronald Reagan Building) (Contact: Franklin S. Reeder, mailto:reeder@bellatlantic.net).

February 20 -25, 2001: 2001 COMPA National Conference (Little Rock, AR, Doubletree Hotel Little Rock) (Contact: Robert Copeland, 757-382-6191, copeland@iga.city.chesapeake.va.us.)

March 10 - 13, 2001: ASPA's 62^nd National Conference: New Century, New Cities, New Challenges (Newark, NJ) (Contact: Leslie Fain, 202-393-7878, mailto:lfain@aspanet.org).

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