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New York’s City Council passed a bill to limit top city officials from lobbying city agencies after leaving government. It was inspired by Frank Carone, an adviser to Mayor Eric Adams.
Jan. 23, 2025Updated 3:57 p.m. ET
The New York City Council approved a bill on Thursday to bar a select group of top city officials from lobbying city agencies for two years after they leave government.
The bill, which passed 39 to 9, was inspired by Frank Carone, a former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams who started a lucrative consulting business after leaving City Hall.
The bill’s sponsor, Lincoln Restler, a progressive councilman from Brooklyn, said that Mr. Carone should not have been able to immediately seek to influence the city staff members whom he had hired and once managed. He said the bill would close the “Carone loophole.”
“This legislation slams the revolving door shut for the mayor’s most powerful staff,” Mr. Restler said. “This bill will strengthen integrity in our city government by ensuring that public servants are prioritizing the needs of New Yorkers, not preparing to line their own pockets.”
City law had already prohibited some former city officials like Mr. Carone from directly lobbying the mayor’s office for one year, but allowed them to lobby other city agencies. Former elected officials are also barred for two years from appearing before any agency in the branch of city government where they served.
The new rules bar several top city officials, including the mayor’s chief of staff, chief counsel and communications director, from lobbying any city agency for two years. The rules also prohibit the chiefs of staff to deputy mayors from lobbying city agencies for one year.
