ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) — An independent investigation into the Reimagining Public Safety Working Group has ended.
Allegations of a conflict of interest were leveled against former Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick over the involvement of the People for the American Way, a group Myrick was already working for part-time.
The investigation concluded Myrick did not breach the city’s ethics code nor was there any conflict of interest.
In a statement Thursday evening following the release of the report, the former mayor of Ithaca pointed his finger at Tompkins County Legislator Rich John, accusing him of a conflict of interest in an ethics probe.
Myrick says e-mails acquired through the Freedom of Information Act showed John had a big hand in drafting the ethics complaint against the former mayor, which was filed earlier this year. That investigation is ongoing.
John is chair of the Tompkins County Ethics Advisory Board, who offered the following statement to WHCU.
“Contrary to the former Mayor’s accusation, I had no hand in drafting or supporting Alderperson Brock’s ethics complaint. It was her decision alone. While there was significant public conversation regarding Reimagining before the ethics complaint was submitted, as soon as Brock made her intentions to file known I ceased all communications on this topic with her and referred her to the County Attorney. My role as a Legislator and Chair of the Ethics Advisory Board is to consider complaints brought forth which I believe we have done, and will continue to do, with integrity.”
Myrick is calling for an end to Tompkins County’s ethics investigation, calling the process “tainted.”
Meantime, Ithaca Mayor-elect Laura Lewis says the end of the independent investigation of the Reimagining Public Safety process means setting new goals for her year at City Hall.
Lewis is proposing defining who a city official is when participating in ad hoc committees and revising the city’s gifting and solicitation policy for accepting donated services. Those proposals will be introduced to the Common Council at a later date.
Lewis says the allegations failed to scuttle reimagining public safety, and she’s looking forward to continuing that work in 2023.
