The City of SPI Struggles with Ethics Interview with Angelique "Nikki" Soto
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Island Matters interviewed SPI City Secretary Angelique "Nikki" Soto after many requests for an interview.
During the interview, Soto often referred Island Matters to the South Padre Island Code of Ethics Handbook. Soto said she would send the handbook but failed to do so.
Board of Ethics: Public complaints
According to South Padre Island City Ordinance, "The Board of Ethics shall establish a Code of Ethics and administer and enforce the conflict of interest and Finance Disclosure State Laws." On behalf of the City, Soto answered questions about filing complaints. "The purpose of the Board of Ethics (BOE) was to establish an outlet for complaints from the public/city staff to be reviewed by the board."
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After a citizen or staff member filed a complaint, Soto explained that the City staff would review it and, "forward it to the board to see if it's something they should address." |
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When asked if the City investigated every complaint, Soto answered, "Nobody has ever filed an ethics complaint form." Because the process for filing a complaint requires the person who files it to identify themselves, IM asked if the process is designed to protect elected officials and high-ranking staff. The process gives top city officials leverage to retaliate against staff or members of the public who complained. "It's in the handbook and you can read it," Soto replied. |
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| Staff Complaints: No outlet
Despite the record of no complaints, Island Matters asked how the City plans to address existing staff complaints filed anonymously in the past, with some incidents reported by IM in the past two years. |
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"What complaints?" replied Soto, when asked about excluding previous complaints. According to Soto, Lighthouse Services (LS) was hired by past staff for staff to report other staff members.
"The Ethics Committee doesn't review complaints against staff," said Soto. She followed by saying, "I'll have to look at that one, but if they don't fill out the form, it doesn't go to the Ethics Committee." |
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When asked if ignoring the issues would make for a worse environment, Soto responded, "What complaints?" ignoring written statements from current and former staff members requesting anonymity to protect from retaliation.
After back-and-forth about whether previous complaints are valid, regardless of complying with the bureaucratic process that requires giving up anonymity, Soto finally agreed. |
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Conflict of Interests: Resolved
Since Soto also serves as the Staff Liaison for the Board of Ethics, Island Matters asked whether the former Chair of the BOE, Christiana "Chrissy" Dijkman had a conflict of interests as Chairwoman and a spouse of a council member (Kerry Schwartz). "That question needs to be directed to Chrissy," said Soto and denied any knowledge of following Island Matters' series of stories covering anonymous complaints filed or city staff complaints in general. Soto then accused Island Matters of creating a narrative regardless of moral obligation. "Anything I say, you're going to write it to your narrative." Island Matters asked if the City's system made it difficult for an individual to bring a grievance when there was a conflict of interest on the board. |
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Soto replied, "I can't answer a question when it's biased, saying that there's already a conflict of interest," and accused Island Matters of bias for asking. "You're giving a preconceived notion that there is retaliation if a complaint is filed," added Soto. |
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Since the release of Island Matters' series of stories regarding the City's ethics dilemma, Christiana Dijkman, the wife of present City Council member, Kerry Schwartz, and former Chair of the Board of Ethics, has since left the board for the Parks & Keep SPI Beautiful committee. No confidentiality: No anonymity
As of this writing, neither the city staff or residents have a confidential process to file a complaint about city staff, elected officials, or appointed officials.
The Ethics Board scheduled a meeting on Dec.5 but has yet to meet. The board last met on Sep. 27, 2022. |
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