Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today addressed delegates representing 26 international cities during the New York City Global Partners Summit “Public Integrity: Anti-Corruption Strategies, Economic Development and Good Governance” held at Fordham University School of Law. The Mayor discussed how public integrity and good governance are integral to strengthening democracy and ensuring economic competitiveness in global cities. His address was part of a two-day international summit, focusing on the age old problems of kickbacks, bribery and corruption and the work cities are doing to build their own independent integrity agencies. The summit was developed by New York City Global Partners, Inc. in cooperation with the New York City Department of Investigation. The Mayor was joined by Marjorie B. Tiven, Commissioner, New York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol and Treasurer, New York City Global Partners, Inc.; Rose Gill Hearn, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation; Professor Meyer Feldberg, President, New York City Global Partners, Inc.; and Ester R. Fuchs, Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science, Columbia University.

“In New York City, we’ve developed strong, independent public integrity measures and institutions to support our never ending work to prevent corruption and root it out wherever it appears,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Corruption victimizes everyone – business, government and society as a whole. Those governments that most effectively fight corruption will most effectively attract businesses – and most effectively promote the general good. As cities around the world grow larger, the importance of strong anti-corruption controls grows more imperative, and this conference is an excellent opportunity for those committed to public integrity to share ideas and best practices.”

The summit was attended by delegations from Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bangalore, Bangkok, Bogotá, Budapest, Caracas, Chicago, Córdoba, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Medellín, Mexico City, New York City, Panama City, Prishtina, Québec City, São Paulo, Seoul, Tokyo and Toronto. Delegates also represented the national government of South Africa, and the regional governments of Catalonia and Québec.

During the summit, attendees also heard from Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury; former New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch; Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; and government leaders from Caracas, Catalonia, Chicago, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Québec, South Africa, Toronto and the United States.

“Integrity is the heart and soul of good governance and is a value New York shares with great cities around the world,” said Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn. “We’re learning from each other’s best practices to combat corruption effectively and better serve the people who live and work in our cities.”

“Through Global Partners summits, New York City shares its expertise and learns valuable lessons from other great cities,” said Professor Meyer Feldberg, President of New York City Global Partners, Inc.

“As the world becomes more urbanized, cities must take the lead to solve problems that historically have been addressed at the national level,” said Commissioner Marjorie Tiven. “City officials are boldly addressing one of the most important challenges facing governments today.”

New York City Global Partners, Inc. represents the Bloomberg Administration’s international approach, connecting the City of New York with dozens of other world cities in active and substantive ways through innovative policy exchanges. Its programs include international summits, an online resource bank, and an online children’s program. Global Partners has convened 10 international summits on the most important public policy issues facing global cities. The Innovation Exchange, Global Partners online resource bank of best practices, features more than 100 reports from New York City and 31 international cities. Global Partners Junior, the project-based education program, connects New York City middle school children to their peers in cities around the globe through the internet. This year, they are working together on a curriculum focused on the global marketplace. Located in the office of the New York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol, New York City Global Partners is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more, visit www.nyc.gov.

The Department of Investigation (DOI) is New York City’s integrity agency with the mission of investigating and preventing and uncovering corruption, fraud and unethical conduct. Established in 1873 in the wake of the Boss Tweed scandal, DOI is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the country and refers for prosecution cases involving criminal activity. Its investigations may involve any agency, officer, elected official or employee of the City, as well as those who do business with or receive benefits from the City. The agency has a vibrant outreach program that includes corruption prevention lectures to the City workforce and an international visitors program in which DOI has shared its integrity-building principles with more than 80 countries.

Other Summit Speakers

Frank Anechiarico, Maynard-Knox Professor of Government and Law, Hamilton College

Richard Briffault, Vice Dean and Joseph P. Chamberlain Professor of Legislation, Columbia Law School

Joseph Ferguson, Inspector General, City of Chicago

David S. Ferriero, Archivist of the United States

Hans Groot, Head of the Integrity Bureau, Amsterdam

Patricia E. Harris, First Deputy Mayor of the City of New York

Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice

Leo Huberts, Professor in Public Administration, VU University Amsterdam 

Michael Johnston, Charles A. Dana Professor of Political Science, Colgate University

Robert Lafrenière, Commissioner, Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit for Québec

Antonio Ledezma, Mayor of Caracas 

Janet Leiper, Commissioner, Office of the Integrity Commissioner, Toronto

Michael M. Martin, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Law, Fordham University School of Law

Thuli Madonsela, Public Protector, South Africa

The Reverend Joseph M. McShane, S.J., President, Fordham University

Maria C. Mostajo, Assistant Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation

Victor Olds, Deputy Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation

Carles Quílez, Director of the Analysis Department, Anti-Fraud Office of Catalonia

Russell G. Pearce, Professor of Law, Edward & Marilyn Bellet Chair in Legal Ethics, Morality, and Religion, Fordham University School of Law

Swati Ramanathan, Co-Founder, I Paid A Bribe, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, Bangalore

Daniel C. Richman, Paul J. Kellner Professor of Law, Columbia Law School 

Tanja Santucci, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, Division for Treaty Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Joachim Schwanke, Director, Department of Internal Investigation, Hamburg

John J. Shanahan, Director of Training and Professional Development, Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong

David Shipley, Executive Editor, Bloomberg View

Eduardo Vetere, Vice-President, International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities