Openness needed regarding gifts
The goal of a strong policy regarding gifts to the city is not to squash charity or create endless hurdles to philanthropy. Rather, the goal is to strengthen public confidence in city government.
The best way to do that? Openness. That is what Colorado Common Cause and other advocates for open government are recommending. Many gifts, like food donations to the rec centers, are good for Denver. Indeed, we should encourage local businesses and community members to support city programs. The key is to establish regular reporting so the city of Denver can guarantee that its citizens will have full information about those gifts.
That is the same reason that an independent group (like the Board of Ethics) needs to give its blessing before anonymous gifts are accepted.
There may be reasons to keep the donor of a gift private. But without the Board of Ethics, on behalf of the citizens of Denver, weighing those reasons, there’s no way to know if the anonymity was primarily a way to avoid public scrutiny.
Denver has a strong ethics code, and a Board of Ethics that functions effectively to advise city officials and employees on questions they may have regarding that code. We encourage Mayor Hickenlooper to adopt a policy that will further the goal of open government.
This letter has not been edited.