In The Spotlight: Public Integrity



State Integrity 2015

Arizona gets D grade in 2015 State Integrity Investigation

Scandals spur little change

By Evan Wyloge 12:01 am, November 9, 2015 Updated: 3:04 pm, November 13, 2015

Gaps in government transparency and accountability in Arizona over the past few years are not hard to find.
Read entire report here

Almost across the board, Arizona agencies consistently fail to follow key principles for “opening up” government data, which the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit watchdog group, circulated in 2010 as a policy prescription to make information “open and accessible to the public.”

 

 

Your MesaZona blogger, transplanted here in The New Urban DTMesa as a refugee from the New York City World Trade Center attacks after the world-shattering events called 911/September 11, 2001 is a PTSD survivor, now enjoying the great State of Arizona's political climate [we use cool air-conditioning to handle the weather].
It is a truly fertile state-of-mind to plow into in all directions, including politics on both the state and local levels and public integrity . . . so here we get into it.
"In late 2013, stacks of Child Protective Services files were found dumped in an alley in Phoenix, shedding light on an agency in meltdown. The 2014 Arizona elections saw unprecedented "dark money" spending, mostly going toward electing the governor and state utility regulators. And in early 2015, Arizona’s newly inaugurated governor, Doug Ducey, tried to establish a state inspector general, but failed after the plan was criticized harshly for creating a “secret police” that would operate with little transparency and answer only to the governor.
The Copper State ranked a little above average in a new State Integrity Investigation, a data-driven assessment of government accountability and transparency in all 50 states by the Center for Public Integrity and Global Integrity. Arizona received an overall score of 64 – a D grade – and ranked tied for 22nd among all the states."
The latest report card shows strength, particularly in relation to other states, in a couple of categories: judicial accountability, where Arizona ranks 2nd in the nation with a score of 77 (C+), and internal auditing, where the state tied for 4th with a score of 87 (B+).
But Arizona earned an F in six of the 13 categories, getting failing grades in lobbying oversight, pension management, ethics enforcement, executive accountability, civil service protections and access to information.
Almost across the board, Arizona agencies consistently fail to follow key principles for “opening up” government data, which the Sunlight Foundation, a nonprofit watchdog group, circulated in 2010 as a policy prescription to make information “open and accessible to the public.”
These include adherence to ideas like “primacy” — in which the government makes data available in its primary or most original form possible, with details on how that data was collected. That would apply to master files and raw data, not merely a summary file or descriptions of what is contained in that master file. This would enable the public to verify that the information was collected properly and recorded accurately.
Kathryn Marquoit, Arizona’s assistant ombudsman for public access, offers guidance and dispute resolution when there’s disagreement over how public records are being handled. She said original files fall squarely into the state’s public records laws.
“If a document exists, the public has a right to see the entire document or a redacted version,” she said. “I don’t think a summary is an acceptable substitute.”
Another common shortcoming involves data files that cannot be loaded into spreadsheet software, including “snapshot” versions of original spreadsheets captured in PDF files, which cannot be manipulated. Arizona agencies have expressed concern that data can be edited or altered if original data files are made available to the public.

 

 

 

 

The State Integrity Investigation is a comprehensive assessment of state government accountability and transparency done in partnership with Global Integrity.

Hey! Want A $20 Gourmey Coffee Gift Card To Answer A Survey?? That's How Much The City of Mesa Values Your Opinion

Economic Reporter Newsletter Survey
We are very interested in what you think about the City of Mesa’s Economic Reporter newsletter.
Your input is important to us.
When you complete this 5-minute survey, you will be entered to win one of four $20 gourmet coffee gift cards.
Thank you for your participation!
[Got this message in email yesterday from
michele.freed@mesaaz.gov via surveymonkey.com]

Do we want "A Quick Jab" for what's supposed to be an economic report - put out by Bill Jabjiniak, City of Mesa Office of Economic Development or do we want hard data?
On 06 April there was a post here on MesaZona that started with a question
Question: Instead of publishing hard economic data and infographics, analytics, construction and building permits, sales tax revenues, actual job growth and wage earnings, and residential and commercial real estate sales and investments, actions on RFPs, and building leases, what we get is one interview, a side bar for "Mesa In The News" and narratives in this newsletter

IN OTHER WORDS: Where's The Data?

Give 'Em Hell, Janet! Former AZ Governor, Head of DHS, Now Cleans Up Higher Education in California

In an article  yesterday that appeared in Pro Publica
by Charles Ornstein
ProPublica, May 2, 2016, 12 p.m
University of California Regent Violated Ethics Rules, Review Finds

A secret 2015 report found that a doctor on the UC board of regents tried to negotiate a deal between his eye clinics and UCLA, and engaged in discussions in which he had a financial interest. He denied wrongdoing but resigned as chair of the regents’ health committee.A March 2015 letter from Daniel M. Dooley, who was appointed by the UC to oversee the investigation of whistleblower complaints against De La Peña, summarized the findings of an outside investigator hired by UC. Dooley concluded that De La Peña violated the board’s conflict of interest rules and that his behavior “clearly constitutes an improper governmental activity.”
Copies of the letter, which was obtained by ProPublica, were sent for possible action to UC President Janet Napolitano and then-Regents Chairman Bruce D. Varner, but the findings were not made public.
In a May 10, 2015 letter to Napolitano and Varner released by UC, De La Peña strongly disputed the investigation’s findings. He said that it was UCLA itself that first raised the possibility of leasing space from his eye clinics. And he said he spoke to the university’s general counsel, Charles F. Robinson, and told him “I did not want to do anything that was wrong or inappropriate under UC’s policies.”
The findings on De La Peña come as the University of California is reeling from a string of scandals at its prestigious campuses.
Just last week, Napolitano placed UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi on investigative administrative leave amid “serious questions” about Katehi’s role in campus hiring and pay raises for her relatives, potential improper use of student fees and the hiring of consultants to downgrade online references to a 2011 incident in which a university police officer pepper sprayed students.
UC Berkeley has been buffeted by accusations that it hasn’t taken complaints of sexual harassment seriously, leading to the resignation of the law school dean, a prominent astronomy professor and an assistant men’s basketball coach. The campus’s provost, who was criticized for his handling of harassment complaints, also resigned last month.
And at UCLA, students and faculty have complained about the university’s decision to let a history professor continue teaching despite being accused of sexual harassment.
[Read more in the link at start of this post]Charles Ornstein

Charles Ornstein is a senior reporter for ProPublica covering health care and the pharmaceutical industry

NDO > Time For Another Time-Warp Here in Mesa?

Ah, The Game of Politics again . . . let's give it a musical treatment 
'Time Warp' Scene w/ Lyrics | The Rocky Horror Picture

Why has it become so hard to find leaders who will lead from the front, rather than following from behind?

That is just one of the topics Mike Bloomberg included in his commencement speech at The University of Michigan today.

Here's Your Degree. Now Go Defeat Demagogues.

By

Michael R. Bloomberg

The following are some well-intended excerpts with a reference to delays by the Mesa City Council to even consideration of a proposed Non-Discrimination Ordinance . The quotes are from an adaptation of an address to the University of Michigan’s class of 2016

533 views on Facebook

April 30, 2016 10:21 AM

"The most useful knowledge that you leave here with today has nothing to do with your major. It’s about how to study, cooperate, listen carefully, think critically and resolve conflicts through reason. Those are the most important skills in the working world, and it’s why colleges have always exposed students to challenging and uncomfortable ideas.

The fact that some university boards and administrations now bow to pressure and shield students from these ideas through “safe spaces,” “code words” and “trigger warnings” is, in my view, a terrible mistake.
The whole purpose of college is to learn how to deal with difficult situations -- not run away from them. A microaggression is exactly that: micro. And one of the most dangerous places on a college campus is a safe space, because it creates the false impression that we can insulate ourselves from those who hold different views . . .
We can’t do this, and we shouldn’t try -- not in politics or in the workplace. In the global economy, and in a democratic society, an open mind is the most valuable asset you can possess.
. . . over the past two centuries, . . . the promise of equal rights has spread across income, religion, race, gender and sexual orientation . . .
Democracy in action can actually produce a lot of inaction, which we see every day in Washington and other levels of government, too. When governments fail to address the needs of the people, voters in both parties get angry and some politicians exploit that anger by offering scapegoats instead of solutions.
If we want to stop demagogues, we have to start governing again, and that requires us to be more civil, to support politicians who have the courage to take risks."

Source: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-04-30/here-s-your-degree-now-go-defeat-demagogues

 

 

HUD MAKES MORE THAN $37 MILLION AVAILABLE TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

HUD No. 16-064                                                                                              FOR RELEASE

Elena Gaona                                                                                                     Monday

202-708-0685                                                                                                    May 2, 2016

http://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm

 

 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Julián Castro, Secretary

Office of Public Affairs, Washington, DC 20410

 

HUD MAKES MORE THAN $37 MILLION AVAILABLE

TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

Grants to support fair housing testing, education, enforcement activities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is making $37.3 million available to fight housing discrimination under HUD’s 2016 Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). This year’s three funding notices support a variety of important fair housing activities, including fair housing testing in the rental and sales market, public education efforts, capacity building, and education and outreach activities.

Each year, HUD makes funding available to support organizations interested in the enforcement of fair housing laws and policies as well as educating the public, housing providers, and local governments about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act.

“The work HUD’s fair housing partners do every day is critical to our efforts to ensure that every family in America has an equal shot at finding the home that is right for them,” said HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Gustavo Velasquez. “These grants help to provide the critical financial resources they need to do their work.”

The categories of grants announced today are:

·        Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI) – $7,450,000 available. HUD awards these to groups that educate the public and housing providers about their rights and responsibilities under federal law or state and local fair housing laws that are equivalent to the Fair Housing Act. This year’s funds include $1,250,000 toward a national media campaign; $250,000 toward tester coordinator training; and the rest for general regional, local and community based programs.

 

·        Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) – $500,000 available. HUD awards these to help build the capacity and effectiveness of non-profit fair housing organizations, particularly organizations that focus on the rights and needs of underserved groups, such as rural and immigrant populations.

 

·        Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) – Total PEI multi-year funding is $29,375,000. However, $22,452,542 has already been reserved for FY 2014 and FY 2015 multi-year grantees, making $6,922,458 available for FY2016 new awardees.  This year’s PEI funds also include $975,000 to address lending discrimination. 

 

Applicants who are interested in applying for funding under the NOFAs should go to www.Grants.gov and search for the three “FHIP” NOFAs, forms, instructions and other application material. Additional information can be found on HUD’s website at www.hud.gov, and here.

Applications must be received by June 23, 2016. 

 

People who believe they have been denied a reasonable accommodation request may file a complaint by contacting HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 927-9275 (TTY). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to www.hud.gov/fairhousing.  

    

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42-Page Report: The Next Generation of Healthy Communities.



Your MesaZona blogger is thrilled there's a one-hour webinar to help understand a somewhat dry and academic forty-two pages of dense language - the infographics are great!

Please join PolicyLink and The Kresge Foundation for a discussion of the post-recession housing challenges facing households in America, and the housing policy priorities that can address racial equity, health, climate, and economic opportunity outcomes.

Thu, May 5, 2016 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM MST
Go to register for this webinar right here
In release of the groundbreaking new report
Healthy Communities of Opportunity:
An Equity Blueprint
to Address America’s Housing Challenges, the webinar will feature David Fukuzawa from The Kresge Foundation, Kalima Rose and Teddy Kỳ-Nam Miller from PolicyLink and other national leaders focused on the next generation of healthy communities.

Equity Is...

Equity is just and fair inclusion into a society in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.