May 9, 2003

DON'T GIVE UP THE DAY JOB.

By James Eugene*

Council Member James Oddo has introduced a bill that would require New York Council Members to hold their Council positions full-time. I have a two-word reaction: spare me.

Oddo is not the first and he will not be the last to make this superficial proposal. One of the leading proponents, for years, of such a move is that so-called "good government" group the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). The fact that NYPIRG supports anything is reason for me to support the opposite. In truth, NYPIRG represents no one but themselves (a small cabal of people who if they could make it as government bureaucrats would actually be in government, but their miniscule understanding of government makes it so that no respected government agency would ever think of hiring them).

But now I want to make my own proposal. I want to require Council Members to have another job. And not just any job. A government job is out of the question (too much potential for a conflict and a cozy job to boot). A not-for-profit sector job is mostly out of the question. I say that because a good chunk of non-profits have a government contract and therefore, due to the government connection, I would not let a Council Member work for them either. However, if the non-profit is non-political and has no government contract, the Council Member could work for them (trust me, there are not many such non-profits out there). But the preferable choice would be working for a for-profit company, and if it is a small business, even better.

Why a for-profit company? I want Council Members to feel the pressure of working for an entity for which profit is key. I want Council Members to feel the concern of their employer when taxes go up and the company must decide how it is going to cut back (will the Council Member lose their job?). I want Council Members not to be in control of their own salary, but to have someone else decide if the money is available for a raise and then whether the Council Member deserves a raise. I want them to have real feedback from a superior who will tell them what their performance is like; not a situation where re-election is a given due to party bosses and deals.

I want Council Members who only get the feedback of daily living from a second hand source (i.e., a constituent, a family member, or a friend) to have that experience of life from which they are all too often immune. It would be best if the Council Members had to start their own business (as long as their business cannot get government contracts), but this might be too much (even for an entrepreneur) so I am only requiring them just to get a private sector job.

Now I must confess, Council Members have limited perquisites ("perks") but they do have some. So for this next point, I want to go higher up the food chain as well. Any money spent on perks for our state and Federal legislators, I want that money redistributed to the legislators as salary. I'll give them the pay increase, but then they must pay for what used to be a perk. Haircuts free for your Congressman… not anymore, pay the $10 and tip the guy nice. Free parking at the airport. Natch, pay the long-term parking rate now. Transportation and housing per diems, gone, make the choice of housing you want to make, but it comes out of your pocket. Free City Hall parking, take the salary hike, but pay the $30 at the garage and realize the City has a pretty stiff tax for parking.

In the end, changing perks for salaries does not financially damage the legislators, but it forces them to live life. And that is what I am trying to do here: force legislators to lose the shelter that their jobs provide because the world deems them very important people. Forcing legislators to get a job reinforces their exposure to the "real" world.

Economically, eliminating the perks probably helps the legislators. They get more salary and now can make choices about their life-style that will financial benefit them (for example, they can take the subway for $4.00 instead of driving in and save $26). But I am willing to give them that vigorish.

I want the legislator to experience what I experience. I want the legislator to ride the subways, pay for parking, feel the private sector pressure, pay for the things we pay, and feel the job pressures we feel. I want them to feel that because when they examine so much of City, State and national life, they do so in a vacuum. I want them out of that vacuum; I want them feeling the pressure. Some may start their political life remembering this pressure from their previous job, but as time goes by, they lose touch. I want them back in touch; I want them to "get it."

Make Council Members work their elected office as a "full-time job." Pah. Just another move to isolate a group that needs more exposure to life. Forget Oddo's bill. I want all City, State and Federal legislators to get another job. I want their perks gone. Then I bet we will see a real improvement in our legislatures.

I think that our local leaders need to enunciate better why they are asking for tax increases and why certain taxes were chosen. I think there should be a joint address by Bruno and Silver on TV statewide to do this. Bloomberg should do the same citywide.

The public needs to hear the explanation of what would be cut... it all comes out in generalities in the press or in sensational specifics. I prefer the direct approach.

* James Eugene is the pseudonym of a veteran of NYC government affairs. Inside The Big Apple will appear exclusively on the Empire Page. If you want to send tips or column ideas to James Eugene, email them to jameseugene@empirepage.com.