MANHATTAN—In an effort to strengthen and protect the
independent watchdog agencies in New
Yor government, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum
introduced legislation that would establish fixed-minimum budgets for the
Office of the Public Advocate (OPA), the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB),
and the Civilian Complaints Review Board (CCRB).
Public Advocate Betsy
Gotbaum said, “When my budget was cut 40% this year – over six times the
cut sustained by any other elected official – it confirmed my belief that the
city’s budgeting process is deeply flawed. With great power to set my budget,
the Mayor and Speaker were able to strike back at an office that was critical
of their actions.
“If it can happen to the public advocate, it can happen to
any other independent oversight agency. The bill I’m proposing will shield
these agencies from political retribution or self-interest; and it will provide
security for our most essential checks on city government. “
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