Transparency has been law for years
Transparency has been law for years
Posted by Letters to the Editor April 14, 2009 4:29PMRe: “Subcontractors at the center of N.O. ethics issues, ” Page 1, April 12. Thanks to Michelle Krupa for her article highlighting issues related to subcontractors associated with public contracts. This is the reason that in September 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, the previous New Orleans City Council unanimously passed a strong transparency resolution, which I co-authored, clearly worded to assure that federal and state funds would be obtained and properly spent.
Specifically, Resolution R-05H provides that all entities receiving a contract from the city relating to rebuilding New Orleans furnish, by affidavit: the identities of all individuals and entities with a financial interest in the contract, including subcontractors, consultants, and finders fees paid or promised; and the ownership interest of all contractors and subcontractors, including any degree of ownership, no matter how minimal.
This resolution is still valid today, and when read together with provisions of the city charter granting the City Council authority to conduct investigations, it can be used as a powerful tool in avoiding subcontractor and other contracting abuses of public funds.
Eddie L. Sapir
Former member
City Council
New Orleans
