Q&A
Selection of commission leadership and staff composition
0:59:33
·
124 sec
The discussion focuses on the selection of commission leadership and the composition of its staff.
- Professor Lane's suggestion that selecting prominent figures as leaders can attract more talented commissioners is discussed
- Susan Lerner from Common Cause New York acknowledges the value of Professor Lane's insight on this matter
- There's a discussion about capping the number of government staff working on the commission
- Susan Lerner suggests that government staff should not be the majority, recommending a cap of 30-40% to ensure outside balance
Lincoln Restler
0:59:33
I you know, others can disagree if you think I'm overstating it, but that's been my impression.
0:59:38
And I I've heard that from many central staff of the council too who I have a lot of respect for.
0:59:45
Susan, you mentioned the members of the commission selecting the chair.
0:59:49
And I will say I was really I found Professor Lane's suggestion noteworthy that In 88 89, the selection of Dick Rabbich and Fritz Schwartz as such towering figures actually brought more talent and more capable people of gravitas onto the commission.
1:00:09
Did that affect your thinking at all?
Susan Lerner
1:00:12
I I was definitely impressed by that.
1:00:13
This is not a hill I would die on necessarily because of Professor Lane's confidence.
1:00:19
He's had much more experience fighting through commissions first hand than I have.
1:00:25
So I would balance my comment in in light of his insight.
1:00:32
And again, that's a question of, frankly, judgment and who you pick.
1:00:36
So a lot of this is subjective.
Lincoln Restler
1:00:39
And you and referenced a cap on perhaps government staff that are working on the commission.
1:00:50
Any elaboration that you could make there?
Susan Lerner
1:00:52
So, you know, I I would not want to see a majority of staff members who are in existing positions.
1:01:01
So, yes, you want some expertise and some inside knowledge of how things work.
1:01:07
But they should not be the dominant voice.
1:01:09
You're going to need some outside balance.
1:01:12
And so I would you know, a cap is in the 30, 40%.
1:01:16
It's gotta be not a majority of the staff, to me.
1:01:22
Great.
1:01:23
And,
Lincoln Restler
1:01:25
you know, it's always helpful when Citizens Union and common calls are on the same page.
Christine Quinn
1:01:33
We agree.
Lincoln Restler
1:01:36
We we're happy to hear that.
