Soon-to-be-convicted Tania Fernandes Anderson is still clinging to her $120.000 a year seat on the do-nothing Boston City Council, which tells you all you need to know about the ethics of that esteemed institution.

Not even Fernandes Anderson pleading guilty to a kickback scheme stealing $7,000 in taxpayer dollars in a City Hall bathroom is enough to prompt Council President Ruthzee Louijeune to consider appointing an ethics committee to oversee Mayor Michelle Wu’s minions on the council.

“It would be a bit awkward to have members of the body calling out other members of the body,” Louijeune said.

Awkward? Voters think the Legislature is like Animal House. What does that make the out-of-control and ethically challenged city council?

If the entire city council were to call in sick tomorrow, would anyone notice? They make the state House of Representatives look like employees of the month.

Fernandes Anderson was seen smiling and waving in the council chambers on Wednesday, just hours after her alleged resignation was announced. She wouldn’t say when she was quitting. It must be tough to give up a high-paid cushy job.

Her attorney said she “will do everything possible to make an orderly exit to ensure my constituents’ needs are met.”

She needs to go. Now. And Louijeune should be leading the way, making sure she quits immediately.

But Louijeune doesn’t have a sterling record when it comes to cracking down on ethics violators — both as councilor and council president.

When two of her colleagues lost their seats because of scandals, Louijeune did nothing.

When Fernandes Anderson was caught on video making an obscenity-laced rant on the council floor, Louijeune said nothing. And when Fernandes Anderson wouldn’t say the oath of office, her colleagues did nothing.

After Fernandes Anderson received a $5,000 fine from the state ethics commission for hiring relatives to her council staff, the silence was deafening.

When Fernandes Anderson was arrested and charged in the corruption scheme, Louijeune did nothing. She called for Anderson’s resignation but only after the indictment was released.

When Councilor Ed Flynn proposed launching an ethics committee, Louijeune quickly killed it.

“As a lawyer, as someone who has worked on one ethics investigation, I still don’t feel qualified to sit as judge and jury against you, my colleagues,” she said. “I think it’s really important that anything regarding ethics remains independent so we maintain the public trust and that we hold it in high regard.”

Something stinks on the Boston City Council and Louijeune needs to take it seriously before the next scandal erupts and further tarnishes the elected officials in City Hall.

“The feeling locally, statewide, nationally is, elected officials can’t be trusted,” said Councilor Erin Murphy, who voted for the ethics measure.

Congress has an ethics committee. So do state lawmakers. Why shouldn’t the city council hold themselves accountable to similar standards?

Councilors routinely hand out bonuses to staffers every year. That must come to an end with Louijeune leading the way.

Most of the councilors act as a rubber stamp for Mayor Wu and do nothing to earn their increased pay. Good luck calling their offices – you’re likely to go straight to voicemail.

Related Articles

Boston Mayor Wu says federal funding ‘chaos’ could lead to city layoffs, hiring freeze

Disgraced Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson hand-picks media interviews after plea deal

Could plea deal get Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson deported?

Timeline: Tania Fernandes Anderson’s messy Boston City Council tenure

Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson to plead guilty in federal corruption case, and will resign

Tania Fernandes Anderson’s picture is still on the wall at the City Council chambers. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)