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Analysis: Elected Democrat P.G. Sittenfeld's conviction closes big chapter in 'culture of corruption' at City Hall
https://www.wvxu.org/politics/2022-07-13/analysis-sittenfeld-conviction-culture-of-corruption-cincinnati-city-hall
P.G. Sittenfeld's once-burning passion to climb up the ladder of politics is a heap of dust now, as the former Cincinnati councilman prepares for an inevitable prison sentence after his conviction last week on bribery and extortion charges.
He has no one to blame but himself.
He may have unwittingly ended Cincinnati City Hall's descent into a culture of corruption, greed and hubris that, for years now, has been eroding Cincinnatians' belief that they had an honest, above-board government at 801 Plum Street.
Sittenfeld's rude awakening last Friday in a federal court could be the cure to a sickness that has pervaded City Hall for too long.
It is a sickness that has forced Cincinnati voters to watch as three of the council members they elected — Sittenfeld, his fellow Democrat Tamaya Dennard and Republican Jeff Pastor — were arrested by FBI agents on public corruption charges.
"This is an extraordinary time for the city," said Jerry Newfarmer, a former Cincinnati city manager who runs a consulting firm for local governments.
"It is a time of great opportunities, with a new council and a new mayor who had nothing to do with the problems of the past," Newfarmer said.
David Niven, associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, said the new generation of leaders at City Hall will have Sittenfeld's situation to look to as an example of what an ambitious young politician should not do.
"P.G. is going to serve as an example," Niven said. "His example will serve as a 'scared straight' program for elected officials and developers who want to do business with the city. Everyone should know now where the line is drawn."
https://www.wvxu.org/politics/2022-07-13/analysis-sittenfeld-conviction-culture-of-corruption-cincinnati-city-hall
P.G. Sittenfeld's once-burning passion to climb up the ladder of politics is a heap of dust now, as the former Cincinnati councilman prepares for an inevitable prison sentence after his conviction last week on bribery and extortion charges.
He has no one to blame but himself.
He may have unwittingly ended Cincinnati City Hall's descent into a culture of corruption, greed and hubris that, for years now, has been eroding Cincinnatians' belief that they had an honest, above-board government at 801 Plum Street.
Sittenfeld's rude awakening last Friday in a federal court could be the cure to a sickness that has pervaded City Hall for too long.
It is a sickness that has forced Cincinnati voters to watch as three of the council members they elected — Sittenfeld, his fellow Democrat Tamaya Dennard and Republican Jeff Pastor — were arrested by FBI agents on public corruption charges.
"This is an extraordinary time for the city," said Jerry Newfarmer, a former Cincinnati city manager who runs a consulting firm for local governments.
"It is a time of great opportunities, with a new council and a new mayor who had nothing to do with the problems of the past," Newfarmer said.
David Niven, associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, said the new generation of leaders at City Hall will have Sittenfeld's situation to look to as an example of what an ambitious young politician should not do.
"P.G. is going to serve as an example," Niven said. "His example will serve as a 'scared straight' program for elected officials and developers who want to do business with the city. Everyone should know now where the line is drawn."
