View from the Street: Kampala
Primary school in a poor neighborhood in Kampala, Uganda. Images: Dave Blume (CC by/nc/sa)
Transparency in the U.S. Stimulus Package? HUD entrusts $300 Million to Delinquent Regional Agencies
USA Today reported that 61 regional housing agencies with track-records of mishandling funds will collectively receive $300 million from the stimulus package. Although the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) claims they will be keeping a close eye on their regional partners, watchdog groups warn taxpayers of the high likelihood of funds disappearing. USA…
South Africa: Zuma’s Corruption Case Dismissed Due to Prosecutor’s Misconduct
Jacob Zuma’s legal battles have finally ended. The Mail and Guardian reports that the National Prosecuting Authority has dropped all corruption charges against the ANC leader. Unfortunately, the end of this eight year legal case only opens a new governance scandal for South Africa. Telephone recordings released by the NPA expose the manipulation of the…
U.S. Department of Justice Drops Stevens Case
NPR reports that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has decided to drop all corruption charges against former Alaskan senator Ted Stevens, despite already winning seven felony convictions. Stevens lost his reelection bid days after the conviction. He was appealing and maintains his innocence. Holder’s decision was based on internal mishandling of the prosecution by the…
The Quiet Coup: The IMF View on How Wall Street Took Over America
The former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund offers a sweeping and articulate indictment of the US financial system. Simon Johnson argues that blaming favorite policies of the right or left misses the larger point: that the financial sector grew so large that oligarchs dictated policy to government, most of which passed without a…
Impact Challenge: Applications Are Now Closed.
Update: Applications are now closed. Finalists will be announced April 13. If you want to win the US$1000 prize for the Global Integrity Impact Challenge, there is one week remaining. Read the rules and apply here now. The deadline is April 5th, 2009. We’ve seen some solid project ideas come in so far, but I…