NYC Council Targets Lobbying Reforms: New Legislation Proposes Two-Year Ban for Former Officials

City lawmakers discussed proposed reforms aimed at regulating the lobbying activities of former city officials during a recent public meeting. The legislation seeks to implement a two-year ban on lobbying city agencies for individuals who previously served as senior staff in the mayor’s office, including high-ranking roles such as chief of staff and deputy chief of staff.

Council Member Vicky Paladino introduced the bill, acknowledging the increasing lobbying expenditures in New York City, which reached $131 million last year—nearly double the amount spent a decade ago. He cited this spike in lobbying as a concern for maintaining integrity within city government. “We have been fortunate to have stellar and honest leadership in the city council, but we can no longer allow powerful former officials to immediately influence their former colleagues,” he stated (Source: https://youtu.be/zkgxUSN7AcM&t=877).

The proposed legislation responds to incidents highlighting the potential conflicts of interest within city governance. Specifically, Paladino referenced a situation involving Frank Corone, a former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams, who was allowed to begin lobbying city agencies shortly after leaving his position. “The day he left city government, he was legally permitted to lobby 99% of mayoral agencies,” Paladino remarked, framing the new bill as crucial for closing the “revolving door” that often enables former officials to exploit their connections inappropriately (Source: https://youtu.be/zkgxUSN7AcM&t=958).

The bill, as it stands, focuses primarily on those in senior positions within the mayor’s office, refining earlier proposals that initially aimed to capture a broader range of public servants. This adjustment followed feedback from various stakeholder groups, emphasizing the importance of targeting those with substantial power over policy decisions. “When we narrowed the bill, we ensured its impact on the most senior staff overseeing the city’s extensive workforce,” Paladino explained (Source: https://youtu.be/zkgxUSN7AcM&t=1979).

Additionally, council members underscored the need for transparency and accountability to restore public trust in local government amid ongoing scandals. The proposed regulations are seen as a pivotal step toward ensuring that public officials prioritize the public’s interests over special interests. “We can ensure that they are actually working to deliver for us rather than enriching themselves,” another council member asserted (Source: https://youtu.be/zkgxUSN7AcM&t=1049).

The council anticipates a rigorous discussion of the bill as it moves forward, with hopes of enacting it into law to enhance the integrity of city governance.