Harriman is opposed to televising hearings and thinks the money should be spent elsewhere. "I don't think it's a good idea. I think interested people who are interested in items on the agenda will appear. I think it's a waste of city funds to televise something."

Lynn said that attitude is the problem.

"The Ethics Commission doesn't want to be televised, which is the reason to televise them," he said. "They don't want it because they're trained that they are quasi-judicial and you don't have cameras in courtrooms. Right now Ethics is invisible. The only way it can build a constituency is if it's visible."

Bob Planthold, another former commissioner, agreed. "Ethics doesn't make friends," he said. "It doesn't have a constituency of positive advocates, and you need that at City Hall to get money and resources."<\!s>*