Q&A
Restrictions on lobbying for commission members
1:01:39
·
112 sec
The discussion centers on the proposed restrictions on lobbying for commission members and the need for clear definitions.
- There's agreement on not having lobbyists on the commission
- Christine Quinn raises the question of how to define a lobbyist - whether it includes only those working for lobbying firms or also those registered as lobbyists for their companies
- Council Member Restler acknowledges the complexity of the issue, noting the difference between lobbying for a nonprofit versus a lobbying firm
- The importance of not painting restrictions with too broad a brush is emphasized
Professor Eric Lane
1:01:39
Can
Lincoln Restler
1:01:40
yeah, please.
Professor Eric Lane
1:01:42
I I
Christine Quinn
1:01:42
think the idea of of not having lobbyists is correct.
1:01:45
Though we need to, as I was making up a list of people who thought could be on the charter revision commission.
1:01:49
You we have to it would be useful to define, and I could argue both ways.
1:01:54
Are we talking about not having people who are, like, work for the, like, a lobbying firm, or if you work for a company, and they've made you register as a lobbyist.
1:02:05
Does that What?
1:02:06
Oh, you're you're you're me?
1:02:07
Get me too.
1:02:08
I kicked and screamed, and then they had the lawyers call and say, just stop it.
1:02:11
You have to register.
1:02:13
You're gonna get in trouble.
1:02:14
So just not for today, but for in the future where where we draw the line.
1:02:18
And you could draw it in either place, and I I think it would be fine.
1:02:21
But it gets confusing.
Lincoln Restler
1:02:23
No.
1:02:23
I think it's a good point.
1:02:24
And and we've been looking at legislation on this committee to restrict lobbying activity among senior government appointments in city hall elected officials upon their exit from government.
1:02:37
And some of my colleagues have raised with me the question, you know, if I go work in a nonprofit organization just like you have, speaker Quinn, and she you know, end up lobbying on behalf of that nonprofit.
1:02:47
That's very different than going to a lobbying firm.
1:02:49
And the restrictions that we would wanna impose on somebody who's doing advocacy for the homeless in speaking to colleagues their former colleagues in the council is very different.
1:02:58
Right?
1:02:58
And so it's important for us to not paint things in with too broader brush if we can avoid doing so.
1:03:03
I don't know that we figured out how to do that in the law just yet, but it
Susan Lerner
1:03:07
It's tricky.
1:03:08
It's tricky.
1:03:08
You spend a lot of time thinking about it.
1:03:10
Yeah.
1:03:10
Yeah.
Lincoln Restler
1:03:10
But we'll look at it.
1:03:11
So it's an important we appreciate the flag.
1:03:14
And just wondering, Ben, if you would elaborate a little further on some of your suggestions to improve transparency, you suggested clarifying that lobbying activity involving the commission is a reportable action.
1:03:29
Is that something you're recommending that we do in the legislation?
