A fix for corruption
From thnt.com Online,
January 22, 2008
New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill's
announcement last week that the city will convert its housing rehabilitation
agency into a privately run entity overseen by the public is a breath of fresh
air.
The corruption-laced housing rehabilitation program has long been in need of
some rehab itself. But the question for city officials has always been
what fix is best? The dirty dealings run so deep — one clerk was sentenced
to 10 months in jail for accepting bribes; a former inspector is serving 30
months in prison for similar crimes, and the former head of the city's
Neighborhood Preservation Program is facing trial for bribery and extortion — a
return to the system that made it all possible never seemed wise.
All told, eight people have been charged in connection with corruption involving
the city's rehabilitation housing program. Several are private
contractors.
Clearly, New Brunswick needs to clean some house, starting from scratch.
Now at long last the city has a plan that should work.
Here's why: First, the city must erase all ties to the agency's ignoble
past if it is to restore public confidence in the ailing program. Second,
a private operator, by its very nature, is far more likely to do the job
efficiently, lest it risk its bottom line. Third, there are private firms
that do this sort of work as their primary source of business, lending expertise
where expertise has been lacking. Finally, New Brunswick has to do
something to kick-start a public service that has been stalled for two full
years, since the federal probe into corruption was announced in 2006.
If there is a single caveat regarding the plan, it would be that Cahill is
talking about having one city employee, as yet unnamed, to oversee the
operation. Given the program's recent ills, several sets of eyes — a panel
inclusive of public members who are not government officials — would create a
stronger safety net. After all, no matter who delivers the service,
corruption is always a risk. Why not hedge the city's bet?
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