NYC Bar, Common Cause Issue Report Critical of JCOPE

According to the New York Times, the NYC Bar Association and Common Cause will release a report titled “Hope for JCOPE” that is critical of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE).

Acknowledging JCOPE’s “bumpy past,” the groups speak highly of JCOPE’s leadership and staff, and express optimism that JCOPE can gain the public’s confidence. They recommend that JCOPE take a number of steps, many of which do not require legislation, including:

• improving enforcement, guidance and training;
• developing a Lobbyist Code of Ethics; and
• changing JCOPE’s composition and adding s ‘firewall’ to reduce political influence in appointments.