Gov. Cuomo's Ethics Reform Proposal Has Many Critics

Governor Andrew Cuomo, continuing a spree of infrastructure related initiatives, has proposed legislation that would expand his oversight of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

1 minute read

January 30, 2017, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Hudson River

EQRoy / Shutterstock

Ryan Hutchins reports:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is moving forward with an aggressive effort to expand his reach at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, proposing as part of his state budget a new inspector general of his own choosing, as well as new latitude for the governor to name commissioners to the agency’s board.

The legislation is part of a larger ethics reform bill that arises from procurement scandals that "ensnared several members of [the governor's] inner circle" as well as Bridgegate, according to Hutchins.

Critics of the plan, however, are concerned about granting Cuomo additional power over the Port Authority. In addition to critics in the New Jersey State Legislature, academics have also chimed in opposition to the proposal. Hutchins quotes Jameson Doig, a professor at Princeton University and author of Empire on the Hudson. In Doig's on words, the proposed legislation, is "worse than anything Christie has done…"

Sunday, January 29, 2017 in Politico New York

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9 - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation