Robert A. Cerasoli
Encyclopedia
Robert A. Cerasoli is a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
, the former Inspector General
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the former Inspector General of the City of New Orleans. He also founded the Association of Inspectors General in 1996.
and his graduate education at the Kennedy School of Government.
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of New Orleans, Louisiana.
in 1975 and served as chairman of the House Post Audit and Oversight Committee, a "fiscal watchdog panel". During his time, he investigated the matter of Massachusetts' prisons giving furlough
s to some murderers, prompted by the well-publicized Willie Horton
story. In 1989, when House Speaker George Keverian
demanded that he and other representatives either support a bill for higher taxes or lose their jobs, Cerasoli resigned instead, knowing that he could not support the bill.
In 1991, Cerasoli was chosen unanimously to serve as the Inspector General (IG) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He launched several investigations and issued many reports but is most widely known for pointing out flaws in the Big Dig highway construction project through the city of Boston
. The report would prove to be an "I told you so" when part of the tunnel would later collapse as a result of "cutting corners", causing one death. Although then-outgoing Massachusetts governor Paul Cellucci
removed funding for the state IG in his next budget, the Massachusetts House of Representatives changed the figures to include $2.3 million for the office, defending it from what was widely seen as retribution for criticism of the governor's handling of the Big Dig. Cerasoli was one of two finalists in a run for Inspector General of the United States House of Representatives
, but there was widespread speculation that a Republican
candidate would instead be chosen due to Republican control in the House.
After retiring from his post, he taught at Eastern Nazarene College
and the local community college
, in his home town of Quincy, Massachusetts
. He also taught ethics courses in several African nations and other countries around the world.
," although the City Charter was amended to require an office as early as 1995.
The position required that Cerasoli start the office from scratch. Initially without a budget beyond $250,000, no office, no staff, and no car, Loyola University
President Kevin Wildes, the chairman of the city's Ethics Review Board, provided Cerasoli temporary office space in the stacks at the university library. By a vote of the citizens of New Orleans, a city charter amendment was passed to secure funding for the office, roughly 3/4 of one per cent of the city budget. The State of Louisiana also showed unanimous support for Cerasoli's office by widening the powers of the office and making them part of state law in House Bill 80. The office released its first report in December 2008, on the city's take-home-car policy. It revealed that the city allows 273 employees, not including the mayor or the police department, take-home cars in spite of a city ordinance that limits the number to 60, and calculated that the city could save roughly $1 million by complying with that law. Other investigations were initiated, but no reports have yet been published because the investigations are ongoing.
Despite state and citizen support, Cerasoli ran into several roadblocks with city administration, including a shipment of computers that was improperly sent to City Hall, where they were kept in the basement for two weeks and some of the boxes were opened. Upon receiving them at their office, the IG staff proceeded to wipe their memories in order to reverse any potential tampering. Another notable obstacle to the establishment if the IG office was Mayor Ray Nagin
's cancellation of law enforcement equipment purchases, despite the IG office's status as a law enforcement agency in the city charter amendment. Cerasoli received support from officials such as Councilwoman Shelly Midura, who said that Nagin used "inflammatory language and limited executive branch resources to fight a non-issue." New Orleans CityBusiness
reported the Louisiana state IG as has having said that "weapon purchases by inspectors general are routine" and state senator J.P. Morell as saying that Cerasoli was “reasonable" and, "unless you’re a city official doing something wrong with contracts ... there’s no reason to be afraid of the office.”
Cerasoli resigned in January 2009. He cited recent health concerns, two non-cancer
ous growths surgically removed in December and two other potentially cancerous growths yet to be removed.
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
, the former Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the former Inspector General of the City of New Orleans. He also founded the Association of Inspectors General in 1996.
Education
Cerasoli completed his undergraduate education at the American UniversityAmerican University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
and his graduate education at the Kennedy School of Government.
Career
Cerasoli is retired from over 37 years of public serviceCivil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Massachusetts
He began his public service career in the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesMassachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
in 1975 and served as chairman of the House Post Audit and Oversight Committee, a "fiscal watchdog panel". During his time, he investigated the matter of Massachusetts' prisons giving furlough
Furlough
In the United States a furlough is a temporary unpaid leave of some employees due to special needs of a company, which may be due to economic conditions at the specific employer or in the economy as a whole...
s to some murderers, prompted by the well-publicized Willie Horton
Willie Horton
William R. "Willie" Horton is an American convicted felon who, while serving a life sentence for murder, without the possibility of parole, was the beneficiary of a Massachusetts weekend furlough program...
story. In 1989, when House Speaker George Keverian
George Keverian
George Keverian was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1985 until 1991...
demanded that he and other representatives either support a bill for higher taxes or lose their jobs, Cerasoli resigned instead, knowing that he could not support the bill.
In 1991, Cerasoli was chosen unanimously to serve as the Inspector General (IG) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He launched several investigations and issued many reports but is most widely known for pointing out flaws in the Big Dig highway construction project through the city of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. The report would prove to be an "I told you so" when part of the tunnel would later collapse as a result of "cutting corners", causing one death. Although then-outgoing Massachusetts governor Paul Cellucci
Paul Cellucci
Argeo Paul Cellucci is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts and US Ambassador to Canada.-Early life and career:...
removed funding for the state IG in his next budget, the Massachusetts House of Representatives changed the figures to include $2.3 million for the office, defending it from what was widely seen as retribution for criticism of the governor's handling of the Big Dig. Cerasoli was one of two finalists in a run for Inspector General of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, but there was widespread speculation that a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate would instead be chosen due to Republican control in the House.
After retiring from his post, he taught at Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
and the local community college
Quincy College
Quincy College is a public junior college located in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is an open admission commuter school that offers associate's degrees in professional fields of study.-History:...
, in his home town of Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
. He also taught ethics courses in several African nations and other countries around the world.
New Orleans
Cerasoli left retirement in 2007 when he was unanimously voted to become the first-ever Inspector General for the City of New Orleans, a post that "was created in late 2006 by the City Council to send a message that New Orleans could be trusted to spend federal recovery aid after Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
," although the City Charter was amended to require an office as early as 1995.
The position required that Cerasoli start the office from scratch. Initially without a budget beyond $250,000, no office, no staff, and no car, Loyola University
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
President Kevin Wildes, the chairman of the city's Ethics Review Board, provided Cerasoli temporary office space in the stacks at the university library. By a vote of the citizens of New Orleans, a city charter amendment was passed to secure funding for the office, roughly 3/4 of one per cent of the city budget. The State of Louisiana also showed unanimous support for Cerasoli's office by widening the powers of the office and making them part of state law in House Bill 80. The office released its first report in December 2008, on the city's take-home-car policy. It revealed that the city allows 273 employees, not including the mayor or the police department, take-home cars in spite of a city ordinance that limits the number to 60, and calculated that the city could save roughly $1 million by complying with that law. Other investigations were initiated, but no reports have yet been published because the investigations are ongoing.
Despite state and citizen support, Cerasoli ran into several roadblocks with city administration, including a shipment of computers that was improperly sent to City Hall, where they were kept in the basement for two weeks and some of the boxes were opened. Upon receiving them at their office, the IG staff proceeded to wipe their memories in order to reverse any potential tampering. Another notable obstacle to the establishment if the IG office was Mayor Ray Nagin
Ray Nagin
Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr. is a former mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Nagin gained international note in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the New Orleans area....
's cancellation of law enforcement equipment purchases, despite the IG office's status as a law enforcement agency in the city charter amendment. Cerasoli received support from officials such as Councilwoman Shelly Midura, who said that Nagin used "inflammatory language and limited executive branch resources to fight a non-issue." New Orleans CityBusiness
New Orleans CityBusiness
New Orleans CityBusiness is a weekly business newspaper headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana, USA.Launched in 1980, CityBusiness covers the metropolitan New Orleans area , including the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The paper also has a Web site to report breaking news...
reported the Louisiana state IG as has having said that "weapon purchases by inspectors general are routine" and state senator J.P. Morell as saying that Cerasoli was “reasonable" and, "unless you’re a city official doing something wrong with contracts ... there’s no reason to be afraid of the office.”
Cerasoli resigned in January 2009. He cited recent health concerns, two non-cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
ous growths surgically removed in December and two other potentially cancerous growths yet to be removed.
External links
- http://bestofneworleans.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A49144"Being Bob Cerasoli" on BestofNewOrleans.com and Gambit WeeklyGambit WeeklyGambit is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based free alternative weekly newspaper that was established in 1981 as Gambit Weekly. Gambit features reporting about local politics, news, food and drink, arts, music, film, events, environmental issues and other topics, as well as listings...
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