Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Does this scare you? It should.

From the NY Times:

He had written “The Jerk,” about three inches high, on a campaign poster for James P. Molinaro, the Staten Island borough president. The undercover officers had taken a picture of the poster. There was no question that Mr. Sullivan had written it; moreover, there was no doubt that for weeks before that, he had launched far more pungent strikes against Mr. Molinaro in letters to a newspaper and public officials, criticizing the borough president’s plans to develop part of the Staten Island waterfront.

Somehow the police had begun an investigation of Mr. Sullivan, 52, a former merchant marine who is now an advocate for environmental protection. He was brought to the 120th Precinct and charged with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Once the case came to court, the Staten Island district attorney declined to prosecute him.

Who gave the orders for the police to investigate him? Why would a nearly broke city squander resources on this? And by the way, what about freedom of speech?

The posters themselves appear to have been put up illegally. Given that, it is unlikely that writing on one of them, as Mr. Sullivan did, would violate any law.

The circumstances of his arrest are too important to be explored only in a civil case, which often winds up being simply a matter of dollars and cents. The City Council is supposed to watch over the executive branch of government, including the police. A lawsuit does not freeze the rest of democracy. Nor is it a substitute.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

i agree with the D.A. Sullivan was dumb ,but that is not a crime. the policemen involved should be demoted,and made to pay a portion of the settlement if it gets that far.i hope a judge dismisses the Sullivan case.

Anonymous said...

Now this is a good lawsuit!

Anonymous said...

Gee I am going to watch what I opin about in this blog!!

Anonymous said...

No surprise here. As of this past weeks US Supreme court decision, the 1st Amendment is only for corporations, both foreign and domestic. Sorry little guy Sullivan, its off to the 'Bastille' for you.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure ther is more to the story.

Anonymous said...

The Republican DA, Dan Donovan, did the right thing. The Democrat BP, should be indicted for this.

Gary the Agnostic said...

Anonymous said...
The Republican DA, Dan Donovan, did the right thing. The Democrat BP, should be indicted for this.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010
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The Borough President is a Republican.

Anonymous said...

Wow...graffiti put to a good use...criticizing a mob tied (?) pol!

Anonymous said...

Molinaro's family should be investigated. His grandson beat some poor kid.