Good doesn't balance out the bad
In today's online update on former, longtime Brick Mayor Joe Scarpelli, his lawyer immediately does the "but look at all the good he did" dance. I'm sick of hearing that every time a public figure winds up being convicted of or, as Scarpelli did, pleads guilty to corruption.
Scarpelli pleaded guilty to accepting $5,000 in bribes from a developer between 1998 and 2003, and for taking a $500 cash payment in 2003. Scarpelli's lawyer called him a "tireless advocate," our story says, and said it is impossible to overlook the good he did during his three decades in township government. "He dedicated himself to improving the lives of those who live and work in Brick."
No, he knowingly took $5,500 over a five-year period. The lawyer said Scarpelli is "truly sorry his own poor judgment brought him here today. But being the man he is, he has accepted full responsibility for his actions."
OK, at least he saved the taxpayers the additional expense of a trial. But come on, can't, just for once, corrupt officials cut the "I made one mistake" nonsense and just say: "I did it and am ready to accept the consequences of my actions" without trying to sugarcoat it by talking about the good they did? That doesn't balance out the bad. The two aren't on the same scale.
Scarpelli pleaded guilty to accepting $5,000 in bribes from a developer between 1998 and 2003, and for taking a $500 cash payment in 2003. Scarpelli's lawyer called him a "tireless advocate," our story says, and said it is impossible to overlook the good he did during his three decades in township government. "He dedicated himself to improving the lives of those who live and work in Brick."
No, he knowingly took $5,500 over a five-year period. The lawyer said Scarpelli is "truly sorry his own poor judgment brought him here today. But being the man he is, he has accepted full responsibility for his actions."
OK, at least he saved the taxpayers the additional expense of a trial. But come on, can't, just for once, corrupt officials cut the "I made one mistake" nonsense and just say: "I did it and am ready to accept the consequences of my actions" without trying to sugarcoat it by talking about the good they did? That doesn't balance out the bad. The two aren't on the same scale.
8 Comments:
i agree with you! the way i see it he pleaded guilty to just $5500.00, i'm sure that over the years he took a lot more than that. the coruption by politians in this state is monumental. worse it seems we don't have any honest people left because corzine keeps appointing people without any sense of integrity.
Clare, by pleading guilty, Joe Scarpelli has accepted responsibility for his actions. He will be punished, as he deserves to be. That said, his lawyer was 100% correct to make the remarks he did. The legal proceedings notwithstanding, when we, as individuals, think of Joe Scarpelli, we should take into consideration that, yes, he is a man that broke the law, but we should also remember that he devoted his life to serving his family and his community.
Day in and day out for decades now, Joe Scarpelli got up every morning and went to work. He paid his taxes, paid his mortgage, loved his wife and raised his kids. He has also done more to serve his community in one lifetime than most of us could or would do if we had three lifetimes to catch up. On the whole, and like most of us, Joe Scarpelli was and is a good and decent man with some flaws. And who amongst us isn't flawed to some degree? Who amongst us wants to be remembered solely on the basis of what they did in their worst hour? Who amongst hasn't been ashamed at one point in their life and asked for mercy while, at the same time, accepting responsibility for their actions?
Clare, I like you. You are smart and funny and your blogs are fun to read. I will continue to be a fan of yours. That said, you are just plain wrong when you write of Joe Scarpelli and say that "The good doesn't balance out the bad."
At the considerable risk of appearing arrogant or "preachy," I leave you with a passage from Sacred Scripture that I think is entirely apropos:
John 8: 1-11, Jesus and the Story of the Woman Caught in Adultery
Clare, I agree with you. One Aw-sh#t cancels ten Attaboys.
Margaret, you hit the nail on the head. Never mind the stuff you hear from the state, when the local guys are found taking bribes, you wonder who can you trust?
After reading and writing and following up on all the Operation Bid Rig guys (Ray "I can smell a cop a mile away" O'Grady got his marching-to-prison orders this week too), it's just too frustrating. I've met some of them, they were nice, average kinda guys who you figured were just devoted to their town, then you read the texts from their indictments, and it's pretty damning.
Other people here who have met them, interviewed them, covered those towns said, of some -- not all -- that they were such nice guys. Then you hear rumors of a few extra niceties that seemed beyond their means. Where'd that stuff come from?
One strong memory is from about 15 years ago. Remember longtime Manchester Township Administrator Joseph Portash? He died suddenly, memorials all spoke of the good he did in his many years of service to the town, Colonial Drive was renamed the Joseph Portash Memorial Boulevard, I think, and a few months later, town officials found out he and others had drained millions from township coffers. Stories of women and gambling surfaced.
Colonial Drive, by the way, was quickly renamed back to Colonial Drive.
A pound of flesh for Mrs. McDowell coming right up!
Clare, I certainly hope that none of your children ever get caught breaking the law. For if they do, I suspect you will be the very first person pointing out all of the good that they have done in their lifetimes. I suspect you will be the very first calling for justice tempered with a modicum of mercy.
papinian, I know Joe Scarpelli did a lot of good for his town. That's why he was re-elected, and re-elected, and re-elected. Same thing with a lot of the other public officials. That's why they were re-elected. And I'm not saying I'm a saint, or that I can guarantee my kids will be. But while these politicians were doing good for their towns, and often seeking photo ops to show how devoted they were, they were stealing from it at the same time, maybe not by taking money from town coffers, but by taking bribes that would later be tacked into the cost of a contract that the taxpayers would cough up.
We know they did good for their towns. That's why we're doubly shocked when they're caught taking bribes to help out developers or contractors.
Forgiveness is a good thing. But give me a break for my burst of anger at seeing another longtime, beloved leader join a parade of bribe-taking public officials that's been passing by us in such a short time.
Most of the time you find the people who want to forgive him,are the ones that have profited most the crook ...may he rot as he has let us all down
of course the Mayor loves his family. He got 2 of his children & one in-law a job in town. & a payout to his son for a "wellness" clinic. Are you going to tell me that these were the only 4 people in town to fill these positions??? I don't think so. Wake up people, this guy has been taking the people of Brick for a ride for a long, long time. It's about time he got caught.
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