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DiCicco Implicated by Fumo Indictment
Submitted by Ben Waxman on Thu, 02/08/2007 - 2:34pm.
Link: Not charged, but not unscathed
I have been saying for a while that Fumo's indictment is bad for his allies on city council. In particular, I think it's particularly bad for Frank DiCicco. A self-described "Fumocrat", DiCicco is closer to Fumo than anyone. An article in today's Inquirer shows just how true that statement is. According to the indictment, DiCicco recived all kinds of special perks through his relationship with Fumo:
Employees of the charity Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods had a "priority list" for snow days under which they cleared a DiCicco-owned property before ordinary public space.
Citizens' Alliance employees spent two weeks installing hardwood floors at a property owned by DiCicco and his son.
A contractor paid by the state Senate videotaped a man distributing anti-DiCicco flyers at City Hall.
Citizens' Alliance paid for polls to measure support for DiCicco and candidates challenging Fumo rivals in three other districts.
All of this is in the indictment. DiCicco's not a target of the investigation, but he certainly benefited from the system. Even if he thought it was legal, he should have known that it was wrong. I mean, clearing your parking spaces before ordinary citizens? That's pretty awful. This kind of behavior only reinforces the disillusionment with politics that so many city residents already feel.
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I Hope This Race Does Not Deteriorate Into Personal Attacks
Ben I see your point and your right it does make such an implication. But let me throw something out there. Something which I have been thinking about since last night's PFC meeting.
The race in 1st District will and should be about many issues. Casinos, education, taxes, economic development, and the list goes on. However, I hope that in the heat of political battle, the race does not deteriorate into personal attacks or become centered upon the indictment. I know both candidates involved in this race. I would assume they want the race to be about the issues and what they can and have done for the people of that District. Not just one of them-both of them.
When I heard this brought up last night at the PFC meeting, I will say honestly that I was not happy. I am a lawyer and I know what goes into putting these types of "kitchen sink" indictments together. The lawyers involved want to accomplish something-its written advocacy-and right now, its only that. Neither candidate needs anyone to defend them. I am sure they can stand up on their own 2 feet and tell us why we should vote for them. More importantly, people on this site have already written many pieces about how we need to wait to hear all the evidence and that we cannot race to judgments based upon whats written in the indictment. Frankly, I want to hear what Vern and Frank are going to do over the next 4 years about improving the quality of life in this City. I am not even in their District. But I care because I live in this city and will raise my family here. So yes, this race, like every race, is important to all of us. Let these guys fight it out-without rumor, inuendo, and all the other stuff that gives campaigning a bad name. I bet both candidates want to win this race without any tricks and on their merit as candidates. For our sake, I hope the press allows that to occur.
Believe me, I am not saying leave the gloves on. No way-lets mix it up. Thats what makes it fun for all of us. But lets hold these guys, both of them, to their merit and record as candidates. Anything less is not fair to either of them or more importantly, to the voters who matter the most.
Just my thoughts.
Larry
The race should be about
The race should be about many issues AS WELL AS the indictment. Being right on issues while being able to keep your nose clean is important.
Remember, very many well loved and long serving Republican congressman were voted out last year just because of their party stance with the war.
In agreeance with what Larry
In agreeance with what Larry said, I'm a lawyer and I spend 2/3 of my day writing persuasively--with facts. It is what we do. In fact, it is what we are trained to do. And, the attorneys at the U.S. Attorney's office do it as well as anyone else. I'm not saying that Fumo didn't deserve to be indicted or anything like that. What I am saying is that, until the above, which are not even the basis of criminal charges against DiCicco, are proven in a court of law, they should not be given the status of fact. Should they be considered--sure. Should they be taken as gospel--absolutely not.
I too was there last night and it was disappointing because I live in the First and I wanted to hear about issues. In particular, I want to hear about crime, casinos, mitigation of their effects if they come, development, attraction of jobs, etc.
Hopefully the campaigns will allow us to hear those things.
Supporting Michael Nutter in 2007!
No, not taken as gospel and
No, not taken as gospel and not fact that Frank did anything wrong, but definitely fact that Frank was mentioned in the indictment. Frank doesn't get a free card just because it hasn't gone to trial yet. He benefited from riding the coattails, now he has to take his lumps as well. You can't only have it one way.
Classy...
Just wanted to say that it was great meeting you at last night's meeting and this is a classy response.
Huh?
I am a little confused. How is pointing out that DiCicco accepted special favors a personal attack? This is about the councilman abusing his position and ripping off the taxpayers. It's completely political. That money could have been spent on any number of things. It's outrageous.
So, I am not really following the idea that pointing this out is somehow personal.
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http://benwaxman.com