It is time to create a properly funded and elected New York State Public Advocate post modeled after the existing New York City Public Advocate’s Office.
The New York City Public Advocate’s Office was created by statute in 1993. Its’ duties include introducing legislation, oversight of public agencies, investigation of citizen complaints and making of proposals. It is an elected citywide post that has a four year term and is via term limits restricted to two consecutive terms. Public Advocates exist around the country at the local and the state level in various forms and by different names; they are often known as Ombudsmen and are appointed posts. There are state level Ombudsmen in Hawaii, Nebraska, Alaska, Oregon, Iowa, Arizona and Puerto Rico.
The Ombudsmen at the local level include Boise, Minneapolis and Detroit, among others. Notably, the Ombudsman in Detroit has subpoena power.
Its time to create the (elected) Office of New York State Public Advocate, vested with subpoena power and protected from possible interference from other elected officials. This would make the New York State Public Advocate answerable to the electorate thru elections. There can be no argument of the importance of an independent set of eyes watching other public officials. Such an Office could be created several ways. The Governor can via Executive Order create the Public Advocate’s Office. The New York State Legislature can create the Office by statute. And, the matter could be put on the ballot for a citizen referendum at the next Statewide election in November 2018.
Ideally, the best way would be for the New York State Legislature to create a permanent Office by statute over the coming months and thereby open up the Office for public election next year during the regular election cycle for Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller and of course, the entire State Assembly and Senate. Let the public discussion for the need for a New York State Public Advocate begin
