We’ve seen how state government can implode when the bodies designed to oversee the conduct of lawmakers and the governor are either designed to fail, or have serious conflicts of interest. It’s why New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, when taking office earlier this year, promised to make ethics and transparency hallmarks of her tenure.
But Hochul can only do so much until the laws around issues like choosing an inspector general are reformed — something which may happen sooner rather than later. There are now bills in the Legislature to change who the inspector general reports to (currently, it’s the secretary to the governor), the length of his or her term and how the position is appointed.
As it stands, the governor picks the state’s inspector general — an expansive role that has jurisdiction over all the executive branch agencies, departments, commissions and authorities in the state. The IG is also responsible for monitoring big infrastructure projects. As of June, the IG's portfolio also includes overseeing the gaming and horse racing industry.
New York’s new inspector general, Lucy Lang, is an author, educator and former Manhattan assistant district attorney. She was tapped by Gov. Hochul for the position in October, about a month after former Inspector General Letizia Tagliafierro resigned.
Tagliafierro had worked for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in multiple capacities before being selected for the role of IG.
Because of her relationship with the governor, Tagliafierro recused herself after the IG was asked to investigate the report of a leaked discussion by the commissioners of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) related to Cuomo-ally Joe Percoco.
One of the JCOPE commissioners at the time, Julie Garcia, was told that Cuomo was unhappy with her support for an investigation by JCOPE into Percoco — something that was supposed to be a secret. Ultimately, the IG's office found nothing to Garcia’s allegation, a decision which prompted her to resign.
The attorney general’s office has since been asked to look into the leak.
When Lucy Lang was asked how she would change the culture at the office of the inspector general, she told Capital Tonight that she would codify conflict of interest policies.
“The office has a rigorous conflict of interest policy which I am working to reinforce,” Lang said. “Every one of the between 5k and 10k complaints that comes into this office annually is accessed for conflicts of interest and people are recused as necessary. I intend to codify that policy.”
Lang also promises that people who are “walled off” from cases will have no contact with matters before the office.
“If there is a case that came before the office in which the entirety of the office had to be recused, then the entire matter would be handed off to another agency like the attorney general’s office or a local law enforcement authority,” Lang continued.
The inspector general’s office will also oversee agency compliance with Gov. Hochul's transparency orders.
“The agencies have all been asked to provide comprehensive transparency plans,” Lang said.
According to Lang, the IG's office is also working diligently to ensure that it is in compliance with the highest possible standards of transparency. Her office’s efforts have included publishing previously unpublished letters, public reports, and building, for the first time ever, according to Lang, a public-facing social media portfolio on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
“We are also encouraging the public to use those venues to bring complaints into the office,” Lang said.
Additionally, Lang stated that her office is working on updating its own website to include an organizational chart where the public may find the names and titles of top deputies and operating units.