BARRIERS TO ESTABLISHING URBAN OMBUDSMEN - THE CASE OF NEWARK

• NCJ Number: 15340
• Author(s): W B GWYN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 107 pages
• Grant Number(s): CG-9041
• Sponsoring Agency: US Executive Office of the President
• Corporate Author: University of California, Berkeley
• Sale Source: University of California, Berkeley
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A MONOGRAPH WHICH DETAILS THE EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH AN OMBUDSMAN IN NEWARK, OUTLINES THE REASONS FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS EFFORT, AND PROVIDES INFORMATION THAT COULD IMPROVE CHANCES OF ESTABLISHING OMBUDSMEN ELSEWHERE.

Abstract

THE EVOLUTION OF THE NEWARK OMBUDSMAN PROPOSAL FROM THE JULY 1967 RIOTS TO THE DRAFTING OF THE OMBUDSMAN ORDINANCE IN 1972 IS TRACED. THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THE NEWARK MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ARE ALSO OUTLINED. THREE VIEWS ON THE REASONS FOR THE FAILURE TO ESTABLISH THE OFFICE ARE PRESENTED. A NUMBER OF FACTORS WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE ARE LISTED AND EACH IS FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF DISCUSSION. THESE REASONS INCLUDE THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK, THE LEVEL OF THE MAYOR'S COMMITMENT, THE MAYOR-COUNCIL CONFLICT, ACKWARD TIMING, LACK OF MASS SUPPORT, LACK OF INTEREST GROUP SUPPORT, AND THE FAILURE TO INVOLVE COUNCILMEN.