Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn has renewed his efforts to establish an ethics committee aimed at restoring public credibility in light of Tania Fernandes Anderson’s announcement to plead guilty to federal corruption charges.
In a bid to address concerns surrounding the integrity of the City Council, Flynn’s revised proposal presented this week focuses on the creation of a mostly external ‘oversight committee on compliance and accountability.’
Although the format has changed from his initial suggestion, the goal remains similar: to ensure that the Boston City Council adheres to all ethics and regulatory standards, as stated in a hearing order introduced by Flynn at Wednesday’s meeting.
“Although the City Council voted against ethics reform in January, it is critical that we revisit this conversation and discuss the creation of an oversight board again, made up of non-affiliated, relevant and outside experts to help restore credibility with the people of Boston,” Flynn expressed.
He acknowledged that the body has experienced a significant loss of credibility, emphasizing the necessity of restoring public trust.
“We must acknowledge that the public has lost faith in the Boston City Council and we must act accordingly,” he stated.
Flynn detailed that potential committee members could include the City Council president, a retired Massachusetts or federal judge, a representative from the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, and members of the Boston community.
This latest proposal diverges from his prior initiative, which sought to create an internal ethics committee solely comprised of city councilors.
Opponents of the earlier measure, introduced just days after Fernandes Anderson’s federal indictment last December, raised concerns about the potential for councilors to investigate and take action against their own colleagues.
They also noted that external oversight already exists through the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission.
During a vote, the proposal was ultimately defeated in January by an 8-3 margin, with Fernandes Anderson voting ‘present.’
Talking to the Herald ahead of the meeting, Flynn remarked, “The Council pushed back on my previous ethics committee request because their argument against was councilors should not judge councilors.
“Now, under my proposal, that would not be the case.”
Flynn expressed his concern that delaying action only further damages the council’s reputation in the eyes of Boston residents.
“All I know is that the longer we wait and do nothing, the more we are damaged as a body and continue to lose credibility throughout the city with Boston residents,” he warned.
He pointed out that not addressing these issues could perpetuate the council’s diminished status.
Despite the urgency of the issue, Flynn’s revised proposal appeared to garner only moderate support, with only fellow Councilors John FitzGerald and Erin Murphy, who supported his earlier initiative, signing onto the hearing order.
The appeal for a new oversight committee is undoubtedly influenced by the recent allegations against Fernandes Anderson, but Flynn also highlighted the history of ethical lapses by council members over recent years.
“There have been a series of legal and ethical lapses over the last several years by members of the Council, which have undermined the credibility of the body,” Flynn remarked at this week’s gathering.
Leading up to the federal charges against her, Fernandes Anderson had already faced state ethics and campaign finance violations.
Additionally, former councilors Ricardo Arroyo and Kendra Lara were notably removed in primary races—an unprecedented occurrence in Boston’s political history—highlighting the ongoing struggles with accountability in local governance.
Councilor Enrique Pepén likewise encountered issues with state campaign finance law violations following his election win, further underscoring the persistent concerns regarding ethical conduct within the council.
In line with his commitment to transparency, Flynn further proposed that all councilors should publicly disclose their state and federal tax returns for the past five years alongside the financial statements they are required to submit annually to the city clerk’s office.
Last week, Fernandes Anderson accepted a plea deal in her federal corruption case and is set to plead guilty to two charges during a hearing on May 5.
These charges are linked to a bonus kickback scheme allegedly orchestrated at City Hall, which has sparked immediate calls for accountability and reform.
The second-term councilor has indicated her intentions to resign and is facing recommendations of a sentence of a year and a day in prison along with restitution of $13,000 according to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley.
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