City Council to Vote on Ethics Ban on Campaign Contributions

City Council to Vote on Ethics Ban on Campaign Contributions

Apr 6, 2022

City Council to Vote on Ethics Ban on Campaign Contributions

 

On THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2022, join us at City Hall or online to support an ethics ban on campaign contributions from companies regulated or contracted by the City Council. Last week, the Council Utility Committee voted in favor of this ban after hearing from people across the city. Don't miss your opportunity to be heard on this important issue. 

Make your voice heard. Attend the meeting. Call, email or tweet your Councilmembers. Ask everyone you know in New Orleans to do the same. 
WHAT DOES THE PROPOSED ETHICS LAW PROHIBIT?  
“No Councilmember or candidate seeking the office of Councilmember shall accept or otherwise receive a campaign contribution or any other financial benefit of any value from:   
Any entity that provides an electric or gas utility, cable, telecommunications or technology service regulated by the City Council;   
Any political action committee, director or executive staff person of a corporation or entity regulated by the City Council;   
Any person, firm or entity with a professional service contract awarded by the City Council; or  
Any person, firm or entity with a professional service contract awarded by the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board."     

Click HERE to view the full text.  


HOW CAN YOU HELP? MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!   

Attend the City Council meeting and make a comment in support of the proposed ethics law. The meeting starts at 10:00 am on Thursday, April 7, 2022 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1300 Perdido Street. 

Submit a comment on the Council website.  Be sure to send your comment no later than 8:00AM, Thursday, April 7 so that it can be read at the meeting. Select agenda item "Regular 10. Cal. No. 33,367 - By: Councilmember Moreno."  To submit your comment to the Council Utility Committee, click here. 

BACKGROUND:
The Greater New Orleans Interfaith Climate Coalition and its partner organizations proposed an ordinance, a local law, to strengthen the City of New Orleans Code of Ethics to prohibit a campaign contribution or other financial benefit from a utility provider or other entity that is regulated or contracted by the New Orleans City Council. 

The passage of this ordinance is a necessary safeguard against the potential for undue influence on energy costs, climate policies, and other important issues handled by the Council that impact the daily lives of all New Orleanians. 

The Ethics Review Board unanimously voted in favor of the proposed ethics law. The Council Utility Committee also voted in favor after hearing from people across this city who support this law. Councilmember Helena Moreno is sponsoring it, and was recently joined by Councilmembers J.P. Morrell (At-Large), Joe Giarrusso (District A), and Freddie King (District C), as co-sponsors.

GNOICC proposed the ban on campaign contributions from companies regulated or contracted by the City Council, which was approved by the Ethics Review Board in August 2021. Councilmember Helena Moreno introduced the legislation in February that was voted on today by the Utility, Cable, Telecommunications, and Technology Committee of the City Council.
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