It's official: You can be a reckless public official and nothing will be done

The fellow-council members of embattled city councilman Charlie San Miguel lamented that there was nothing they could to do because, according to them, San Miguel had not done anything that would merit him being removed.

 

For starters, they could have each publicly called for his resignation-which they did not do.  Sure, they chastised him in public but obviously condone his behavior. Instead of following the lead of VIDA in asking for his resignation, they simply scolded him and did not even give him a slap on the hand.

 

Let it be known, that on the current city council, it is therefore OK to be reckless and nothing will happen to you as  a result.

 

The newly-adopted City of Laredo's Code of Ethics ( which at present is but a joke along with the city charter) defines "recklessly" as follows.

 

Acting with reckless abandon at city council

 

 

(bb) Recklessly. A person acts recklessly, or

IS reckless, with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct or the result of his conduct when he is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur.

 

The risk must be of such a nature and degree that its disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the actor's standpoint.