Halsema preaches openness, but acts like the editor-in-chief of the truth. A critical report from the ombudsman about the Integrity Office, where civil servants should be able to report abuses, disappears as soon as it becomes politically uncomfortable. Instead of self-reflection, there is a standard rhyme about scientificity. This is useful if you don’t like the message. The Integrity Office has now become a place where people are not protected but interrogated. Anyone who reports something will end up in jail faster than the perpetrator. Integrity is no longer a value in Amsterdam, it is marketing. And while civil servants are at home sick and the workplace is full of fear, the upper layer celebrates themselves on LinkedIn for so much courage, light and leadership. Amsterdam has turned into a left-wing sanctuary where applause is more important than results. The mayor who once preached freedom now seems to reserve it mainly for people who agree with her. Amsterdam deserves better.
Name known to the editors
(A concerned Amsterdam official)
