Mayor Johnson Outlines New Gift Policy After Critical Report from Inspector General
New Procedure Aimed at Increasing Transparency and Accountability
Mayor Brandon Johnson vowed Tuesday to shine the light on gifts the mayor has accepted “on behalf of the city” in hopes of putting to rest the controversy caused by his secretive handling of the items.
Background on the Controversy
Inspector General Deborah Witzburg has accused the mayor of accepting valuable gifts — including jewelry, alcohol, AirPods, designer handbags, and size-14 men’s shoes — and failing to report those gifts while denying internal investigators access to the room where the items are purportedly stored.
New Gift Handling Policy
Starting next week, logs of the gifts Johnson receives from visiting dignitaries and the public will be meticulously maintained and posted on the city’s website, along with a video of the “gift room” in the mayor’s City Hall office where those items are stored.
When the mayor receives a gift at a public appearance, the item will be brought back to City Hall immediately and documented in the public log.
Log and Gift List
The log or gift list will include a description of the item and the name of the person or organization that gave the gift. That includes “large pictures and works of art,” Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry said.
Requesting the Giver’s Name
Mayoral aides who receive gifts on the mayor’s behalf at public events will make it a point to request the giver’s name. If they don’t get a name, the donor will be categorized as “unknown” or “not knowable,” the corporation counsel said.
Perishable Items
Perishable items like food or flowers will be “re-distributed.”
Mayor’s Defense
Johnson defended his decision to deny internal investigators access to the gift room.
“You can’t just come to the 5th floor demanding to roam the 5th floor. The FBI can’t do that,” the mayor said.
Inspector General’s Response
Witzburg strongly disagreed.
“I read the law to be very clear on the obligation of city and elected officials to cooperate with” the Office of Inspector General, she said.
Conclusion
The new procedure outlined by Corporation Counsel Mary Richardson-Lowry is aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the handling of gifts received by the mayor. The mayor and the inspector general have differing opinions on the matter, but the new policy is a step in the right direction towards providing greater public access to information.
FAQs
Q: What is the new gift handling policy?
A: The new policy requires logs of gifts received by the mayor to be maintained and posted on the city’s website, along with a video of the “gift room” in the mayor’s City Hall office.
Q: What will happen to perishable items like food or flowers?
A: Perishable items will be “re-distributed.”
Q: Why is the mayor denying internal investigators access to the gift room?
A: The mayor claims that investigators cannot simply demand access to the room, citing the example of the FBI.
Q: What is the inspector general’s response to the mayor’s defense?
A: The inspector general disagrees with the mayor, stating that the law is clear on the obligation of city and elected officials to cooperate with the Office of Inspector General.