City Council Names Legislative Inspector General
By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 10, 2011 5:40PM
Chicago aldermen, who have been long resistant to having a watchdog to monitor them, named Faisal Khan as City Council's first legislative inspector general. The announcement concludes an 18-month search.
Khan's resume includes a stint as inspector general for the New York City Department of Investigation where, among other things:
"(Conducted) confidential investigations for New York City against all persons and/or entities engaged in business for and with the City for the purpose of eliminating corrupt or criminal activity, conflicts of interest, unethical conduct, misconduct, and incompetence; conducted extensive legal research of federal, state and local criminal, civil, and administrative codes and laws for compliance purposes; issued and assisted in instituting policy and procedure rules; designed, reviewed implemented, and supported anti-corruption compliance programs; assisted agencies with internal anti-corruption programs and pending investigations; conducted anti-corruption lectures for all City personnel as well as represent compliance at agency and government institutions; prepared and presented statistical reports which analyze statistics and trends of improper activity, and implemented proactive investigations and measures to combat against impropriety; acted as liaison with federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies, community organizations and citizens.
City Council voted last May to appoint their own inspector general; City IG Joseph Ferguson may legally only conduct investigations on the mayor's administration. There are also some questions as to the effectiveness of a legislative inspector general. Once Khan is officially appointed, he must receive approval to investigate an alderman with the City's Board of Ethics, which has turned a blind eye never found evidence of wrongdoing by an alderman. This despite 31 aldermen having been sent to prison since the 1970s.
33rd Ward Ald. Dick Mell, chair of City Council's Rules Committee, insisted Khan would have the necessary tools for the job with no interference from aldermen.
“You’ll be very surprised by him. He’ll be a very independent inspector general,” Mell said after introducing Khan’s appointment at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.“Let me tell you. [Milton] Rakove’s got a book, Don’t Send Nobody Nobody Sent. This is nobody nobody sent. Believe me. Nobody knows this guy,” Mell said.