Ethics in need of some gravitas

An Inquirer piece today calls on John Street to buttress his Ethics Board to help restore public faith in government.

When it comes to advancing ethics reforms, Street suddenly has accepted the role of a tired and broken leader, shirking the responsibility to restore public confidence in his office. He has conceded that he just couldn't get City Council to pass legislation that would allow voters to decide whether an independent Ethics Board should be created. He obviously felt otherwise when it came to getting Council's support for his Neighborhood Transformation Initiative and the Safe Streets program.

The interim board is still working with almost no staff, little funds, and wobbly credibility. With all the recent scandals, the city deserves better.