Lawmaker Drafting Bill to Block City Hall Staffers from Deals Involving Former Employers
Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler Seeks to Close Loophole in New York City Ethics Law
Brooklyn Council Member Lincoln Restler (D–Boerum Hill) wants to close a loophole in New York City ethics law, which he says permits powerful government staffers to work on projects related to their former private sector employers.
Reform Bill Prompted by I-Team Investigation
Restler is now drafting a reform bill prompted by the I-Team’s investigation into Nathan Bliss, a Chief of Staff under Mayor Eric Adams, who continues to have a financial relationship with his former employer, real estate developer Taconic Partners.
Bliss’ Financial Relationship with Taconic Raises Questions
Shortly after Bliss left Taconic in 2022 and took a job as the Chief of Staff to Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Taconic was officially selected for a deal to take over city-owned property that currently houses New York City’s public health laboratory. Restler said the timing and the financial relationship, first revealed by the I-Team, are troubling.
“In a situation where somebody had been working for a development company and now that development company is getting a sweetheart deal to re-develop public property, it raises a lot of questions,” Restler said. “Based on your reporting, it’s clear that we urgently need to close that loophole.”
New Legislation to Prohibit Former Employers from Doing Business with City Staffers
Restler said he would seek to introduce the reform legislation in the Spring.
“The intent of our legislation that we are drafting right now is to prohibit somebody who is entering city government from being able to work with their former employer, whether that be a real estate company or an entity that’s contracting with the city on technology issues, or other things, or is a lobbyist,” Restler explained.
City Lawmakers Examine Bliss’ Response to Inquiry
In the meantime, city lawmakers are examining Nathan Bliss’ response to a recent joint inquiry from the Council Oversight Committee and the Council Economic Development Committee.
Bliss’ Response Raises More Questions
Last month, those committees asked Bliss to report which New York City properties make up a Taconic real estate investment fund in which Bliss reported having a financial stake. Bliss declined to name which properties are in the fund – but did confirm four of the six addresses lie within the borders of Manhattan. The City Hall staffer insisted he has no financial interest in the city laboratory project known as “Innovation East.” Last year Taconic listed Bliss, a former employee of the firm, as a target of its lobbying efforts related to “Innovation East” and at least six other development projects.
Taconic’s Response
The I-Team asked a spokesperson for Taconic Partners whether the company ever contacted Bliss about any matter during his time in City Hall. That rep, Andy Merrill, confirmed the company has reached out to its former employee, but declined to say which projects or properties had been discussed. He also declined to specify which properties are in the Taconic investment fund.
Mayor’s Response
Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams, also declined to say which properties Bliss discussed with his former employer, but she confirmed the Chief of Staff has now formally distanced himself from Taconic.
City Council Votes to Approve Taconic’s Bid
Thursday, the City Council voted 48-0, approving Taconic’s bid to turn the publicly-owned health lab into private, commercial lab space. Construction on the property across the street from Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan would begin after the city-owned laboratory moves into a more modern facility in Harlem.
Conclusion
The proposed legislation aims to close a loophole in New York City ethics law, which permits powerful government staffers to work on projects related to their former private sector employers. The I-Team’s investigation into Nathan Bliss’ financial relationship with his former employer, Taconic Partners, has raised concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest and the need for greater transparency in government dealings.
FAQs
* What is the proposed legislation trying to achieve?
The proposed legislation aims to prohibit city staffers from working on projects related to their former employers, regardless of whether that be a real estate company, a technology firm, or a lobbyist.
* What is the issue with the current loophole in New York City ethics law?
The current loophole allows government staffers to work on projects related to their former private sector employers, potentially creating conflicts of interest and raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
* What is the I-Team’s investigation into Nathan Bliss’ financial relationship with Taconic Partners?
The I-Team’s investigation has revealed that Bliss, a Chief of Staff under Mayor Eric Adams, continues to have a financial relationship with his former employer, Taconic Partners, despite having left the company in 2022. The investigation has raised concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest and the need for greater transparency in government dealings.
