Corruption

The San Pedro River where it passes through Saint David, south of Benson, Arizona.

House Natural Resources Committee Reveals Bribes in Trump’s Interior Department

Evidence of a 2017 quid pro quo for development permits connected to a massive master planned community proposed in the Arizona desert led the House Natural Resources Committee to take unprecedented action in 2022.

May 15, 2022 - Yahoo News

Winter Construction in the City

Corruption Case and a Call for Reform: Aldermanic Privilege Under Scrutiny in Chicago

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is once again pushing to eliminate aldermanic privilege after a federal racketeering case ensnarled local and state elected officials.

March 7, 2022 - Chicago Sun-Times

The exterior of Cincinnati City Hall on a sunny day.

Cincinnati Ends Political Contributions by Developers in Response to Corruption Spree

Corruption is a common companion to the development approvals process—Cincinnati is no exception. But Cincinnati is attempting a new approach to conflicts of interest.

October 31, 2021 - WTOP

Downtown Los Angeles

Op-Ed: It’s Long Past Time for Planning Reform in L.A.

Another corruption scandal involving a Los Angeles city councilmember highlights the urgent need for major planning changes in the city.

October 19, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Las Vegas Golf

Las Vegas Golf Course With a History of Development Controversy Cleared for Houses

A golf course formerly owned by "legendary sports bettor-turned-convicted insider trader" Billy Walters finally has the residential zoning that created so much controversy in the past.

October 19, 2020 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

City Hall

Has The Moment Arrived To End Political Interference in L.A. City's Land Use Decisions?

Writing under the nom de plume of the ghost of Ed Logue, an L.A.-based land use professional offers this modest proposal for eliminating political interference and campaign cash from L.A. city planning.

September 14, 2020 - The Planning Report

Los Angeles City Hall

Keeping Bees Away from Honey? Corruption Cases Expose Flaws in L.A. City’s Land Entitlement Process

Three former Los Angeles public officials share their collective perspective on how best to reform the city of Los Angeles' corrupted land use approval process.

September 8, 2020 - The Planning Report

Los Angeles, California

L.A. Officials Wrestle With Future of Projects Approved in Corruption Case

Some high-profile projects, including a 77-story tower, hang in the balance of a federal corruption case, but it's unclear whether Los Angeles can undo the approvals, whether they were achieved through bribes or not.

July 30, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

A photo of protesters on the front lawn of the Ohio Statehouse during the State of the Union speech by Governer Kasich.

Ohio House Speaker Arrested on Bribery Charges Connected to $1 Billion Nuclear Industry Bailout

A bombshell in Ohio, as the FBI arrested Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four colleagues on bribery charges connected with a $1 billion bailout for the state's nuclear industry.

July 22, 2020 - The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio

More City Councilmembers Arrested on Corruption Charges—This Time in Toledo

Four members of the Toledo City Council were arrested this week, accused of accepting bribes and extortion. The arrests follow similar events in Los Angeles earlier this month.

July 1, 2020 - The Blade

Los Angeles Grand Park

L.A. City Councilmember Arrested, to Face Charges in Development Corruption Scheme

Longtime City Councilmember Jose Huizar was arrested at his home in Boyle Heights this morning, in the latest signal of a culture of corruption at Los Angeles City Hall.

June 23, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Brutalism

Bribery Scandal Leads to Zoning Board Reforms in Boston

The planning approvals process took a black eye in Boston last year, when a bribery scandal sent a Boston Planning and Development Agency staffer to jail.

February 25, 2020 - The Boston Globe

Los Angeles River

Concrete’s Contribution to the Rise and Decline of Civilization

As the world becomes more encased in concrete, the detrimental effects of its widespread use are increasing in scale and severity.

March 17, 2019 - The Guardian

Wilshire Grand

Corruption Investigations Sullies L.A.'s Downtown Development Success Story

Bombshell revelations about an FBI investigation into corruption and conspiracy in Los Angeles City Hall made the news recently. At the center of the story is development financing from Chinese companies.

January 16, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles City Hall

L.A. Developer Caught Making Illegal Campaign Donations

Developer Samuel Leung is facing shocking counts of conspiracy, money laundering, and bribery.

February 27, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

NJ Transit

Accusations of Patronage, Incompetence at NJ Transit

A fired employee of NJ Transit has raised some alarming allegations as he departs the agency—going so far as to say he wouldn't ride the system.

August 30, 2017 - Politico

Birds Eye View of the George Washington Bridge

Bridgegate Implications for New Jersey and Beyond

In The New York Times Sunday Review, Matt Katz, a political reporter for WNYC and New Jersey Public Radio, gives an update on the federal trial for 'Bridgegate' and also paints a bleak picture for New Jersey, and maybe the United States.

October 3, 2016 - The New York Times - Sunday Review

New York State Capitol

Corruption Charges Sully Economic Development Scheme in Upstate New York

Though he was elected while promising to clean up corruption in the state government, recent corruption charges are hitting New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's inner circle.

September 25, 2016 - Politico New York

Corruption Investigation Rocks San Francisco City Hall

Corruption charges tainted the San Francisco political ranks this week, with implications of corruption and bribery in the land use and construction process, among other charges, reaching the Mayor's Office and many others.

August 8, 2015 - San Francisco Examiner

How Corruption Determines Budgets

Liz Farmer and Kevin Tidmarsh share news of a study in the Public Administration Review finding that higher instances of corruption correlate with more spending in the policy areas more likely to line the pockets of corrupt officials.

June 12, 2014 - Governing

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