Curbing Corruption

Posted by: Tim Halbur

2 September 2010 - 7:00am

Rick Cole, City Manager of Ventura, California, says the recent scandal over inflated city staff salaries in Bell could have been easily avoided with a few simple precautions.

Cole says that attempts at reform are missing the point.

He writes, "...we may see misguided 'reforms' duck the specific solutions to the real problem. Corruption is like cancer — it comes in different forms and is best curbed with specific treatments. Arbitrary new rules aimed at 'reforming' every city government would be a ridiculous over-reaction. It would only further hamstring the effectiveness of local government at a time when we need more efficiency, not less. The same goes for generic and toothless reforms that simply sound good."

Full Story: Receivership Logical Cure For Ill-Fated "Cities"

Source: Citiwire.net, September 1, 2010