Thanks to a “heads-up” from at least one Kenner City
Councilman, Mayor Mike Yenni narrowly avoided running afoul of state ethics
laws by giving City Council members a gift from a company that received public
funds.
To celebrate the opening of The Grand 14 Multiplex in the
Esplanade Mall, the Mayor received a stack of tickets for “Construction Workers
and their families” to enjoy a free movie and popcorn at the theater.
Mayor Yenni, obviously ignorant of the state’s ethics laws
banning gifts of any monetary value from companies that have received public
funding, among other things, decided to bestow some of these tickets on Kenner
City Council members.It is not known what Mayor Yenni did with the rest of the free tickets.
Some members, realizing the ethics faux pas, didn’t use the
tickets. At least one, called the state ethics board to check before he
accepted the tickets.
The ethics board noted the potential violation.
In a hasty email, Mayor Yenni said that the discrepancy was
found “by a city attorney” and advised the council to not use or distribute the
tickets.
A close call for a Mayor who frequently skirts the spirit
and intent of ethics laws and has used tens of thousands of campaign dollars to
finance his own lifestyle.
The good news is that Mayor Yenni didn't spend any of his campaign dollars on these gifts to the Council. The campaign dollars are reserved for gifts for his family members.
The good news is that Mayor Yenni didn't spend any of his campaign dollars on these gifts to the Council. The campaign dollars are reserved for gifts for his family members.
To commemorate Mayor Yenni not violating the state ethics
law, he has called for a parade to be held and decreed that Christmas Day in Kenner will henceforth be known as "Not Breaking State Ethics Law Day".
