Ethics in local government means more than just obeying the law. In the words of Dr. King:
...ultimately, (we) must be obedient not merely to that which can be enforced by the law, but must rise to the majestic heights of being obedient to the unenforceable.
Our report emphasizes four essential ethics principles for Berkeley:
* Respect
* Trustworthiness
* Responsibility
* Fairness
The Institute for Local Government's (ILG) guide Understanding the Basics of Public Service Ethics - Promoting Personal and Organizational Ethics, links these principles to specific examples for local government employees and officials, primarily:
* Respect - I treat everyone with courtesy and respect, even when we disagree.
* Trustworthiness - I remember that my role is first and foremost to serve the community.
* Responsibility - I do not disclose confidential information without proper legal authorization; I disclose suspected instances of impropriety to the appropriate authorities, but I never make false charges or charges for political or professional advantage.
* Fairness - I support merit-based processes for the award of public employment and public contracts; I promote equality and treat all people equitably.
The City's highest priority should be training supervisors and making existing guidance and reporting more transparent and readily available. We found that even when whistleblower hotlines are in place, most employees turn to their own supervisors, or the supervisor's boss, with complaints and requests for ethical advice.
We believe that swift action on our recommendations will help Berkeley rise to new heights.
