Late-night statement
by M. Stewart
Ok, this one is worth its own post. Alerted by ORL readers, I looked at the print edition of today’s Review. Indeed a small story based upon a “late night statement to the press” from Wellsville Mayor Joe Surace regarding WPD Lt. Ed Wilson's case is buried on page 5A.
There are so many things wrong with this that I need to make a list.
1. First of all, Mayor Surace has known about the attorneys’ findings at least since Tuesday, yet he sat on the information for days only to issue a “late night” statement at the end of the week. Why? My guess—and it’s only speculation—is that he didn’t want reporters to have a chance to question him on the issue. Is there a pattern here?
2. Surace’s claim is that he “inherited a long standing police personnel problem not of [his] making.” The simple truth is that all of the charges, investigations, and suspensions involving Ed Wilson have occurred on Surace’s watch. How on earth can he expect people to believe that he “inherited” this problem?
3. The attorney fees for the recent investigation of Ed Wilson reportedly cost the village $10,000. Well, that’s just for starters. Once you figure in the wages paid to Wilson for not working along with the wages paid to other officers to cover his vacated shifts, the figure jumps substantially. And for what? A failed attempt to nail Lt. Wilson on bogus accusations? Keep in mind, the whole thing started with a recommendation to council from the mayor. Because all but one council member voted to support the recommendation, it won’t be easy for council to avoid its share of the blame.
4. The mayor’s late-night statement offers no apology whatsoever—not to Lt. Wilson or the taxpayers. Wellsville voters need to understand that every cent of that money came out of their pockets. As for Wilson, he and the mayor already have an upcoming date in court. How much will that cost taxpayers? That's money you're going to pay regardless of the outcome of the November election. Beyond attorney fees, if the mayor should lose the case, that's another $25,000.
5. As for The Review “coverage” of the Wilson resolution, I’m inclined to give them some leeway in that the statement was purposely released late at night, no doubt after the reporters had gone home. Still, the story should have been on the front page, top of the fold. This is a BIG story, not something you bury in the back pages alongside the death notices and grip-n-grin photos. I haven’t seen a hard copy of the Morning Journal yet. Does anyone know if that publication carried the story at all?
6. Finally, I’ve gotten several reports alleging that unknown vandals have attempted and/or have succeeded in removing Lloyd signs from private property. I’ve also heard allegations that the opposition has been putting signs in the yards of people without their permission. If these reports are true, then we can only assume the dirty tricks have just begun. The Sign War of ’07 is on!
Ah, you gotta love the Wellsville Zone! The longer we wait, the crazier it gets. Sit tight; you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Ok, this one is worth its own post. Alerted by ORL readers, I looked at the print edition of today’s Review. Indeed a small story based upon a “late night statement to the press” from Wellsville Mayor Joe Surace regarding WPD Lt. Ed Wilson's case is buried on page 5A.
There are so many things wrong with this that I need to make a list.
1. First of all, Mayor Surace has known about the attorneys’ findings at least since Tuesday, yet he sat on the information for days only to issue a “late night” statement at the end of the week. Why? My guess—and it’s only speculation—is that he didn’t want reporters to have a chance to question him on the issue. Is there a pattern here?
2. Surace’s claim is that he “inherited a long standing police personnel problem not of [his] making.” The simple truth is that all of the charges, investigations, and suspensions involving Ed Wilson have occurred on Surace’s watch. How on earth can he expect people to believe that he “inherited” this problem?
3. The attorney fees for the recent investigation of Ed Wilson reportedly cost the village $10,000. Well, that’s just for starters. Once you figure in the wages paid to Wilson for not working along with the wages paid to other officers to cover his vacated shifts, the figure jumps substantially. And for what? A failed attempt to nail Lt. Wilson on bogus accusations? Keep in mind, the whole thing started with a recommendation to council from the mayor. Because all but one council member voted to support the recommendation, it won’t be easy for council to avoid its share of the blame.
4. The mayor’s late-night statement offers no apology whatsoever—not to Lt. Wilson or the taxpayers. Wellsville voters need to understand that every cent of that money came out of their pockets. As for Wilson, he and the mayor already have an upcoming date in court. How much will that cost taxpayers? That's money you're going to pay regardless of the outcome of the November election. Beyond attorney fees, if the mayor should lose the case, that's another $25,000.
5. As for The Review “coverage” of the Wilson resolution, I’m inclined to give them some leeway in that the statement was purposely released late at night, no doubt after the reporters had gone home. Still, the story should have been on the front page, top of the fold. This is a BIG story, not something you bury in the back pages alongside the death notices and grip-n-grin photos. I haven’t seen a hard copy of the Morning Journal yet. Does anyone know if that publication carried the story at all?
6. Finally, I’ve gotten several reports alleging that unknown vandals have attempted and/or have succeeded in removing Lloyd signs from private property. I’ve also heard allegations that the opposition has been putting signs in the yards of people without their permission. If these reports are true, then we can only assume the dirty tricks have just begun. The Sign War of ’07 is on!
Ah, you gotta love the Wellsville Zone! The longer we wait, the crazier it gets. Sit tight; you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
posted by M. | 12:33 PM
19 Comments:
I was told by a councilperson, that Surace is the one cancelling these meet the candidate nites. The councilman running should attened these candidate nites, show us you can do the right thing. Surace is so scared of Lloyd because he is smart, and Surace is well, you know. Lombardozzi can't be at the candidate nites, telling Surace what to say, so he won't go to them. We know where Surace stands on things, and how sneaky he is, but please Allmon, McMahon, Soldano, Marcin and Cataldo, please go to the candidate nites. We need to know where you stand on issues, and we need to know more about all of you.
Which meet the candidate nights have been cancelled.
I heard the two that were to be held in Wellsville were cancelled. Maybe someone from the candidate nites can let us know for sure. The Chamber of Commerce, and The Future Voters will have to say for sure, but I heard they were cancelled.
The Future voters is Thurs.25th and the Chamber has a meet the candidate every election. How is it you think the Mayor can cancel these events. I'd love to hear this. Especially, how can he cancel the future voters. That is their whole reason for having it, to try to put him on the spot. It sounds like lots of things are being said and fear is running rampant right now.
I heard thay were cancelled because both groups know that no candidates are coming. The Mayor did not cancel them, no he does not have that power. He is not going to them, and I heard he told all the other candidates not to go either. So I HEARD IF THE TWO GROUPS ALREADY KNOW NOBODY IS GOING TO SHOW UP, THAT THEY WILL JUST CANCEL. We need someone from each group to post on here to let us know what is going on. DID EITHER GROUP GET ANY R.S.V.P'S?
I read both print versions this morning. I didn't see the article about Ed Wilson in the Journal. I did see it on page five of the Review. Amazing, isn't it, how every time he was accused of something, it was front-page news, but when he's exonerated, it shows up as a small article on page five? I'll bet the time element didn't play a big part in that. I've seen other late-night news on the front page the following morning.
The latest action by the Mayor proves one thing, he is devious. No doubt about it. 100% devious,. The best thing about it is. People know it. If he thinks he's fooling anyone, he's so wrong. The only one he's fooling his himshelf. It will be a sad day if man is re-elected.
The peopel really do need to know what the finding were because it is their money that was being used to investigate Wilson. But to just have a small statement saying that Wilson was being invited back to the force is the chicken way out, knowing the report didn't have what THEY wanted to be in there.
I also heard that if Lloyd was elected mayor, he was going to fire the entire force and bring in new guys. I really do not know how true it is. The entire force? Who would be chief? I don't think whole force, just some of them.
Guess we will just to wait and see what happens at election time.
When I asked Mr. Lloyd what he would do about the Police Force that is not answer he gave me. Is this true. It is probably a good idea.
No mayor has the power to simply fire the entire police force; besides, I'm sure Dave has not said that. It sounds like one of those election rumors.
One thing is for sure, though: Lloyd will not put up with the kind of undisciplined, chaotic PD that Surace has permitted. I'm sure Chief Scarabino and Mayor Lloyd will work through any differences they might have. Lloyd believes in the chain of command, and he will expect strong leadership from his chief, but he won't let him run the town.
Obviously, the finding were in part to bring Eddie back to the force. It says in todays paper, he is not avaliable for comment. Does he want to come back? Do you think he will come back?
I have not spoken to Ed, so I do not know what his plans are. My understanding is that he is on the schedule for Sunday morning.
It's just me again Matt.
Reliable information has it that an officer offered to ride with Ed on his first morning back, just in case they try any "funny stuff". That's sad and it came from someone VERY RELIABLE. And yes, he will be on the job for sure Sunday morning, but Eddie's a big boy, he can handle it. I'm sure this officer who offered to "protect" Eddie from the villians, is only scared of what's to come in the PD and wants to try and get on the good side of it all. It may be too late for you BUDDY. You may be one of the ones getting canned and your probably one of the ones who was in the "bag od dirt" when it all started.
It was not in the MJ, because the MJ would have asked Surace some REAL questions, not just taken his comments and thrown them in the paper, page five at that.
Youre right, Matt, this should have been front page news in both papers.
And, the Review sure never hesitates to put a "BREAKING NEWS" item on their website if it happens LATE AT NIGHT as this supposedly did.
Matt: In the MJ today the debate in Lisbon is still on for Wednesday nite, 6 til 9. The paper listed the respondents (yes D. Lloyd is on this list). On the no response to date (yes you guessed it, Surace hasn't responded). Any surprise here?
Lloyd will not put up with the kind of undisciplined, chaotic PD that Surace has permitted.
^-- I don't agree with the "chaotic" & "undisciplined" comment. Do you REALLY know what the PD has done? & how do you know what Surace puts up with or doesn't put up with? I just think its nobodys place to state what is permitted when they really don't know.
I covered WPD and the village for years as a reporter for local newspapers. As such, I was able to see how things work from the inside. Since that time, I have kept close tabs on Wellsville by reading the papers and talking to people, both in- and outside of government.
Given the Ed Wilson situation and the divisions in the department it has caused, I see a department with a severely damaged chain of command, which to me suggests a sense of chaos.
When Chief Scarabino first took his post, I thought he did a great job in managing the department. However, the Roberts murder case (and the political forces that grew up around it) sent the department into a tailspin from which I see no evidence of recovery. The Roberts murder debacle and the attempts to nail Ed Wilson have divided both the department and the town, and that's not a good situation.
There are other issues involving the actions of part-time officers that I do not intend to go into here, but all in all, I think everyone realizes there are problems with the PD--problems that require serious attention. By no means do I blame the chief for all these problems, but since he is the chief, they inevitably fall on his shoulders. I don't envy his position.
I'm really getting tired of all the rude and inaccurate comments about Mayor Surace and WPD. Does anyone have factual proof to back these statements up? And in no way should Chief Scarabino be taking some of the crap he has been forced to. I believe he has handled the Ed Wilson situation and the Roberts case as well as he could. I support Surace and Scarbino and all of the decisions they have made. If Lloyd gets elected in to office, and all the rumors about him getting rid of our current policemen just happen to be true, he will cause a lot of problems. I, personally, feel that if Lloyd is elected and hires a new force, not only is that rude, but not a wise decision. With some of the problems that go on in other towns or villages, some of the things that go on here are nothing at all in comparison to them. I hope that the voters of Wellsville realize what problems would arrise if Lloyd is elected and do the RIGHT thing and re-elect Mayor Surace.
To Italion Stallion;
Crawl back under your rock!!!! Obviously that's wher you have been living for last decade!!!
Post a Comment
<< Home