In the wake of two corruption scandals in Boston’s City Hall, City Council President Andrea Campbell wants the city to create an office for an independent inspector general. Campbell envisions the inspector general as an office independent from both the mayor and the city council that investigates issues ranging from corruption to mismanagement and waste in the city budget.
“I want someone who is locally based who is not reactive, but who is proactive at looking at complaints related to waste, mismanagement corruption, you name it,” Campbell said during an interview with Boston Public Radio on Tuesday. “So, I put forth this idea, and I think it’s a good one.”
Campbell's call for an inspector general follows a tumultuous period for the Walsh administration. Earlier in the month, John Lynch, a former official at the Boston Development and Planning Agency, pleaded guilty to taking a $50,000 bribe. In July, two top aides to Walsh were convicted in federal court for conspiring to extort the organizers of the Boston Calling music festival. Though Walsh said he was “surprised and disappointed” at the verdict in the Boston Calling scandal, he denounced Lynch’s actions during a prior interview with Boston Public Radio. Campbell said Walsh is open to her proposal.
On Monday, Campbell filed an ordinance, and said it will be followed by a public hearing on whether the office should be created.
