Why not abolish the office of Public Advocate?

Penner's Pen blog

BY LARRY PENNER

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:33 AM EDT

Mayor Bloomberg, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council members were correct in cutting the budget for Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum's office. NYC survived for decades prior to the creation of this office after abolishment of the City Council President. Now Ms. Gotbaum in a child-like temper tantrum says she will no longer serve as presiding officer at NYC Council sessions. With all due respect, who cares? In her role as presiding officer of this legislative body (whose own mediocre record primarily consists in passing useless resolutions honoring out of town dignitaries, holidays or naming streets after dead people; sponsoring pork barrel member item projects or other legislation infringing on our economic and civil liberties), she has historically had no impact. No one will miss her.

Most public opinion polls indicate little use for the Public Advocate. Many taxpayers would support abolishment of this office. The NYC Comptroller, City Council Speaker, Councilmembers along with Borough Presidents and municipal agencies have full time staff dedicated to performing the very same functions as the Public Advocate.

Ms Gotbaum during her eight years in public office failed to investigate the NYC Council multimillion dollar scandal concerning member item pork barrel project spending. In 2006 -- she had her own scandal as yet another public official using their office driver, car and security detail for personal errands and visits. Ms. Gotbaum joined former State Assembly members Brian McLaughlin and most recently Anthony Seminario along with State Comptroller Alan Hevesi to the list of elected public officials who have abused the power of their office. This incident confirms why taxpayers would be better off if the Public Advocate was abolished. Any ordinary NYC municipal employee using a City vehicle on public time for personal business as Ms. Gotbaum has done would be fired. Even worse, Ms. Gotbaum continues to have her own police security detail at taxpayers expense. I really doubt that she is the target of any terrorist group. Our police department has more pressing priorities then serving as her chaperon. Millions of New Yorkers go to and from work and shopping on a daily basis by public mass transportation. Is Ms. Gotbaum so arrogant that she doesn't ride the subway, like everyone else? Just like many NYC Council member colleagues, she probably has never purchased a Metro Card or doesn't know how to use one. Who among the Democratic candidates Bill deBlasio, Eric Gioia, Mark Green and Norman Siegel along with Republican Alex Zablockii running to succeed Gotbaum will agree to give up their personal police security detail and city car along with committing to use public transit when traveling around town?

NYC has a municipal budget of $60 billion dollars with over 220,000 employees. This is greater than many states and nations. Ms. Gotbaum has never built a business, balanced a budget, created jobs, met a payroll or managed any significant agencies with large numbers of employees. No wonder her dreams of running for Mayor never got off the ground. She had no qualifications to manage the second toughest job in America. Thank goodness term limits will force her out of both chauffeured limousine and public office in December. Don't worry, she will live comfortably ever after on her fat municipal pension. Ms. Gotbaum's waste of taxpayers funds is only exceeded by her own perceived self value and personal ego!

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Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of queenscourier.com.

Matthew Mittenthal Assistant Press Secretary to Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum wrote on Jul 9, 2009 12:08 PM:

" One can have legitimate arguments about whether the office should exist - and even whether Public Advocate Gotbaum has been effective in her two terms - without introducing misinformation. It's not true, for example, that she has had no impact (our ombuds department alone helps tens of thousands of NY residents a year). And it's not up to Ms. Gotbaum whether she uses a police security detail; nor is it true that she has never managed a significant agency (as commissioner of the Parks Department she managed well over 4,000 employees). Here is a link to the Public Advocate’s bio: http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/page /betsy_bio.html

There are several other examples of inaccurate, mean-spirited personal attacks in this piece--like the allegation that Ms. Gotbaum, a lifelong public servant and native New Yorker, has never used a Metrocard. In the future, it might be useful to review an individual’s background – and a brief history of New York City politics – before smearing a public official on your internet blog. "

M DeMarco wrote on Nov 2, 2009 2:25 PM:

" I myself do not know if I support the continuation of the Public Advocate's office. That's why I'm reading on the topic on blogs like yours.

The unfortunate thing is, you've provided me with nothing useful to help me make a decision. What does she make per year? How many staff does she oversee? Is she able to dispense any discretionary money? Who are her main supporters?

I understand that histrionics make for easier writing, but please-- more research, better info. This isn't journalism, it's a temper tantrum. "