JAMAICA: Corruption Museum Could Become Albany Tourism Draw

A resident of New York's capital city has an unusual economic development plan to harness what he says is one of Albany's most abundant renewable resources: political corruption.

For a US$12.50 or so "bribe", visitors to the planned Museum of Political Corruption will get a tour of the state's long history of crooked politicians, shady deals and backroom power brokers, as well as a chance to learn about individuals who have fought corruption and suggested solutions to the state's chronic problem.

The museum is the idea of Bruce Roter, a professor at Albany's College of Saint Rose who is now raising money for the museum, which he envisions as both an educational institution and a tourist destination that focuses on the state Capitol's reputation for corruption.

"Let's use it as a resource. The attention is already there," Roter said, "if we can get ahead of the late-night punchlines."

That the recently disgraced leaders of the New York Senate and Assembly are now on federal trial, accused of selling their mighty influence and lying about it, doesn't make this a particularly ripe time, Roter said. He recalled a century-old newspaper story by muckraker Nellie Bly, reporting she was able to kill a random piece of state legislation by paying US$1,250.

Roter has been working on the project for two years after talking over coffee with Kathy Sheehan, who has since become mayor of Albany. The question came up: What Albany resource could yield tourism revenue? Corruption fit the bill and has a certain advantage: "It's a renewable resource," he said.

Roter has already established a non-profit museum organisation with a website, mugs for sale, and some heavies from the academic and museum worlds on its boards of directors and advisers. They include Philip Mark Plotch, political science professor at Saint Peter's University, and Zephyr Teachout, Fordham law professor and former gubernatorial candidate. Roter, a classical composer who has written compositions inspired by the Camp David Peace Accord, former New York Governor and US President Theodore Roosevelt and the first responders to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, is president.

Now the serious fund-raising begins. He's keeping close to the vest what's come in so far. But Roter believes he can get a brick-and-mortar museum running in about four years, including what he intends to call the "cozy crony cafe". It could launch sooner with an interim, mobile museum exhibit.

It's meant to be satirical and entertaining, but grounded in the rigours of research, education and museum science. Roter sees school groups visiting.

The legendary Boss Tweed and a certain Mr Phelps, who engineered Bly's bill-spiking for cash, are likely to be featured. He has already obtained vintage political cartoons from the late 1800s from the periodicals Harper's Weekly and Puck.

For the current crop of officials, entry is neither certain nor immediate. Like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, there will be a waiting period before someone can be added. Roter noted that former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, who resigned while under federal investigation, was first convicted, appealed and later acquitted of two charges that he sold his official influence for money.

Since news of the project was first reported, Roter says he's received nods of support from Republicans and Democrats and no pushback so far.

Sheehan said there is much the public could learn from Albany's checkered past, as long as it is presented as a "cautionary tale" and not glorified. She said Albany as a whole has been unfairly judged by the actions of corrupt state leaders.

"The frustrating thing for me is when Albany is used as a synonym for corruption or dysfunction," she said. "Because there are those of us who live here, who say, 'wait a minute, this is a great city'."