The City Council is poised to pass legislation that extends lobbying restrictions to cover more power brokers in the Mayor’s office after they leave the government — but the tougher regulation to crack down on potential influence peddling conveniently excludes the Council’s own members and staff.

The bill, championed by Brooklyn Councilman Lincoln Restler, would expand the number of ex-City Hall decision-makers who would be covered by a two-year ban on lobbying Big Apple officials when they leave government service.

The measure comes at a time when Mayor Eric Adams is contesting federal corruption and bribery charges — and several former top aides have also either resigned or face criminal charges.

Hizzoner supports the expansion of City Hall staffers covered by the lobbying ban as a good government measure, however, a mayoral rep slammed the Council for refusing to cover its top decision-makers as well.

“It’s unfortunate that City Council staff and leadership are using their powers to push forward ‘rules for thee but not for me’ legislation,” a mayoral spokesperson kvetched.

“While we hoped the Council would want to partner with us in crafting the strongest bill possible, it’s unfortunate that Council staff and leadership hold themselves to a different standard,” they added.

The Council has proposed extending the lobbying ban to the following municipal employees:

  • Chief of Staff to the mayor
  • Communication director
  • Press secretary
  • Senior advisors reporting to the mayor
  • Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
  • Chief counsel
  • All chiefs of staff to deputy mayors
  • All deputy chiefs of staff to the mayor’s chief of staff

Adams’ team also complained that the legislation does not extend to other citywide elected officials — including the comptroller, public advocate, and council speaker — which only can be approved via voter referendum.

Nor does it include the council speaker’s chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, and the speaker’s chief general counsel.

Restler said it was rich of the scandal-scarred Adams administration to be lecturing lawmakers about conflicts of interest.

The push for the bill was triggered in part by Adams’ former chief of Frank Carone’s consulting business, he said.

“This bill focuses on limiting the lobbying activities of the most senior staff in the Mayor’s office because they are responsible for personnel, policy, and budget decisions for the 300,000 workers at City agencies that report directly to them,” Restler said.

“Based on feedback we received at the hearing from the Conflicts of Interest Board and good government groups, we narrowed the original legislation to target the most powerful people in City government — so no one can replicate the corruption of the Adams administration and Frank Carone ever again.”

Adams and the Council — led by Speaker Adrienne Adams — have sparred over a number of policies, including police accountability and handling of the migrant crisis.

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