It seems nobody serves in government these days out of a sense of civic virtue. We've seen this played out time and time again here in state and local government so we shouldn't be surprised or appalled when we see it repeated. Deron Kintner, the former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, has
joined local developer Flaherty & Collins in a newly-created position of general counsel following his departure from the mayor's office last month. One of the last projects Kintner supervised was the awarding of a $23 million subsidy paid out of the downtown TIF fund for a luxury high-rise apartment project on the site of the former Market Square Arena the City awarded to the firm he's now accepted a high-level job earlier this year. From the IBJ's Kathleen McLaughlin:
Kintner, 38, is a 2001 graduate of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He started work with the city in 2008 as executive director and general counsel of the bond bank before ascending to deputy mayor in 2012.
His move to Flaherty & Collins, however, is drawing skepticism from government watchdog Julia Vaughn, policy director of Common Cause/Indiana.
The city has agreed to contribute up to a $23 million subsidy for Flaherty & Collins’ $100 million, 28-story mixed-use skyscraper to be built on part of the former home of Market Square Arena. Kintner served on a five-member panel that unanimously recommended the developer’s proposal for the project to Mayor Greg Ballard.
The City-County Council in March approved a financing plan to fund the subsidy. Property taxes generated by the project would be used to repay the city's contribution.
“I think it’s way too close for comfort,” Vaughn said of Kintner’s joining the firm. “There should be a period of time before people leaving government service can jump into the private sector.”
State officials are required to wait at least a year before taking a job with a company they have regulated or whose contracts they oversaw, although a provision in state law for waivers allows some to circumvent the requirement.
At the local level, city officials have no time constraints prohibiting them from joining the private sector. But once they leave, they are restricted from representing someone in a matter involving the city or county if they personally participated in the matter while employed at the city, according to city code.
Kintner tries to soften the perception of his new job by claiming he won't participate in any projects he oversaw while working for the City. McLaughlin reminds us that former Ballard chief of staff, Paul Okeson, left his job to go to work for Ersal Ozdemir's company, which received most favored city contractor status in housing development projects, as well as a $6.5 million gift to build a parking garage in Broad Ripple. There are many more who've cashed in as well. When will the Justice Department do something about the rampant theft of public funds taking place here in Indianapolis. I highly encourage any corrupt pol anywhere in this country to relocate to Indianapolis. There is no better place in America to ply your trade than here. As long as you're shoving money into the right people's pockets, our corrupt prosecutors and law enforcement won't do a damn thing to you.
What you're seeing are people heading for lifeboats. DEpartures like this when they might be needed for a campaign suggest that Ballard is done.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I can file a fair hiring complaint over this hire? Was this job advertised? Were people of age, sex, race and disability fully considered?
Cosmopolitan arson. Insurance fraud investigators not too sharp. Fire Marshal and MCPO cover up. Ponder it all.
ReplyDeleteQuid-pro-quo
ReplyDeleteInteresting, isn't it? F & C gets millions from The City and the main City executive who brokered the $23M deal gets offered a lucrative position with F & C.
-"Nothing to see here...."
But we will prosecute some low level bureaucrat in Lincoln Plowman over a lousy $5,000 bribe.
ReplyDeleteI guess $23,000,000 which has a dirty appearance is not small enough.
Investigators knew immediately the Cosmopolitan fire was a professional arson job. Question is what was Carl Brizzi's reward for framing and locking up a crazy guy for months who lacked the means, motive or opportunity to commit the crime and allowing the statute of limitations to run without pursuing alternative leads. Shades of the Reggie Miller house fire on Geist written all over it. At least a sharp insurance fraud investigator kept that claim from being paid.
ReplyDeleteKitner can try to soften the impression of what he did but it does not work.
ReplyDeleteGive me a break... overt criminal corruption as sharp as a Noon sun on a cloudless day and this law firm tool thinks we are fooled?
All the rats are bailing the sinking, corrupt Ballard incumbency. The MCRCC is working its usually "move the pawn pieces" from the sinking ship.
Soon the Democrats will be ushered in (if the Conventional Wisdom proves accurate) and corruption under their banner will begin.
As for the Cosmopolitan... from the very moment news broke of the fire, and the apprehension of "the suspect"... I never believed one word of what the local stooge press reported nor of what City officials purported. The truth is understood, Mr. Brizzi. Which brings me to another crook....