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Eight of the 11 commissioners of the Landmarks Preservation Commission are serving even though their terms are expired, potentially making them more vulnerable to political pressure. Yesterday the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation (formed back in May) filed a Writ of Mandamus petition (whatever the heck that is) before the Supreme Court of the State of New York to force Mayor Bloomberg to remedy this situation by reappointing or replacing those commissioners whose terms have expired. How big a problem do you think the lapsed appointments are in terms of creating a conflict of interest?
CECPP v. Bloomberg [Save LPC]
Preservation Group Sues Bloomie [Gothamist]


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. I didn’t think conflict of interest was the point of Wolfe’s piece, really impotence and/or castration was. And really the holdover issue plagues the governance of many authorities and commissions. It seems to be an organic problem in quasi-government arrangements peopled by non-proffesionals. It may get worse as government itself is dominated by rich people who buy their positions and then do it “for the good of the people”. Ron Lauder comes to mind.

  2. for those who didn’t read the wolfe op-ed, and as background to the question “How big a problem do you think the lapsed appointments are in terms of creating a conflict of interest,” the novelist’s argument is that hold-overs may lose their impartiality for fear that a vote contrary to the administration’s wishes may result in a sudden removal