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To the editor:
Regarding Mayor Eric Adams’ crack down on overtime for NYPD, FDNY and two other NYC agencies following the alleged sex-for-OT affair: Leaders bear the burden of proof, and ethical governance requires understanding the difference between fiscal prudence and the decadence of gross mismanagement.
Gross mismanagement has severe consequences, whether due to deep-rooted organizational dysfunction, misinterpretations in jurisdictional staffing formulations, within contractual or statutory obligations, misuse of workforce resources, poor data integration or other factors. It leads to long-term neglect as disinvestment becomes insurmountably intertwined with managing government resource assets.
This waste accumulates as sunk failures, where costs can exponentially grow and last for decades, and within multiple government administrations, when expenditures are sustained without adequate purpose.
These failures in governance expose society to vulnerabilities as a backdraft of indifference is sustained within a societal decline. Moreover, haphazard leadership erodes public trust in the government's ability to operationalize a workforce in the service of its people.
To comply with the law, each administration must conduct due diligence and provide detailed empirical evidence of its operative budgetary prerequisites and their derivatives.
The absence of comprehensive measures within budgetary outlays is negligence.
Document your needs and maintain your records to measure your competency to serve the people. Present the facts clearly and concisely in detail and take every appropriate action to achieve positive outcomes. Remove the ambiguity within assumptions from your constituency and leaders.
Present truths to the clear signs of vicarious liability when they fail to take action for the betterment of society. The truths will be self-evident. A leader's actions to structure a sound government will be observed. American democracy will continue to prevail. In times of challenge, future leaders will rise. As they say, elections have consequences.
William D. Colón
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