Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 Source: Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT) Copyright: 2006sMediaNews Group, Inc Contact: http://www.connpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/574 Author: Charles Walsh Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) READER: ELECTIONS BREED CORRUPTION Maybe because so many shoes have dropped on Bridgeport in recent years, the present atmosphere in the city is one of wariness. Punch drunk from so many slams on the head, we watch and wait -- wait for the next size 14-EEE to fall. Will there be more revelations about Mayor John M. Fabrizi? Did he confess it all? Did he really stop the cocaine over a year ago? What revelations will emerge from the trial of the man who may have been the mayor's dealer? When a shoe drops in Bridgeport, it is usually a weapon of mass destruction. What's next, the National Guard? Meanwhile, Friday's column that mulled the question of forgiveness brought some thoughtful comments. Considering Bridgeport's luck electing mayors, Dan Braccio has an idea or two that might increase the odds of finding a mayor who will run the city honestly, and with a clear head. Why not, as we do for police chief, have a national search for a mayor? Put a moratorium on elections for the office for 10 years in the hope that the "rats" will jump ship once the top cheese position is off the table. Limit the search to 4 months. Put an end to campaigning, and consequently to circuses at candidate debates and in the press. The selection committee will be a cross section of business, religious, civic, education leaders -- no politicians (except for whoever is Bridgeport's U.S. representative after Nov. 7). Like the police chief, limit the new mayor to two five-year terms. ? ? ? Forgive? asks Louann Hart and others. What about those others who were not forgiven? If we can forgive him, then we must forgive every single other person in this state of Connecticut who has ever done illegal drugs. This means: 1. Allow scholarships to be awarded to any student for possession or use of any drug. Currently they are not eligible. 2. Overturn all drug convictions and expunge the records. 3. Rehire all persons fired for drug use. 4. Remove the "have you ever been convicted?" statement off of all employment applications. 5. Consider making cocaine legal, since the mayor says his behavior was never affected by it. This is about all people being equal and about obeying the law. (If you don't like the law, work to overturn it.) He must be fired and prosecuted, like the two men his very own police staff arrested last week. There are consequences for your actions. The consequences and forgiveness must be the same for all. ? ? ? Patricia Harrison is nothing if not succinct: John M. Fabrizi needs to resign his post. Period. Forgive him if you want, but get him out. ? ? ? Suzanne Kachmar advocates the supreme sacrifice, politician style. Oh well, I guess there really is no Santa Claus. If the mayor wants to do right by the people who love, respect and put their trust in him he needs to work on changing the drug trade in the city through prevention and recovery programs, decriminalization. ... We need to be more realistic, and part of the reality is he may not serve Bridgeport best by being in office any longer. ? ? ? And this from someone named Gladys: Has our society become so accustomed to the use of drugs and corruption from our public leaders that this is no longer an issue for our leaders to uphold the highest moral values of our society and to the people who have elected them? ERRATUM: There was an unfortunate, but possibly inadvertently truthful, word substitution in Friday's column. In a paragraph listing the Fabrizi's good qualities (enthusiasm, sincerity, and a desire to help people), one should have been "his likability," not as it appeared, "his liability." - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath