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The New York City Council approved a bill Thursday to bar a select group of top city officials from lobbying city agencies for two years after they left office. government.
The bill, which passed 39 to 9, was inspired by Frank Carone, a former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams who started a for-profit consulting firm after when he left the City Hall.
The bill’s sponsor, Lincoln Restler, a progressive councilman from Brooklyn, said Mr. Carone should not have been able to immediately pursue the city employees he hired and managed. He said the bill would close the “Carone disaster.”
“This legislation closes the revolving door for the mayor’s most powerful staff,” Mr. Restler said. “This bill will strengthen integrity in our city government by ensuring that public servants prioritize the needs of New Yorkers, not line their own pockets. “
City law already barred former public officials like Mr. Carone from lobbying the mayor’s office directly for a year, but allowed them to appeal to the agency. another city. Former elected officials are also barred for two years from appearing before any agency in the city government department where they served.
The new rules prohibit top city officials, including the mayor’s chief of staff, chief counsel and communications director, from lobbying agencies. of the city for two years. The rules also prohibit the deputy mayor’s chief of staff from lobbying city agencies for one year.
Fabien Levy, the mayor’s deputy for communications for Mr. Adams, said in a statement that his administration had pushed for a broader version of the bill that would apply to those also a senior member of the City Council.
“It’s unfortunate that City Council staff and leaders are using their power to push ‘rules for you, not me,'” he said, adding that the Council held itself to the same standards. other “and did not have the opportunity to do so. giving “a better view of his government”.
Mr. Levy said the Adams administration “honestly discussed, agreed to the changes made by the Council to the senior leaders of our administration.” If Mr. Adams vetoes the bill, it appears that there is enough support among the deputies for the Council to override the veto.
The leaders of the Municipality work closely with the Mayor. During a press conference Thursday with Adrienne Adams, the president of the Council, Mr. Restler said he was confident the Council could override the veto with a two-thirds vote. required if necessary. He said that every time the Council went up against Mr. Adams, “we won every time.”
Mr. Restler said in response to Mr. Levy said lawmakers listened to ethics experts who said it’s better to focus on a narrow list of “the most powerful people in city government” rather than limit groups. wider people. employee.
Mr. Carone, who helps direct the mayoral election, declined to comment on the bill.
An electrician and lawyer in Brooklyn, Mr. Carone was a partner at the law firm Abrams Fensterman before serving as the mayor’s chief of staff during his first year in office. He then immediately started a consulting firm in 2023 and began working with two business titans, including one looking for a casino.
SL Green Realty Corporation, which bills itself as the city’s largest office owner, hired Mr. Carone to help with its proposal to build a Caesars Palace casino in Times Square, an effort that may require city support. Mr. Carone also represented the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, which often has business in front of the city and is a strong ally of the mayor.
