Blowing the whistle now a bit safer

A bill aimed at protecting municipal workers who call out government malfeasance won approval in the New York City Council on Thursday.

The bill, sponsored by Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres, would require the city’s chief lawyer, the corporation counsel, to probe allegations of wrong-doing that arise within the city’s Department of Investigation and would obligate entities investigating whistleblower retaliation claims to provide updates on cases every 90 days.

“This bill would ensure that a whistleblower is provided periodic status updates regarding any investigation,” Torres said Wednesday during a Council Oversight and Investigations Committee hearing on the bill. “The investigation would conclude with recommendations for corrective action to the relevant agency or entity. If the agency or entity fails to take corrective action recommended by or acceptable within a certain time period, the agency or entity would have to provide a written explanation.”

If signed into law by Mayor de Blasio, the legislation would mean anyone reporting misconduct to the city school district’s special commissioner of investigation would become eligible for whistleblower protections. It would also require more comprehensive reporting from the Department of Investigation about whistleblower retaliation claims.

Torres was prompted to push the bill because of two recent cases.

One is Ricardo Morales’ claim he was fired because he refused to go along with covering up City Hall’s involvement in the Rivington House scandal.

The scandal, which involved the city lifting deed restrictions on a Lower East Side nursing home, led to several investigations into de Blasio’s administration.

Mora les worked for the city Department of Administrative Services, which handled the deed restriction.

The other reason centers on former Investigation Department head Mark Peters seizing control of the special commissioner of investigation for city schools and firing its leader in 2018.