New Haven Independent

In his State of the City speech Monday, DeStefano promised to drive a hard line on ethics reform, an area where the city has been noticeably lagging behind its state and federal counterparts. He promised to speed along revision of the city’s ethics ordinance to be up to speed with the state’s. He announced he’d require all department heads to sign an ethics pledge to “make sure there is never a revolving door of influence between the public and private sectors.”

For one year after leaving City Hall, city department heads would be prohibited from using their insider knowledge to lobby the city, according to the pledge.

(Click here to download the new ethics pledge.)

“It’s great to hear that we’re going to continue to do ethics reform,” responded Board of Aldermen President Goldfield upon hearing the mayor had retaken initiative on moving the issue forward. DeStefano’s proposal is “more demanding than even what we were considering.”

After giving his speech, DeStefano left the hall while the board proceeded with its regular meeting.

Dixwell Alderman Drew King, appearing in aldermanic chambers for the first time since his three arrests for allegedly choking a woman then twice violating a protective order charging him to keep away from her, stood up to make an apology.

“My deepest apologies for the incidents that occurred in December,” said the alderman, asking the mayor, his colleagues and members of the public for “forgiveness.”

King is currently in a drug rehab program, though he has denied he has used any drugs in the recent past. Other problems that arose since his arrest still linger. He was forced to pay back thousands of dollars in back-taxes after the city threatened foreclosure on one of his properties. Questions still remain as to the legality of a rooming house he claims is a sober house.

King didn’t mention any of the above in his brief speech Monday. What began as a possible resignation speech ended in resolve to put his run-ins with the law behind him and move on, retaining his public office.

“I have taken the necessary steps to ensure that [the incidents] do not happen again,” said King, referring to his December arrests.

Despite outcry among some members of the public, the mayor and Board of Aldermen President Carl Goldfield — whose political camp King joined during political infighting within the Democratic Party — have declined to call for King’s resignation, letting King deal with his problems on his own time.

“I want to thank you for being here in my corner. I love you,” ended King before sitting back down next to his colleagues in his aldermanic chair.