Joe Lally fends off lawyers

As 4 p.m. neared, U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf looked at Sal DiMasi’s lawyer, Billy Cintolo, and then looked at the clock.

“Mr. Cintolo, how much longer do you anticipate?” Wolf asked.

“I’m tired, judge,” Billy sighed, “it’s been a long day.”

Billy was the last of three defense lawyers to take on the feds’ unflappable star witness, ex-Cognos software salesman Joe Lally, in a kind of marathon sumo wrestling match.

And none of these skilled lawyers pinned Lally yesterday.

“This guy could sell ice to the Eskimos,” one courtroom observer said. And judging from his two days on the witness stand, it’s clear Joe Lally could hustle the Eskimos on a deal for ice.

Yesterday was spent dredging up the huge flaws of this Willy Loman on steroids — a beefy guy with outsized appetites for gambling, the high life and … multi-million-dollar software deals with state agencies across the country.

Lally made a ton of money doing it. And he lost a ton of money to the Mashantucket Pequot tribe at Foxwoods, along with various bookies who took his sports bets and cashed Joe’s huge checks in offshore banks.

The highlight of yesterday’s theater came when Tom Drechsler, defending Lally’s former pal and uber lobbyist, Richard “Dickie” McDonough, kept lashing out about all those checks to the bookies.

Photo: Josh Reynolds for the BOSTON GLOBE

In the middle of Drechsler’s tirade, Lally pointed out that he was introduced to one of those bookmakers by his client, Dickie McDonough.

The courtroom erupted in laughter and Drechsler, ever the spitfire, replied: “Oh, and I suppose you’re going to tell us that Dick McDonough told you what kind of car to drive.”

“Actually,” Lally said, “he did.”

That was probably the $75,000 Mercedes that Lally said he had to forfeit back to Herb Chambers.

For all of his intensity, Tommy Drechsler did not challenge Lally about the veracity of the incredible scene he described on Wednesday. The Cognos deal had collapsed and a paranoid Dickie McDonough insisted on a mutual frisk for hidden microphones in the basement of Lally’s home.

Drechsler left that alone.

At the end of yesterday’s lunch break, Drechsler looked just like Billy Cintolo. “I’m tired,” he said in the outside corridor.

The lawyers for Sal DiMasi, his accountant, Richard Vitale, and Dickie McDonough all tried to pick apart the terms of the deal Lally made with the feds.

But they couldn’t erase the fact that before this flawed huckster became a “cooperating witness” against them, he had invited Sal and Dickie to his second wedding.

And they came. The feds have the wedding video.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1339282

Lawyer shells theory DiMasi was broke
/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1338743

Judge: Post was (up)load of Bull
/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1337683

DiMasi witness may be lie-ability to feds
/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1336127

Courtesy of:  masslive.com

Probation Commissioner John O’Brien suspended as Mass. Treasurer Timothy Cahill explains decision to hire O’Brien’s wife, daughter

Published: Monday, May 24, 2010, 3:45 PM     Updated: Monday, May 24, 2010, 4:03 PM

The Associated Press

This is a 4:02 p.m. update of a story posted at 10:53 this morning.

BOSTON – Massachusetts Probation Commissioner John O’Brien was suspended Monday over concerns about the hiring and promotion of probation officers.

In a joint statement issued Monday, Chief Justice Margaret Marshall and Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert Mulligan said they were deeply concerned with media reports on management practices within the Probation Department.

They said O’Brien has been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately.

Timothy P. Cahill

O’Brien’s hiring practices have been the subject of front-page stories in The Boston Globe.

The justices said they were concerned not only with the administration of the department, but with how the media reports may affect the public’s perception of the integrity of the judicial branch.

This action came on the heels of independent gubernatorial candidate Timothy P. Cahill’s statements Monday that patronage is a part of politics, but politics played no role in his decision to hire the wife and daughter of a state official who has been suspended amid allegations of rampant patronage at his own agency.

The state treasurer said he knows Probation Commissioner John O’Brien, and O’Brien has supported his political career in their hometown of Quincy. Yet he said that didn’t influence his decision to hire O’Brien’s wife, Laurie, and one of the couple’s daughters.

“There’s no personal relationship,” Cahill said of John O’Brien. “He’s not hanging out at my house or anything like that. He’s a political supporter, or has been for a while, but that didn’t influence the decisions I made about his members of his family.

“We had openings for positions. They applied for those positions. I’ve known Laurie O’Brien for a long time, because she’s a Quincy resident,” Cahill said.

Gov. Deval L. Patrick heightened attention on the issue by branding the Probation Department a “rogue agency” and urging the Legislature to pass a department-realignment bill he filed in January.

Deval L. Patrick

Cahill offered a defense of political patronage when asked about descriptions of seemingly highly qualified applicants being passed over for probation jobs in favor of those related to politicians.

“Does that not happen in government all the time?” he asked. “Obviously, it is part of the political process. It’s an unfortunate part when it’s been brought to this level.”

Cahill noted none of his family members work for O’Brien.

Patrick, a Democrat seeking re-election, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker said Attorney General Martha M. Coakley should investigate. Marshall and Mulligan appointed former Big Dig investigator Paul Ware to conduct an investigation on their behalf.

Cahill said an investigation is not needed. Rather, he supports returning oversight for the department from the legislative branch to the judiciary.

“The Legislature really deserves the blame for this,” Cahill said. “They shouldn’t have made the move when they made it. They made it simply because they wanted to control the jobs.”

He said if oversight is returned to the judicial branch, then it “could determine whether Commissioner O’Brien should stay or should leave, and they can reorganize the place around making it work for probation, making it work for public safety.”

Patrick told reporters the Probation Department is a “rogue agency.”

“What I thought was a problem may be even a bigger problem, and I want to encourage the Legislature to take up this bill,” the governor said.

His bill proposes combining the Probation and Parole departments under the executive branch, which Patrick says will create a modern agency allowing people to transition from prison life back into society. It would also give oversight to the governor instead of the Legislature.

Cahill said that would likely just shift the source of patronage, which Patrick dismissed with a quip.

“You mean, will people still ask for jobs?” the governor asked with a chuckle as he entered a student forum at Suffolk University’s Rappaport Center. “Yeah, I’m sure people would still ask for jobs.”

Nonetheless, Patrick said patronage should not just be accepted.

“I don’t think that’s enough of an explanation, and it’s certainly not one that’s going to satisfy me or anybody else in the general public,” he said.

Also Monday, all seven justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court signed an order calling for “a prompt and thorough administrative inquiry into alleged improprieties with respect to the hiring and promotion of employees within the Probation Department as well as other practices and management decisions within the Probation Department.”

The court appointed Paul Ware, an attorney with the Boston law firm of Goodwin Procter, to conduct the inquiry and report back to the court within 90 days.

Ware had previously been tapped by Attorney General Martha Coakley to oversee the criminal investigation into the fatal July 2006 Big Dig ceiling tunnel collapse.

The justices appointed Ronald Corbett, Executive Director of the Supreme Judicial Court and the former Deputy Commissioner of Probation, as acting administrator of the Probation Department to replace O’Brien.

Meanwhile, the treasurer picked up the endorsements of the patrolman’s and superior officer police unions in Quincy. He said after a month of negative ads against him by the Republican Governors Association, “It’s nice to know that people are going to stand with you.”

Lt. Timothy Sorgi, president of the Quincy Police Superior Officer’s Association, said in a statement: “Tim Cahill is a longtime friend of law enforcement and is committed to making sure that our men and women wearing the uniform have the resources and support that they need.”

© 2010 masslive.com. All rights reserved.

Special counsel’s report puts another Bulger under microscope

Top O’Brien aide suspended, may face disbarment

Related

Patronage in the Probation Dept.

• At probation, stories
  of favoritism mount
• Top House leader downplays finding of corruption in probation agency
• Special counsel’s report puts another Bulger under microscope
• Finneran was silent when queried on agency patronage
• Graphic Rigged probation
  officer job interviews
• Excerpts from the Probation
  Department investigation
• Supreme Judicial
  Court’s statement
• PDF The independent
  counsel’s report
• Highlights from the report
• Graphic Probation employees
  connected to politicians, court
• Video Report blasts ‘pervasive fraud’ in Probation Department

Christopher J. Bulger, deputy commissioner and legal counsel of the state Probation Department, was suspended with pay this week after a report detailing systemic corruption in the department accused him of “dishonest or incompetent oversight’’ of hiring.

The report of an independent counsel tapped to root out patronage in the department cited Bulger’s “misplaced loyalty’’ to his boss, Commissioner John J. O’Brien, and said that, after the commissioner was suspended, Bulger was keeping him apprised of the status of the investigation two to three times a week.

“It is clear that Bulger’s foremost loyalty even today lies with Commissioner O’Brien, not the Probation Department,’’ wrote independent counsel Paul F. Ware Jr., who called for Bulger to be suspended and reviewed by the Board of Bar Overseers for possible disbarment.

William J. Cintolo, the lawyer who represented Bulger during the investigation, said he had not yet read the report and was not able to comment on it. Bulger did not agree to an interview.

The son of former Senate president William M. Bulger was among those implicated in the investigation, in his case, in allegedly turning a blind eye to systematic hiring fraud in the Probation Department. In his testimony, Bulger denied knowledge of specific favoritism, saying he assumed the interview process was rigged to favor the politically connected, but that he also assumed patronage happens everywhere.

The second youngest of the former Senate president’s nine children, Christopher Bulger, 41, of Hanson joined the Probation Department as a lawyer in 1998 and became a deputy commissioner and legal counsel in 2008, according to the report. Before that, he worked as an assistant Norfolk district attorney.

He is only the latest member of his famous family to take his turn in the uncomfortable spotlight. His father was forced out of his job as president of the University of Massachusetts in 2003 by Governor Mitt Romney after standing by his fugitive mobster brother, James “Whitey’’ Bulger. Sought in connection with 19 killings and one of the FBI’s 10 most wanted, Whitey Bulger has eluded authorities since he fled shortly before being indicted on racketeering charges in January 1995.

In 2001 testimony before a federal grand jury, William M. Bulger acknowledged that he had shared a prearranged telephone call with his brother in 1995 and said he felt no obligation to help bring him to justice. “I do have an honest loyalty to my brother, and I care about him,’’ William Bulger had said in his testimony, according to a transcript previously obtained by the Globe. “It’s my hope that I’m never helpful to anyone against him.’’

Finneran was silent when queried on agency patronage!!!

I PLEAD THE FIFTH…

Thomas M. Finneran pushed through a 2001 change in law that gave John J. O’Brien personal control over Probation Department hiring and promotion.

(Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff File 2007)

Related

Patronage in the Probation Dept.

• At probation, stories
  of favoritism mount
• Top House leader downplays finding of corruption in probation agency
• Special counsel’s report puts another Bulger under microscope
• Finneran was silent when queried on agency patronage
• Graphic Rigged probation
  officer job interviews
• Excerpts from the Probation
  Department investigation
• Supreme Judicial
  Court’s statement
• PDF The independent
  counsel’s report
• Highlights from the report
• Graphic Probation employees
  connected to politicians, court
• Video Report blasts ‘pervasive fraud’ in Probation Department

The longtime probation commissioner — John J. O’Brien, who now faces firing and criminal investigation — is a Finneran protégé and former jogging buddy.

Wilkerson hit with another allegation

With sentencing near, prosecutors cite no-show job

Wilkerson pleaded guilty to attempted extortion.

“As outlined below, between Wilkerson’s conviction in 1997 and her plea in this case, Wilkerson repeatedly demonstrated that she believed that she was above the law,’’ said the 17-page memorandum.

Dianne Wilkerson (AP Photo/Kevin Martin, File)

Boston Councilor Chuck Turner convicted on all counts in corruption case

Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner was convicted today in a federal court in Boston on charges that he pocketed a $1,000 bribe in his district office in 2007 and later lied about it to federal agents who were interviewing him.

A US District Court jury delivered its verdict this afternoon, just a few hours into its first full day of deliberations, finding Turner guilty of attempted extortion and providing false statements to FBI agents.

The verdict came on the 13th day of a dramatic public corruption trial that featured undercover video of the moment the alleged bribe took place and the high-risk testimony and cross-examination of Turner, a long-time community activist and veteran city councilor, who steadfastly maintained his innocence.

A defiant and combative Turner, surrounded by reporters outside the courthouse, said, “I’m not the first person who’s innocent who’s gonna be sent to jail.”

“Life is life,” he said. “They made their decision. It’s a decision. As I said, I’m an organizer. I was born to be an organizer. If they’re going to send me to jail, I’ll organize in jail.”

With Turner’s felony conviction, the City Council is required by its new rules to conduct a hearing and could expel him with a two-thirds vote. The hearing could be held behind closed doors or, if Turner wishes, in public in the council chamber.

City Council President Michael Ross said ater meeting with Turner this evening that he intended to call for a hearing within the next two weeks “in order for the council to take appropriate action.”

Walsh pulls out amid uproar

Senator will not pursue $120,000-a-year state post

By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff  |  April 1, 2009

State Senator Marian Walsh abandoned her appointment yesterday to a $120,000-a-year position at a state authority, a decision that follows two tumultuous weeks for Governor Deval Patrick and was made amid what Walsh described as a “tsunami” of public outrage.

“I feel I have become the issue,” said Walsh, appearing at Patrick’s side after meeting privately with the governor in his office.

Walsh said she reached the decision to decline the job as assistant executive director at the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority on her own, with no push from the governor or his aides. She said she called Patrick’s chief of staff, Doug Rubin, on Monday night and informed him of the choice.

“This is my decision,” said Walsh, a six-term West Roxbury Democrat and one of Patrick’s earliest political supporters.

“This was not going any place that was healthy. I feel this is the best outcome,” she said. “I don’t want to be a distraction. I want to be a leader.”

Patrick’s push to get Walsh hired at the authority would have faced another potential hurdle, and fur ther media scrutiny and public anger, when the agency’s board meets April 17 to confirm the details of her employment.

Patrick said he had “mixed feelings” about the lawmaker’s decision and said, “I wish we had handled it differently.”

The governor has endured intense criticism from the public and political foes alike, and the administration’s repeated attempts at damage control have only added to the negative fallout.

Walsh said last week that she would accept $120,000 a year for the job, instead of the originally planned $175,000, a concession that spurred more anger and criticism. The administration absorbed more criticism over the last three days after a Globe story, quoting internal e-mails, showed Walsh’s appointment had been carefully orchestrated by Patrick’s top aides – despite the administration’s denials.

“I am relieved because we’ve been hammered,” Patrick said yesterday, speaking to reporters. “I also feel disappointed about the harm that has come to the senator, who is a wonderful and capable person and, I am absolutely convinced, was the right person for this assignment.”

He then put his arm around Walsh to demonstrate his support for her. “It’s been painful for me, the senator, for a whole lot of people.”

After the announcement, Patrick escorted Walsh back to the Senate, where a debate was taking place on pension reform.

The assistant executive director job at the authority had been vacant for 12 years, and Patrick and Walsh were never able to put forth an argument that convinced critics that it needed to be filled now, at a time when the state and Massachusetts residents are reeling from the recession.

Walsh insisted yesterday that she had wanted the position in order to work on the governor’s plans for reorganizing the authority and other quasi-public authorities by, among other things, “changing the culture so we can be more open.”

“There’s a whole theme here, which is why the reorganization was so central to having more economic development that is more fruitful in the near future and not waiting,” Walsh said.

But the way the appointment was handled belied her call for open government. The position had not been advertised and no search firm had been hired to compile a list of candidates. It was also not listed on an agenda for the March 12 meeting where it was unanimously approved.

Walsh’s appointment was immediately slammed by opponents as a behind-the-scenes patronage move by Patrick to force the board of an independent authority to hire a political ally with very little notice.

The state’s Republican Party said yesterday that the episode undercut Patrick’s claim to be a reformer.

“Senator Walsh has done the right thing by refusing the appointment,” said Jennifer Nassour, GOP chairwoman. “This absurd process has taught us, once again, that we cannot rely on the Patrick administration to seek real, meaningful reform on Beacon Hill.”

Patrick continued yesterday to press the issue of reform, however. He insisted that Walsh was the right person to make his case that the authority’s operations should merge some of its operations with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, contending that their duplicate efforts cost taxpayers “millions of dollars.”

He warned the authority that he would intervene again if it did not implement the changes he is seeking.

“If they don’t, we will be right back at it, inserting a change agent in there,” Patrick said.

The authority, however, released a statement rebutting the governor’s portrayal that it is inefficient. The agency issues government bonds to raise money for hospital and education construction projects in Massachusetts.

“A true model of efficiency, last year HEFA’s dedicated team worked to provide more than $4.4 billion in low-cost financing for important projects by nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts – becoming the largest issuer of tax-exempt bonds in the state and sixth largest in the nation,” the statement said. 

Not a fan, felonious Tom Finneran? Well pardon me!

Photo by Nancy Lane

Are you talkin’ to me, Felon Finneran?

I quote now from the letter that four bust-out ex-governors of Massachusetts have written to President Bush, begging them to pardon former House speaker Tommy Taxes Finneran, a man so crooked he needs a corkscrew to get into his pants in the morning.

“He has suffered daily taunts and ridicule of those who believe that every elected official is the equivalent of a common thief.”

That’s me they’re talking about. When it comes to Felon Finneran, I’m in charge of daily taunts and ridicule. But despite what the Four Stooges wrote, I don’t believe every elected official is a thief. Finneran, on the other hand, was the House speaker – a job title that lately has a higher recidivism rate than godfather of the Gambino Crime Family.

As for Tommy Taxes being a “common thief” – I would never say that. Common thieves who do the crime do the time. Finneran committed multiple counts of perjury in the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals, but was convicted of one count of obstruction of justice, and didn’t do an hour, let alone a day, in durance vile.

And he still refuses to take responsibility for his sordid life of crime. So far, he’s Alibi Ike.

First excuse: he lied under oath because he was in a hurry to drive his wife to Mass General.

Second excuse: he’d been “gulping” Advil. No joke – Tommy Taxes claimed he was “Advil-addled.”

New excuse: I’ve ruined everything for him. Yeah, and tonight I’m going to make it snow.

The Four Stooges said Felon Finneran has been “severely punished.” Really? He’s still making big money for his wretched radio show, which we call “Sweet Sixteen,” because that’s generally about where it finishes in the ratings. The Felon usually runs neck and neck with “The River,” and sometimes he even edges the Manchester N.H. soft-rock station. Sometimes. His show is so compelling it now goes off the air at 9 instead of 10, and they’re trying to prop him up with a co-host.

Finneran should be breakin’ rocks in the hot sun. He fought the law and the law won. Although I still remember the day he was “sentenced,” and how Judge Rick Stearns was almost apologizing for having to ask him the questions every convicted felon has to answer.

Are you on drugs this morning, wiseguy? You do know you can’t own a firearm anymore, maggot. But no, it was all “Mistah Speakah” this and “I know this is a silly question but . . .” I was there in the courtroom hoping to make a victim-impact statement. See, I was at the courthouse the day Felon Finneran told his string of incredible whoppers about his racist gerrymandering scheme in the city of Boston.

I was shocked, shocked, I tell you. I tried not to let it destroy my faith in the integrity of the Massachusetts Legislature. But I can’t get over it. Then last year, the Felon speculated to Gov. Patrick that I should be taken for a one-way ride in the trunk of the governor’s Coupe Deval.

You can take the felon out of the State House, but you can’t take the State House out of the felon. President Bush, don’t enough people hate you already? You don’t need your own Marc Rich.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1144332

Tom Finneran Felon Finneran

Former House speaker Thomas M. Finneran, arriving at his Mattapan home Monday. (Globe Staff Photo / Justine Hunt)
The Boston Globe

Finneran’s gathering storm

Ex-speaker’s strongest traits may have hastened his fall

By Don Aucoin, Globe Staff | June 9, 2005

It was a spring night in 2001, and the hottest question on Beacon Hill was whether the state budget proposal about to be released by the House Ways and Means Committee would contain adequate funds for the Clean Elections Law.

The law to provide public financing of campaigns had been overwhelmingly approved by voters several years earlier, but House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran had made no secret of his hostility to it, and that had spelled doom for many a measure in the State House over the years.

That made Finneran’s response all the more surprising when a reporter asked how much money would be in the Ways and Means budget for Clean Elections. ”I literally have no idea,” Finneran said. He went on to explain that he had been so busy with other legislative matters that he had left it in the hands of Ways and Means chairman John Rogers.

The notion of a hands-off approach on something Finneran cared about so deeply ran counter to everything that was known about the controlling, detail-oriented man who ran the House. But for the eight years Finneran presided as a speaker of unchallenged power, he seldom felt the need to agonize over his words or his image. Indeed, he was every inch the happy warrior, a sharp-tongued figure who freely expressed his opinions.

Yet in the aftermath of his indictment Monday on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, some wonder whether the very traits that propelled Finneran’s rise to power — a self-confidence bordering on the cocksure, a reflexive refusal to yield on points large or small, an eager appetite for political combat — may have worked together to hasten his fall.

”Hubris,” said Pamela Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause of Massachusetts, speculating on why Finneran denied any involvement in the redistricting process. ”There would have been no consequences to him had he told the truth: ‘Yes, I met with lawmakers and talked about this; yes, I met with the chairman of the committee.’ There would have been no repercussions. People would have said, ‘Look, there’s Finneran controlling the process again, but that would been, ‘Yawn, yawn, what’s new?’ ”

Finneran has vigorously maintained his innocence. Moreover, he has done so with the unambiguous force that characterized his eight years as House speaker, issuing a statement saying, ”My response to the charges brought against me today is NOT GUILTY,” and telling reporters: ”I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.”

If that is true, that would mean Finneran is less bothered by the indictment than are some of his admirers. Former House speaker David Bartley contended that the indictment is ”just outrageous,” and that Finneran is called arrogant simply for exerting strong leadership and for being unyielding in his beliefs.

Such support is a testament to the charisma and brainpower Finneran brought to the post of House speaker, along with an iron-fisted approach that made dissidents an endangered species. Critics say Finneran’s belief that he was smarter than most — an opinion honed and to an extent affirmed in the State House — contributed to his current legal predicament. In this view, the commanding — critics called it arrogant — demeanor that defined his leadership in the House simply boomeranged on the witness stand.

”He was just daring the attorneys to challenge him, to doubt him,” remarked Representative James J. Marzilli, a Democrat from Arlington who was often at loggerheads with Finneran during the decade-plus they served together in the House. ”You carry that outside this chamber, this institution, and people are a lot less willing to live by the rules he’s trying to force upon them.”

His will was so fierce, his talents so outsized, that Finneran grew used to getting his way on Beacon Hill. Often, his word literally was law. Now a jury will decide whether he broke the law with a few words of emphatic denial when he was asked, under oath, whether he knew the contents of a legislative redistricting plan before it was made public.

Lou DiNatale, director of the Center for Economic and Civic Opinion at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, said it was clear from the former speaker’s testimony that he found it ”outrageous he had to testify before a federal jury over something that speakers have done over time immemorial in every state in the country . . . to protect his party members, Democrats, and his leadership. He made a mistake. He assumed this wasn’t going to be as explosive a public issue as it became.”

Whatever the outcome, the indictment has refocused the spotlight on a figure as compelling as he is contradictory. Finneran is a student of history who loves Edward Gibbon’s ”The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” and Winston Churchill’s ”The Gathering Storm,” but he didn’t seem to see the storm gathering around him or to apprehend that his own pride and power might lead to a fall. In interviews with admirers and detractors of the former speaker, it was striking how often the twin themes of ambition and tragedy were sounded.

”Tom Finneran thought he was going to be either mayor of Boston or a United States senator,” said John McDonough, a former legislator and now executive director of Health Care for All, a consumer advocacy group. ”He clearly saw the speakership not as a terminal position but as a launching pad for something bigger. Given his ambitions, there’s a note of tragedy in it, that someone so gifted and talented was not able to capitalize on his position to achieve that bigger goal.”

Barbara Anderson, head of Citizens for Limited Taxation, considered Finneran to have ”a very thin skin stretched over a very big ego” from the day in 1991 when he ignored her outstretched hand and stalked away from her after the two did battle over Proposition 2 1/2, the tax-limiting measure that was her brainchild. Nonetheless, Anderson said, she now views Finneran as ”a tragic figure who had tremendous potential for leadership but instead he got lost in his own hubris.”

Over time, Finneran became known for what he said as much as for what he did. In the middle of the 1998 debate over how much public financing should be given to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to build a new stadium, Finneran at a dinner in Peabody dismissed the idea of a tax break for the project with a vulgarity.

In 1998, at a post-primary unity breakfast after Scott Harshbarger had won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, the facade of unity crumbled in a hurry when Finneran floated the notion that Harshbarger might drift toward ”the loony left,” a blow to a nominee who hoped and needed to appeal to moderate voters.

But for all of his swagger, the depictions of Finneran as a cartoon tyrant miss the mark, insist many who served with him, including some who lined up against him on issues or on leadership style. Most describe a man who was unfailingly cordial, who invariably recalled the names of members’ spouses and children, and who would blink back tears while discussing the challenges facing the mentally retarded.

Representative Michael Festa, a Melrose Democrat who emerged as one of Finneran’s leading critics, said, ”It’s a rare member of the House that would say they didn’t like Tom Finneran.”

Even though Festa often spoke out against Finneran’s tight control of the House, the two enjoyed a friendly relationship based on a shared love of gardening, and Festa had Finneran and his wife as a guest at his house several times. ”The man is sufficiently complex for everyone to understand he’s not that one-dimensional as a person,” Festa said.

Yet the image that came through to the outside world sometimes lacked those other dimensions. Having entered the Legislature in his late 20s, Finneran perhaps inevitably leaned on the instincts and style of a State House insider. But that very style may have worked against him on the witness stand, in the view of DiNatale, who believes that the indictment is unfair.

”Finneran got popped for the wink and the nod,” DiNatale contended. ”Because the culture of the [State House] building is ‘I know and you don’t know what’s really going on,’ the wink and the nod is the dominant form of being in the know. . . . You can play these winking games with the press, you can even play them with the Legislature. You can’t play them under oath.”

Rick Klein and Jonathan Saltzman of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

By John C. Drake, Globe Staff

State lawmakers are lining up today to reject the 5.5 percent automatic pay raise that Governor Deval Patrick set in motion, saying that with local communities facing drastic budget cuts and families facing job losses, they could not pad their own pockets at taxpayer expense.

Representative Viriato deMacedo

Representative Viriato deMacedo, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, said he would donate the raise of $3,203 to a Plymouth food pantry, which lost $150,000 in funding in the last round of budget cuts.”The pressure on them is that much greater, and they have a lot more people visiting them,” deMacedo said today of the food pantry. “It is an opportunity for me to assist the people in my community who have been hardest hit in this economic downturn.”

DeMacedo, who said he also donated his 2003 raise because it came during an economic downturn, was not the only lawmaker refusing to take the money. A spokeswoman for House Minority Leader Bradley Jones said he would not accept the pay hike. Representatives Karyn Polito, a Republican from Shrewsbury, and Democrat Garrett Bradley of Hingham are also planning to reject the raise, according to State House News Service.

Representative Harriet L. Stanley, a West Newbury Democrat, said she, too, would donate her raise to charity.

“I’m going to make sure the money stays in the seven communities I represent,” Stanley said. “Times are tough out there. They are really tough. And I’m just shocked that any index would give us a 5.5 percent increase. I thought we might actually take a cut.”

House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi defended the increase today in a statement, saying it was the product of a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1998 designed to remove legislative pay decisions from the political process. Lawmakers receive a pay raise or cut every two years that is equal to the fluctuation in the state’s median household income as determined by the governor.

“This year, it will increase modestly,” DiMasi said of legislative pay. “Next term, we have already been told to expect a pay cut.”

Early Wednesday evening, Patrick sent a letter to state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill asserting that the state’s median income increased 5.5 percent, setting in motion a pay hike of that amount. Lawmakers will see their base pay increase from $58,237 to $61,440.

The state Republican Party blasted the increase in pay, with GOP spokesman Barney Keller saying in a statement that “it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to calculate … that the amount of the raise should be exactly zero.”

Patrick sidestepped any comment on the pay raise on WTKK-FM’s “Ask the Governor” show this afternoon, saying he didn’t want to be “high-handed” in his treatment of lawmakers.

Asked what he would tell a lawmaker who wanted to know whether to accept the pay raise, he said, “My answer to him or her is to him or her and not to the general public.”

He said he could see both sides of the issue, noting that he and Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray had said “not now” to a proposed pay raise in June. “I also appreciate that legislators don’t make very much money,” Patrick said.

Michael Levenson, Martin Finucane, and Andrew Ryan of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

75 comments so far…

wow – I’m impressed …

Posted by cm January 8, 09 02:29 PM

“I also appreciate that legislators don’t make very much money,” Patrick said.

All they do is represent people, why do they need to make twice as much as the people they claim to represent? Tie the pay to the average income.

Posted by CarltonFisk January 8, 09 02:33 PM

Can we see a list of lawmakers that rejected the raise and the ones that took the raise, so we can contact our Reps and Senators to reprimand them about it?

Posted by Mikey “Insane” Monkeypants January 8, 09 02:39 PM

Can we see a list of lawmakers that rejected the raise and the ones that took the raise, so we can contact our Reps and Senators to reprimand them about it?

Posted by Mikey “Insane” Monkeypants January 8, 09 02:40 PM

Why should they get 5.5% when most people–if they are lucky–are getting 3%??? Is it because they are that much “better” than the average worker in this state?

Posted by Kittie Shroeder January 8, 09 02:42 PM

** Asked what he would tell a lawmaker who wanted to know whether to accept the pay raise, he said, “My answer to him or her is to him or her and not to the general public.” **
Everything HE does, he has to answer to the public. Shame on him for not asking the law makers whether they want to raise, which will make him look good to the general public…

Posted by Ryan January 8, 09 02:43 PM

as we prepare for job cuts to teachers, firefighters, police officers due to cuts in local aid, as state mental health workers are laid off, we are told that the state legislators are getting a raise, the governor refurnishes his limo, nice…time to do the right thing – turn down the raise this year by legislation.

Posted by Dave January 8, 09 02:49 PM

Just goes to show you, the Democratic Party is the party of the selfish and greedy.

Posted by myco1 January 8, 09 02:49 PM

“I also appreciate that legislators don’t make very much money,” Patrick said.
By what standards? What abot the per diem? What about extra $$$ for committee work? What about envelopes stuffed with cash?

Posted by ThomB January 8, 09 02:53 PM

WOW….Everywhere else in the world the average raise ( if any ) is 1-3 percent usually averaged at 2 … AND THAT’S FOR PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY WORK..But of course DiMasi would stick by the law on this one…too bad he is not as good sticking to the law elswhere. Why they would get anything now with massive layoffs and cutbacks everywhere is a trip…………only in Massachusetts !!!! I say in view of the declining economy if they must get a raise and that’s another subject, then it SHOULD be lowered accordingly.

Posted by whendoesitend January 8, 09 02:56 PM

Dimasi, you are a disgrace. I thought Bulger & Finneran were the last of the corrupt leadership, but you seem to want to take the flag. Leave it to you to try & justify a raise in these economic times when people whom have worked hard for a living actually putting in 40 hours or more per week have lost their jobs, & are facing the threat of losing their homes as well. Meanwhile you and the members of the State House of Reps have barely ever worked more than 10 hours a week for the constituents, never mind even considering doing something meaningful to work on the economic problems facing the taxpayers of this state. What a bunch of cowards we have elected, that dared not stand up to you when it came time to vote for the House Leader. Do the Taxpayers of this state a big favor & resign before the entire state goes to hell under your corrupt leadership

Posted by Dave January 8, 09 02:59 PM

Kudos to them! It’s about time you see a politician or group of politicians that do not want to line their pockets and give to the community! I hope this inspires more politicians to do the same!!

Posted by Melissa January 8, 09 02:59 PM

This isn’t clear. Donating a pay raise to charity is not rejecting a pay raise.

Posted by Sean January 8, 09 03:01 PM

don’t make much money? is their job any more challenging or important than anyone else’s? no. we are all equal. at least they make enough to pay rent in mass. enough so they don’t have to work two, three jobs to make ends meet.

Posted by sarah zappa January 8, 09 03:08 PM

PAY RAISES NOW IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO EVERY LAID OFF WORKER IN THE STATE.IT WILL BE REMEMBERED IN THE POLES.

Posted by RON MCDONALD January 8, 09 03:14 PM

They don’t make very much money? Is this guy so out of touch that he actually thinks that $58,000, plus a stipend for being a committe chair or in leadership, and a per diem is not a lot of money?? I cannot believe these people are this politically tone deaf. Today I heard that 100 mental health workers are being laid off. But, the state legislature will receive a pay raise. This is surreal.

Posted by Brian Flaherty January 8, 09 03:15 PM

And you wonder why MA towns and cities are bankrupt?!! Thank you, Mr. Cadillac….

Posted by R. B. Williams January 8, 09 03:17 PM

What is wrong with these people? Raise the tolls, get a raise, Hey is it me or has anyone noticed that great press the House has been getting these days?
I would think mumbles the Mayor might take a stand, like the song says ”

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi defended the increase today in a statement:
He must feel great to get reelected and not have the common sense to say
How the people of Massachusetss are hurting, now let’s hurt them some more.

Gred Greed Greed

Posted by JG January 8, 09 03:26 PM

Politicians doing good things? Am I in Bizarro Land?

Posted by DI$CO January 8, 09 03:27 PM

Congratulations to these folks. I’d like to see more of this at the top levels.

Posted by N.Spivey January 8, 09 03:28 PM

ok, help me out here….so they “reject” the raise, but then will “donate” it to a charity. so are they “rejecting” it or “donating” it, which is it?
because the last time i checked my accounting degree, the person who “donates” it gets credit for it against their taxes. i would not have a problem “donating” $3000 if you gave me $3000 to “donate”.

Posted by doug January 8, 09 03:29 PM

donating to charity is not the same as refusing the raise, since if they donate it to charity, it will still count towards their pension and towards future salary (are they donating that raise forever and future % raises based on the salary with the raise, even if they give it to charity. While it is cute that a few are giving the increase away (this year) it is disingenuous and deceitful to say they are refusing the raise if they are in fact donating the money to their favorite charity.

Posted by john January 8, 09 03:31 PM

I think this is silly for some lawmakers to make this into a public issue. WE THE VOTERS AGREED TO THIS! And if you don’t want to take it now, donate it like some are, but keep it quiet. What’s the use of being charitable if you’re only doing it to gain points or favor? Thats gamesmanship, not charity.

Posted by krystyn January 8, 09 03:32 PM

House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi defended the increase today in a statement, saying it was the product of a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1998 designed. Of Course he defended the pay increase, Dimasi is a CROOK.

Posted by HATETHEDEMS January 8, 09 03:32 PM

I can’t understand how this even got this far, Patrick should be ashamed of himself and this auto pay raise stunt. People are struggling with this tanking economy, real estate taxes are up this year (even though values are sinking) local benefits are just about gone, unemployment is up and all we hear about it this auto pay raise and the floor cheering iton. Wwhat a slap in the face to the people of MA.

Posted by Jim D. January 8, 09 03:32 PM

If the Republicans were smart… they would all forfeit their “raises.”

Posted by oscarbozach January 8, 09 03:35 PM

People are getting raises in the MA state government when there are tons of people getting laid off everyday?? You have got to be kidding me!! How about stuffing it!! My husband got laid off on Tuesday and went to the unemployment office on Tuesday the man working there pointed to a sign which read ” we can not take anymore claims due to the high volume until after 1 pm” My husband went back this morning and was there just after 8 am. The line must have had about 200 people in it and they only allowed 30!!! What is going on?? You are luck to have a job never mind getting a pay raise. I will not vote for anyone that acpets the pay raise!!

Posted by Joe Smo January 8, 09 03:41 PM

Democrats are such phonie’s , their job is a partime job and deval saying they dont make much just like he said anyone who is cynical is dumb . It looks like he’s the dumb one and a liars also, property tax relief remember that.

Posted by redzone300 January 8, 09 03:47 PM

This looks noble, but we put automatic raises in there for a reason. They used to get no raises for a long time, then had to take a huge increase to make up for years of stagnant wages. Having regular raises, tied to an index, so we wouldn’t have to discuss this issue again.

In reality, these raises are nothing compared to the larger overall issues. But now we’re going to have a few weeks of posturing and back and forth and ‘lets change this law’ and all kinds of other distractions about a process we put in place to avoid future distractions. sigh

Posted by John Mc January 8, 09 03:47 PM

“My answer to him or her is to him or her and not to the general public.” – that’s some quote by the governor. Unforutantely Deval Patrick is devoid of political courage, so much so that he won’t even state an opinion. Perhaps if the legislators refused this pay increase then some of the 100 mental health case managers would not have to be laid off by the state.

Posted by Dotman33 January 8, 09 03:50 PM

5.5 is pretty high. If there was no layoffs going on within the state or country the going rate is 2.5% Why did Deval go so high? I applaud those politicians that are giving the money back to their communities and am not surprised with our beloved House Speaker DiMasi

Posted by Joe January 8, 09 03:51 PM

woo hoo we do have some decent ppl in the goverment

Posted by donna simmons January 8, 09 03:51 PM

Deval Patrick should be ashamed of himself putting this increase in salary in motion, for the do nothing legislature. With all of the cuts being made in the budget and the suffering of people in this state, he has the audacity to set up a pay raise. Perhaps we should all remember this the next time he runs for public office.

Posted by L146 January 8, 09 03:53 PM

So, the state is facing budget crunches, yet more pay raises?? I’m not following the logic.

Posted by Bob Beltran January 8, 09 04:00 PM

“I also appreciate that legislators don’t make very much money,” Patrick said.
Are you kidding me!? $58k a year is not very much money? I wonder how many hours they actually put in. My wife and I work 60 hour work weeks and with the overtime we don’t even make that much a piece. We own a home in the burbs and are paying crazy property and state income taxes. Our health insurance premiums go up every year and the benefits go down. Tell the lawmakers to make do with what they get just like everyone else that has to actually work for a living. Deval is used to hanging around millionaires and is out of touch.

Posted by Tommy T January 8, 09 04:02 PM

“House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi defended the increase today in a statement, saying it was the product of a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1998 designed to remove legislative pay decisions from the political process.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How about putting it to the voters AGAIN, Speaker DiMasi? I’d bet those voters would disagree with it and repeal that “constitutional amendment” you claim we approved!

Yeah, can’t see that happening anytime soon!

Posted by Linda January 8, 09 04:06 PM

I am not sure who provided infonation to say salaries went up last year but that should be looked into with great detail. I think if that data was manipulated then
we should have some dismisals.

It was ridiculous to hand out raises when the state is short 5 billion dollars
and laying off people.

Posted by ghadi January 8, 09 04:06 PM

Operative word – SOME

Posted by justducky January 8, 09 04:08 PM

This raise should settle the debate once and for all on whether or not elected officals in Mass (or anywhere for that mater) really give a crap about anything or if they just keep inundating us wuith LIP SERVICE and then do whatever they want. DISGUSTING GREED in a time of reform…..Pathetic

Posted by david January 8, 09 04:10 PM

Where do they get the stats that state’s median income increased 5.5%? Did magic fairies deliver that on a golden scroll?

Posted by politicsasusual January 8, 09 04:14 PM

THE MONEY IS TAKEN OUT OF OUR TAXES…..AND WHERE MOST COMPANIES AREN’T GETTING RAISES, WHY SHOULD THEY? I AM APPALLED AT THE GREED…AND AT LEAST HAPPY THAT SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE THE GOOD JUDGEMENT TO REJECT THIS YEAR.

“House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi defended the increase today in a statement, saying it was the product of a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1998 designed to remove legislative pay decisions from the political process. Lawmakers receive a pay raise or cut every two years that is equal to the fluctuation in the state’s median household income as determined by the governor. ”

WHY DOES HE KEEP GETTING ELECTED?…..THIS IS NOT 1998…AND THESE ARE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES….WHAT A JERK.

Posted by CAR January 8, 09 04:15 PM

“I also appreciate that legislators don’t make very much money,” Patrick said. I would say that $61,440 is pretty good money…….for a part time job, which is what being a state legislator is. They all have real jobs they spend most of their time working at. A pay raise? I don’t think so.

Posted by BillyRay January 8, 09 04:24 PM

How big of Patrick since he now must be enjoying days off in his 10,000 sq ft (2nd) home in the Berkshires while he proposes to cut $200,000.00 out of the budget for Tufts Dental which gives fantastic services to severely disabled people. Real leadership.

Thanks to those who see that forgoing the raise or donating it to those in need is a very nice thing to do in these tough times.

Posted by jack January 8, 09 04:25 PM

Good ole Sal Dimasi.. Mr Entitlment.

Posted by Paul January 8, 09 04:29 PM

I would really be interested in seeing this formula that Governor Patrick came up with that calculates the state’s median income increased by 5.5 percent. Barney Keller said it best, “it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to calculate … that the amount of the raise should be exactly zero.” I commend those that have donated their raises to charity in these times of economic hardship.

Posted by Katie hankard January 8, 09 04:41 PM

…hah… they don’t make very much money…… I make about 2/3 of what they made before the increase and I have to suffer through a 4% pay decrease…

Posted by kf January 8, 09 04:42 PM

These pay increases should not even be on the table, I knew this would happen that’s why a yes vote on question one was needed. Same old crap in this state.

Posted by Red January 8, 09 04:45 PM

These pay increases should not even be on the table, I knew this would happen that’s why a yes vote on question one was needed. Same old crap in this state.

Posted by Red January 8, 09 04:46 PM

“My answer to him or her is to him or her and not to the general public.”

ARE YOU KIDDING DEVOLVE?? YOU work FOR the General PUBLIC!!!!
Can we get this quote in your JOKE of a book “Leadership” ????
Why didnt Obama take him away from us???

Please ..2010 cant come soon enough!!!!

Posted by Agentfostergrant January 8, 09 04:53 PM

Good for them. And Deval’s “Legislator’s dont make much” comment on WTKK today is just a blatant lie. Most of them are attorneys and accountants that do this for part-time work.

Anybody for impeaching Deval? We need this guy out of MA – and out of government.

Posted by impeachdeval January 8, 09 05:04 PM

Deval “appreciates that legislators don’t make very much money?” I made 20% less than they made before their pay increase, and that was before my 20% pay cut due to the economy and I have a bachelors degree and work in a professional office! WTF!

Posted by Smahtguy January 8, 09 05:10 PM

While laudable on the surface, it seems to me that if the lawmakers are rejecting a raise triggered by a rise in median income, then they are in fact politicizing the pay raise by rejecting it. Nobody’s tax bill is going to change one cent on account of these “selfless” legislators. They’re taking a short break from padding their pockets and greasing their friends’ palms for show.

If they want to impress me in these trying economic times, they can quit wasting half the state’s budget while looking for clever, progressive ways to waste even more (*cough* Public Health Council *cough*).

Posted by Troy C January 8, 09 05:11 PM

DiMasi defended the raises, wow, that is shocking…..

Posted by Jenn January 8, 09 05:18 PM

great mr demacedo will donate his raise…. which gives him a tax break…and of course their pension still gets an increase…so big deal.

Posted by steveh January 8, 09 05:20 PM

The point is that the lawmakers’ incomes are tied to the state economy rather than the political process and that is wise ! This year they get a raise and next year very likely not. Just like the rest of us. If some want to donate that extra to charity that’s great and if not, it is their pay.

Posted by EC January 8, 09 05:21 PM

When they take this money and donate to charity, the politician still wins and we lose. The pension gets bumped up and the politician gets the write off.

Posted by Steve January 8, 09 05:25 PM

Can they legally do this?
Here’s why I ask:
Here in Illinois, a county official made a public spectable about rejecting her pay raise, and then publicly demanded that other county elected officials do the same.
After the media circus, it was quietly leaked that she, by law, cannot refuse the raise – more to the point cannot change her base pay – in the year prior to or following an election (something like that, anyway).
Turns out that she knew before she made her public spectacle that she could not refuse her raise.
So, Globe reporters, I ask: Can the state lawmakers legally refuse the raise?

Posted by Chris in Illinois January 8, 09 05:26 PM

shame on Massachusetts. Politician’s greed is unquenchable. You WILL be found out and you WILL be VOTED out.

Posted by Deval Patrick the hat trick January 8, 09 05:35 PM

MASS. VOTERS GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY DESERVE AND HERE IT COMES!

Posted by w4846 January 8, 09 05:46 PM

Thank you, with much respect and honor to our Mass. constituents who truly have our best interest in mind. Here are representatives that truly are invested in their communities and districts and state of Mass.: Representatives Viriato deMacedo (R), Karyn Polito (R) Shrewsbury, House Minority Leader (R) Bradley Jones, Garrett Bradley (D) Hingham, and Harriet L. Stanley(D) W Newbury.

Posted by karen W January 8, 09 05:47 PM

I don’t know of anyone in the private sector who has received a raise during this time of economic crisis, I do know many who have lost their homes and jobs though. I for one am struggling to pay my bills and feed my family as I watch the government stick their greedy hands into my paycheck every week and pay for ridiculous items such as a $46,000 Cadillac or $10,000 curtains. I’d be curious to add up the total of the 5.5% pay increase and see how many mouths could be fed…

Posted by Kelli January 8, 09 05:58 PM

Massachusetts is a disgrace. These people who take this are pigs and those who do not vote them out are as stupid as they get. Or, is everyone in the State on the take? Have they no clue? Look at the other states, just in New England they are 50% higher already. This is THE problem, they think this is a real job they are a disgrace,

Posted by Scott January 8, 09 06:09 PM

Did anyone see the President-Elect’s comments today when he said “Government at every level will have to tighten its belt….”. (if you didn’t, its in another front page Globe article). He must have been talking about the other 49 states. Why do our pols think they are exempt from this?
Our elected officials are too busy working for themselves or on their re-elections. Unfortunately our own state’s ethics laws are too weak and outdated to keep up with everything that’s going on. We already have taxation without representation – its time for another tea party!!!

Posted by bogie January 8, 09 06:23 PM

When the next election comes around, let your representative know how you feel about him/ her taking a 5.5 % increase while you may have been looking at a cut. Send them down the road, to look for a REAL job.

Posted by Bruce Warner January 8, 09 06:38 PM

No matter I still say DUMP THE INCUMBENTS. Clean out the House and Senate. Time for a big time do over!

Posted by XENOPHON January 8, 09 06:45 PM

Last resident to move out of MA, remember to turn off the lights- or better yet, switch the billing to the MA legislators…..

Posted by R. B. Williams January 8, 09 07:15 PM

I think Sal DiMasi is a disgrace, but running a close second is Republican Party spokesman Barney Keller. The voters approved a constitutional amendment tying legislators’ raises to the median income. A constitutional amendment has to pass two successive legislative sessions and gain a gubernatorial signature. In 1996 the governor was a Republican, Bill Weld. In 1998, the governor was also a Republican, Paul Cellucci. If you’re going to attack the Legislature on this one, you should attack all the legislators during the 1996 and 1998 sessions — and the two Republican governors! You’re a fraud, Barney, just like DiMasi. The two of you have more in common than you know!

Posted by TellTheTruth January 8, 09 07:29 PM

Isn’t that nice, another pay raise for a bunch of useless and corrupted public officials. Don’t any of you think that they don’t make much $$$, they ALL have a perk somewhere such as a chairmanship etc. That all adds into their pay but no one is talking about it.
What did I hear the other day that politicians can ask for a raise in their pension if they don’t get re-elected, another perk! Try that if you lose your job to the recession which all these useless individuals created.
TERM LIMITATIONS is the only solution to their very lucrative positions in government and I don’t mean just at the state level!

Posted by concerned individual January 8, 09 07:35 PM

Most of you seem to be missing something. This was approved by voters in 1998, NOT something legislators voted on themselves. That said, they make plenty for what is largely a part-time job. I know at least one state senator (Scott Brown) and one state Rep. (Ross) who have other full time jobs–Ross has a funeral home, and Brown is a lawyer and a Reservist (or National Guard). I am sure others have similar positions. They should give the money to the towns in the districts they represent.

Posted by mhc90 January 8, 09 09:20 PM

5.5% is a modest raise? What world does Sal live in?

Posted by ME January 8, 09 09:30 PM

“I also appreciate that legislators don’t make very much money,” Patrick said. Before their 5.5% pay increase they make 20% more than I do, and that is before my 20% pay cut I got a month ago….I have a bachelors degree and work for a profesional company! Government is supposed to make the world a better place, not get rich! WTF!

Posted by smahtguy January 8, 09 10:10 PM

I’ve got a great idea — why don’t we get rid of at least half of the state representatives in Massachusetts. We don’t need 160 reps. for a state with only 6 million people. California, with a population of 33 million, only has 80 state reps. We could save a lot of money by getting rid of at least 80 of those state reps — at least $8 million. Then we can slash the salaries of the remaining 80 by at least 50%. We could easily save $10 million by doing these two things.

Posted by Joe Buck January 8, 09 10:26 PM

You (the Massachusetts voters) voted back in 1998 to allow the legislators pay to be raised by this amount.

Why are you so angry about something you voted on? You sound like contradictory morons.

Stop voting like idiots and maybe this state won’t be such a laughing stock!

Posted by Mikey “Insane” Monkeypants January 8, 09 11:25 PM

I don’t get what everyone’s problem is. Seriously, their wages are tied to the house median income, they get raises AND cuts according to the median income. So if they get a 5.5% increase now (to reflect the economy a year ago), then next pay change they will have a double digit decrease. They don’t set their own pay rates, the state of the economy does (albeit on a time delay)

Posted by dt January 9, 09 12:29 AM

By Shelley Murphy, Jonathan Saltzman, John C. Drake, and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner has been charged with accepting a $1,000 bribe and then lying about taking the money in a widening federal corruption inquiry.

Chuck Turner

A 12-page affidavit filed in US District Court alleges that Turner was surreptitiously videotaped accepting the cash in his district office on Aug. 3, 2007, in exchange for pushing for a liquor license for the Roxbury nightclub Dejavu. Included with the affidavit are two photographs of Turner allegedly accepting the bribe. In one image, Turner’s trademark white goatee is clearly visible as folded green bills are pressed into his hand.  Turner was arrested by the FBI in his City Hall office at 7 a.m. today on charges stemming from the undercover investigation, which led to the Oct. 28 arrest of state Senator Dianne Wilkerson on allegations that she accepted eight bribes totaling $23,500. The day of Wilkerson’s arrest, two FBI agents visited Turner at his City Hall office and he “repeatedly denied ever being offered the money,” according to the affidavit. During the interview, however, Turner rued the pervasiveness of corruption.

“If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you take out 90 percent and be left with us 10 percent,” Turner said, according to the affidavit.

The five-term city councilor made his initial appearance this afternoon in US District Court in Worcester before Magistrate Judge Timothy Hillman, who is also handling Wilkerson’s case. Turner faces charges of attempted extortion under color of official right — essentially, using his office to obtain an illegal payment — and lying to a government agent. Wearing a long-sleeve white dress shirt and brown pants, Turner was led into court with his hands cuffed behind his back. He told almost 30 supporters who attended the hearing that he needed to borrow a winter coat because the FBI pulled him out of City Hall without his jacket.

“I am absolutely positive that a jury of my peers will come to the conclusion that I am innocent,” Turner told a crush of reporters after the hearing. “I know I am innocent.”

When Turner was released on a $50,000 bond, his supporters erupted in cheers in the court’s lobby.

“I think it’s a smear campaign, convicting somebody before they even go to court,” said Kazi Toure, a Dorchester resident who has known Turner for at least 20 years. “I know he’s a good man. I know he is not a person who takes money from people to do things in the community.”

US Attorney Michael Sullivan disagreed in a statement issued earlier today.

“The public deserves, and should expect, honest services from our public officials,” Sullivan said. “Public officials who line their pockets with cash while claiming to act in the public interest, violate our laws and the trust and confidence of the public we serve.”

James Dilday, a lawyer who persuaded Turner to write a Jan. 22, 2007, letter to the Boston Licensing Board for the developers of Dejavu but dropped out after the license request was initially rejected in March, said he met Monday with Assistant US Attorney John T. McNeil. McNeil asked him about the possible involvement of others in the Dejavu payoff scandal, including Turner and State Representative Gloria L. Fox, a Boston Democrat.

“I said to him that I didn’t think Chuck was involved in any taking of any monies,” Dilday said in an interview this morning. “I got him to write a letter for me and we got turned down.”

Fox did not immediately return a phone message from the Globe seeking comment. She has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

“She’s pretty clean, from what I heard,” Dilday said of Fox. “You know the feds will ask about everybody. Nobody is beyond their vision.”

Fox also signed a letter on behalf of Dejavu that was sent to the licensing board, Dilday said. McNeil asked fewer questions about Fox than about Turner but was curious about her because of the letter, which Dilday said he wrote.

Wilkerson resigned Wednesday after nearly 16 years. She faced mounting pressure from her colleagues in the Senate to do so.

Turner, a member of the Green-Rainbow Party, has served in the City Council since 2000, representing District 7, which includes Roxbury, Lower Roxbury, and parts of the Fenway, South End, and Dorchester. City Council President Maureen E. Feeney temporarily stripped Turner today of all of his committee assignments, including the chairmanship of the committees on Education and Human Rights.

FBI agents arrived at Turner’s home in Roxbury at 6:30 a.m. but could not find him. Agents located him 30 minutes later in his office and took him into custody.

The FBI’s 18-month corruption inquiry hinges on the help of a cooperating witness identified in court documents only as “CW.” The Globe reported this month that Wilkerson has told close associates that CW is Ron Wilburn, a longtime friend and active political supporter.

In the affidavit filed today in support of Turner’s arrest, the cooperating witness is again not identified by name. In early 2007, he told investigators that he “had heard” that Turner had taken “a cash payment for writing a letter of recommendation for an individual with a criminal record,” according to the affidavit. The cooperating witness acknowledged, however, that he had never made payments to Turner.

In December 2006, the cooperating witness approached Turner and Wilkerson about securing a liquor license for Dejavu, a nightclub on Melnea Cass Boulevard that was in the districts of both lawmakers. Turner wrote a letter on behalf of the club to the licensing board in January 2007. No money exchanged hands for the letter, according to the affidavit. Dejavu’s request for the liquor license was rejected by the board in March 2007.

Over the next few months, Wilkerson is accused of accepting cash bribes of $500 and $1,000 at posh Beacon Hill restaurants Scollay Square and No. 9 Park. In July 2007, Turner began pressing for a City Council hearing for Dejavu’s liquor license, according to the affidavit.

“The CW initially offered to give Turner a fund-raiser,” according to the affidavit, and Turner gave him contact information for his fund-raising coordinator.

On Aug. 2, Wilkerson allegedly accepted a $1,000 bribe from the cooperating witness at the Fill-A-Buster restaurant across from the State House. Wilkerson told him that “they are busting tail” and Dejavu should have a liquor license in a few weeks, according to the affidavit.

The next day the cooperating witness accepted Turner’s invitation and visited him at his district office in Roxbury. According to the affidavit, “The CW then handed Turner $1,000 in cash and said, ‘You take the wife to dinner and … have some fun.’” The wad of money allegedly included five $100 bills and 10 $50 bills.

Dilday, the lawyer who worked on behalf of the developers of the nightclub, said today that it was hard to believe that Turner would promise to help the cooperating witness “for such a little bit of money.”

“I’m surprised that Chuck is involved because I always thought of him as an upstanding, honest individual, and I await the outcome,’’ said Dilday, who has known Turner since 1968. He is representing an undisclosed individual before the grand jury in connection with its investigation of Wilkerson’s alleged manipulation of legislation to pave the way for a Roxbury development.

Dilday, who is black, said he is concerned that two people arrested so far in the federal investigation are black.

“There’s a real question because this morning, two separate people said to me, ‘Where’s all the white people?’ ” he said. “Because what we’re talking about is a three-person Boston Licensing Board. They had to have approved this license, and so are any of them involved?”

Warren T. Bamford, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston office, said race hasn’t played any role in the investigation.

“Naturally, there are no racial overtones to this,” Bamford said. “We are looking at public corruption at any level and it really doesn’t matter to us, ethnicity, religion or other factors. We’re looking for honesty in public service and that’s what we are trying to maintain. The idea that this has some racial overtone or is racially motivated is not correct.”

He said public corruption investigations are one of the FBI’s top criminal priorities, second only to national security investigations.

Asked what confidence the public should have in the integrity of elected officials, US Attorney Sullivan said, “Most people serve honorably, and are faithful to their oath of office. We have charged two individuals. It is alleged they are part of this particular scheme to take cash payments, the theft of their honest services. I’m not going to comment beyond that.”

But Sullivan did indicate that neither the Legislature nor Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino have become entangled in the investigation.

“I don’t want people to speculate that members of the Legislature are complicit with regards to this investigation. There is no evidence to suggest that. And there is no evidence at all to suggest that Mayor Menino had any involvement at all with regards to that scheme,” Sullivan said.

Asked if other members of the City Council will be implicated or if people connected to the Boston Licensing Board or the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission are being investigated, Sullivan said, “I am not going to confirm or deny anything beyond the fact that our investigation continues.”

382 comments so far…

And another fish is landed. I wonder how many more will be caught in the net?

Posted by Jim L. November 21, 08 08:39 AM

and now wilkerson’s cohorts fall like dominos

Posted by wahoonbox November 21, 08 08:40 AM

oh -oh team unity. who’s next?

Posted by R&R November 21, 08 08:41 AM

This doesn’t come to me as a surprise. I bet his constituents will say he was set up and people are out to get him.

Posted by will November 21, 08 08:44 AM

Who is next?

Posted by JohnT November 21, 08 08:46 AM

There will be another one to fall, the state rep form the area where the DCR land parcel was located. Just reading the Wilkerson affidavit leads the way to Turner and Rep Z

Posted by dotDude November 21, 08 08:47 AM

hahaha. I find this man dispicable. Ever since he called a press conf to allege our troops were raping women in Iraq and claimed he had proof. Turned out all he had were still from an Eastern European porn site with people dressed up in fatigues. This man is DIRT.

Posted by bosesq. November 21, 08 08:53 AM

Will’s right – the entire community he “served” will say it was a set-up. The Feds were out to get both Dianne and Chuckie-boy. Is this just not more evidence that practically the entire Legislature is crooked? Serious reason for TERM LIMITS.

Posted by Linda November 21, 08 08:54 AM

looks like Ms. Wilkerson is singing like the jail bird she is…….

Posted by bostom November 21, 08 08:56 AM

Take them all!

Posted by david427 November 21, 08 08:56 AM

They’re dropping like flies.

Who’s Next?

They should all go to jail for the bill of goods we were sold on the big dig.

They’re all dirty.

Posted by J K T November 21, 08 08:57 AM

How long do you think it will be before they claim racism ?

Posted by red November 21, 08 08:57 AM

Is Turner related to Charles Darwin? (see photo)

Posted by Brad Fitzgerald November 21, 08 08:58 AM

Wouldn’t call it racism (Di Masshole is getting charged) but certainly there is something against repulsive looking people.

Posted by Joey November 21, 08 09:00 AM

Why people seem so sure how other people will react to this is beyond me, and a bit depressing to be honest, but I’m glad to hear we are cleaning up the pond a bit.

Posted by iLLogicaL November 21, 08 09:01 AM

Unfortunately, this trail leads all the way up to the Mayor’s office…

Posted by TLC November 21, 08 09:02 AM

At least this winter he will have a legitimate excuse for not shovelling
his sidewalk.

Posted by bob metcalf November 21, 08 09:04 AM

Race card in 5…4…3…2…1…

Posted by Chris November 21, 08 09:05 AM

Everyone says Republicans are corrupt.
All I see is Democrat after Democrat after Democrat
getting arrested for corruption around here.

We really need a Reform party in Massachusetts,
because people won’t vote republican,
and the Democrats just keep letting us down.

Posted by jon November 21, 08 09:05 AM

I wonder what all you nay-sayers will say when this leads to Therese Murray’s door!!!

Posted by LennyD November 21, 08 09:09 AM

How soon before a race card is pulled?

Posted by JJ OB November 21, 08 09:09 AM

Great ! They should keep going until they get up to Sal And Terry. Term limits are the only way to go. But the the masses will just pull the (D) lever no matter what. They deserve what they get.

Posted by Fed up taxpayer November 21, 08 09:10 AM

You know the big guy is next and there are many more to follow.

Garcia

Posted by Anonoymous November 21, 08 09:11 AM

A spider web of corruption. It’s everyplace in Massachusetts.

How can you tell if a politician is lying? Their lips are moving.

Posted by Steve L. November 21, 08 09:12 AM

What a nightmare. If these allegations are true, it will be another massive slap the face of black leadership and progressive politics in the city of Boston.

Posted by sami November 21, 08 09:13 AM

The big fish is hiding inside the boston city hall, throw the fishing net little wider.

Posted by sivakumar November 21, 08 09:13 AM

There are Republicans in Massachusetts?

Posted by Crash608 November 21, 08 09:13 AM

Hopefully, he can select from the low carb diet plan at Club Fed.

Posted by Mike November 21, 08 09:14 AM

next up, Menino..Then Boston might actually have a democracy (and a mayor who lives in the city instead of suburbia..

Posted by john November 21, 08 09:14 AM

Corruption is not just not in Boston City Hall. Look at your ill run state. It starts at the Gov’s office and works it’s way all they down to dog catcher. You guys in MA need to clean house.

Posted by Paul Bahre November 21, 08 09:15 AM

The fat lady(Wilkerson) is singing in the background to save her buttocks. Every single politician especially Mumbles and all of the Public sector unions pinkie ring leaders are crooked up to their ears. The taxpayers are getting ‘hosed’ and last NOV 4th voters missed their opportunity to send a message…enough is enough!
The pot runner retired on disability(?) firefighter was caught in AZ. He was ‘on a run’ for the leaders of the BFD union as they were planning a celebratory pot party at BFD headquarters with the useless administrators.
There is zero accountability in any government these days.

Posted by gcwnsw November 21, 08 09:16 AM

chuck has been a dedicated servant for the voiceless within boston for over 40 years. hes the only city councilor who maintains a drop in office in his own district. he apparently has funded this office out of his own pocket so that his constituents can have better access to services and support. if not for this man, there would be a devastating freeway running right through roxbury, there would be more homeless and more foreclosures, less youth jobs and opportunities, more people without heat and food. he was a civil rights leader and a community organizer, before councilor. turner was also a vocal resistor of the iraq war, well beyond the rest of the political establishment came around. he really deserves the benefit of the doubt until more details are released.

and theres at least historical justification to be skeptical of FBI attacks against progressive leaders. countelpro anyone? lets wait and see what happens.

Posted by adam taniko November 21, 08 09:17 AM

diane won’t go down alone – take them all!!!!!!!!!

Posted by goodjob November 21, 08 09:19 AM

Don’t people realize that you can run as much as you want from the FBI, eventually they will catch you. And as far as comment #20 goes, I was actually thinking that myself…give it time.

Posted by L in Boston November 21, 08 09:20 AM

Our Boston City Council has a hundred or so people as central staff and councilors’ staff. Routinely, Council public documents are withheld from people enquiring about Council proceedings and transactions. Minutes of Council public meetings are too brief to be understood by most people attempting to read these Minutes. Stenographic machine data recording councilors’ debate at public meetings has been should be readily available rather than kept at home by the budgeted Council stenographer E. Fritch Stenographic Associates.

Posted by thezak November 21, 08 09:20 AM

“Turner says ‘ …FBI.. seems to focus on taking black politicians down’” and “shows how corrupt the FBI is” Now we know Turner is guilty. He played the race card in about 30 seconds AND went after the FBI’s credibility. Hardly the words of an innocent man talking.

Posted by LMAO November 21, 08 09:21 AM

Chuck Turner is a racist himself. Racism isn’t only white people groundlessly hating non-whites, it’s non-whites groundlessly hating too. Being a crook is raceless; being busted for it is too.

Posted by Inf November 21, 08 09:22 AM

Couldn’t of happened to a better guy! ha ha ha! The troops thank you!

Posted by sarah b November 21, 08 09:23 AM

Er…the race card WAS pulled. Didn’t anyone read the last line of this article? It states: Turner said it “shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”

There you have it, folks.

Posted by phe November 21, 08 09:24 AM

I’ll bet that he hid the money in that sweet beard of his!

Posted by Marv Cook November 21, 08 09:25 AM

Please don’t show us any video tape of Chuck sticking cash in his Bra….or under his bread-crumb bread….. wonder who is next???

Posted by jack November 21, 08 09:25 AM

It’s interesting how Turner is pulling the “race card.”

Truly show’s his ignorance.

Posted by Mark N November 21, 08 09:26 AM

….the FBI affadavit also listed a state house representative as being involved in this sting…would any of you like to “name that rep”???? I think that she is packing her bags to go even as I type this….

Posted by Sharon November 21, 08 09:26 AM

Why do all you clowns in Massachusetts talk about race all the time. Now wonder people all over the country laugh at us.

Posted by Marcus johnson November 21, 08 09:27 AM

later Chuckie, it will be fun seeing who’s next, keep em comin feds
buh bye

Posted by buzzard November 21, 08 09:27 AM

“COME ON GUYS WE GOT CAUGHT!” Dianne said

Posted by The Thinker November 21, 08 09:27 AM

Wake up people from Roxbury, please! Those areas will never move forward with demagogic politicians that pray on the poor and gullible. Some still wonder why we are engulfed with tons of low-income housing, poverty and distress. We need a more diversity population that would better discriminate, and choose politicians that do not offer hand-outs, but progressive solutions to our problems.

Posted by Rod Primo November 21, 08 09:28 AM

The sad part is that this guy could be re-elected in a heartbeat; the Senator in Louisiana with the box of money in his freezer got re-elected, Barney Frank got re-elected. We reap what we sow.

Posted by al November 21, 08 09:28 AM

Yes Mr. Turner continue to play the race card as you’ve done for the last 8 years.

Posted by meffy1 November 21, 08 09:28 AM

Jail birds always sing.

Posted by djb November 21, 08 09:28 AM

If they round up all of the corrupt politicians in Mass, who will be left to govern our state?

Posted by normalTodd1 November 21, 08 09:29 AM

Base on this statement
“shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”

Race card was already being used.

Posted by Dan November 21, 08 09:30 AM

I wonder what party these two crooks are in? The article just doesn’t say. I can’t imagine why the reporters wouldn’t identify the party affiliation of these two.

Posted by Craig November 21, 08 09:31 AM

Maybe they can arrest mayor Memino for murdering the English language.

Posted by Richard November 21, 08 09:31 AM

You all obviously are not talking about the Chuck Turner that I know and all of the wonderful things that he has done for his community. Take a look at all of the people he has assisted in achieving righteousness before you speak badly of him. I support Chuck Turner and will continue to believe that he is innocent. Maybe you should do the same. MR

Posted by Marea November 21, 08 09:32 AM

This goes right to the top. Don’t stop until justice is SERVED.

Posted by Maggie J. November 21, 08 09:34 AM

If “Turner said it ‘shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.’” isn’t already “playing the race card”, what is?

Posted by remitromjr November 21, 08 09:34 AM

I wonder who has the better singing voice Chuck or Dianne. This is going to get real good. My holidays just got a littel brighter. Hope Sally DiMasi is on deck. Go get’em FBI. Anybody heard anything from Coakley?

Posted by nickpapageorgio November 21, 08 09:35 AM

It will be interesting to see who is next. Wilkerson lost her job over $23,500 in bribes which is stupid. She stood to make much more as a state senator and in legal bribes(oops I mean favors), Why get stupid and go for the illegal ones?

Oh well, we’ll see how far it gets.

Posted by dhallen November 21, 08 09:35 AM

They want Menino, they have been after him for years awhile. I keep hearing rumors in the city they are gunning for him on corruption charges. Boston seems an awful lot like Providence lately!

Posted by Paul Revere November 21, 08 09:35 AM

Hey, the lemmings keep voting these (and a long list of other) shiftless dirtbags in as well as voting to keep the income tax to finance these dirtbags. You get what you pay for, folks.

Posted by JT67 November 21, 08 09:35 AM

His beard made him do it!

Posted by T in Boston November 21, 08 09:36 AM

I guess he won’t have to worry about shoveling his sidewalk anymore…

Posted by joe November 21, 08 09:36 AM

You deserve what you get Mass Dem voters. I’m laughing as I search for another state to move to. The tax burden and the corruption have become too much, soon this state will look like Detroit and Flint if something isn’t changed.

Posted by Mass Exodus November 21, 08 09:37 AM

Chuck and Dianne are going to make it hard for young black politicians to get to these positions in the future. Their selfish acts go way beyond their own personal lives. I feel bad for the embarrassement they will have to face but I feel even worse for black politicians to follow.

Posted by Citizen November 21, 08 09:37 AM

Term limits mean even good representatives have to leave. Look at NYC where the best mayor they may have ever had has to step down. Term limits do not work as intended. Go another way, have a governmental Internal Affairs Dept.

Posted by jehosephats November 21, 08 09:37 AM

The Globe doesn’t mention It but City Councilor Chuck Turner Is a Democrat.

Posted by jellle November 21, 08 09:38 AM

“[the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”, No, corrupt black politicians! You can’t hide under the “race skirt”.

Posted by allforethics November 21, 08 09:39 AM

I don`t think this is about race or color, this is about honesty and he wan`t honest. He should go a jail if is guilty…..no questions ask….go federals

Posted by The jurol November 21, 08 09:39 AM

The people of District 7 must be so proud.

Posted by Azulmoon November 21, 08 09:39 AM

Hey! In this country a charged person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. It is not a matter of being affiliated with a specific party, though it may be some people can not resist the temptation if they feel others have been getting away with it for years.

Let’s just wait and see how this plays out, citizens are just rushing to judgement and that is not the American way.

Nonoo

Posted by Norron Lee November 21, 08 09:39 AM

Yes, but does the picture show him stuffing the dough in his bra?

Posted by bert f. November 21, 08 09:40 AM

For those of you wondering when the race card will be played, did you read the article? It is already in play. (last paragraph) “Blasting the operation as an effort to “entrap” him and “intimidate” his staff, Turner said it “shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”

Posted by AlreadyInPlay November 21, 08 09:41 AM

Ahhh, it took the 3rd to last word to claim the “R” word!
And all this time I thought they were going after corrupt, bribe-taking, lying cheating thieves.

Posted by mike November 21, 08 09:42 AM

Yes We Can (continue to be corrupted) and Yes We Can continue to get re-elected! Where’s Deval’s FBI photo? Perhaps he’s next!

Posted by nofool November 21, 08 09:43 AM

Good on the FBI. Hunt down and convict everyone who has accepted bribes. All the way to the top if that’s where it goes. Prison stripes for everyone. However, don’t claim that Republicans are totally innocent. Maybe in Massachusetts there have been no Republicans implicated but then again why bribe someone who has no power.
In states where Republicans hold power (Alaska for example) they are the ones being caught and convicted.

Posted by herta November 21, 08 09:45 AM

Given that Democrats have controlled Mass. politics at the state and local levels for generations, I would presume that such abuses of power are the NORM; not the exception. Please note that former state senator Diane Wilkerson was NOT voted out of office by her Senate colleagues: she “voluntarily” resigned.

Posted by JHHill November 21, 08 09:45 AM

Why is it wrong to take payoffs? Everyone does it.

Posted by Anonymous November 21, 08 09:46 AM

never committed a crime in my life and yet unemployed. Maybe i should run for office

Posted by unemployed November 21, 08 09:46 AM

Look for the U.S. Attorney to be gone the day after Obama is sworn in. Can’t have the liberal hub awash in corruption.

Posted by Gary Unger November 21, 08 09:47 AM

Linda is right. Term limits are necessary in order to let more corrupt politicians get their chance.

Posted by Fred Richards November 21, 08 09:47 AM

Did you all finish the article? Turner already claimed that this was because he was black. Here is the last sentence of the article:

Turner said it “shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”

This guy is horrible, I thought our elected officials were supposed to be held to a higher standard. He is doing a disservice to his community by serving in the state senate. Maybe instead of taking bribes to put in new nightclubs he should work on increasing the amount of money spent on teachers in his district. Or reducing the number of shootings.

Posted by Brent November 21, 08 09:47 AM

Well, considering how bad the bra pics of Wilkerson are, at least there aren’t any of Turner stuffing cash in, say, his jock strap. Ew.

Posted by Fifi November 21, 08 09:48 AM

Hysterical! Like his esteemed colleague, doesn’t know enough to use a middleman! Who’s next? My money is on Therese. Follow the money…

Posted by Sal Manella November 21, 08 09:49 AM

Not to speak ill of the dead, but there were well known BSC who grabbed a lot more, sometimes to help their constiuents, but always to feed the machine. That’s is just the institutional mentality that can only be corrected throught the system all at the same time.

It’s a system that does not equate “dirty” with “evil” it’s just how things get done. And it wasn’t and isn’t right.

Posted by FrankD November 21, 08 09:49 AM

H-less Jon, corruption is a bipartisan problem. You don’t see Republicans getting arrested here because nobody is going to waste money bribing people who hold no power.

We need a third party everywhere, a fiscally sensible (not necessarily conservative, but leaning that way) and socially liberal party that is beholden to no particular segment of industry or labor. The GOP drove those type of people out by letting goofballs like Pat Robertson play in their sandbox. A third party like that would win a lot of seats in every state, and give the tyranny of the middle a face and voice it now only has indirectly.

Posted by John November 21, 08 09:50 AM

While all corrupt politicians should be removed from office…a few of you guys posting sound like some real racists

Posted by shay whitey November 21, 08 09:51 AM

Is this really a shock to anyone, good old Chuckie has been a criminal for years. He also intervened in a domestic situation in Roxbury and intimidated the victim. The police charged him and when the case went to court it was dismissed in a matter of seconds. If you want something done you have to let the Feds handle it.

Posted by Ha Ha Ha November 21, 08 09:51 AM

I can’t believe the ignorance of the comments here – everybody’s guilty, blah blah blah. I don’t think you can lump Turner and Wilkerson in with anyone else. Grow up.

Posted by MaryJane November 21, 08 09:52 AM

I can’t believe the ignorance of the comments here – everybody’s guilty, blah blah blah. I don’t think you can lump Turner and Wilkerson in with anyone else. Grow up.

Posted by MaryJane November 21, 08 09:52 AM

A corrupt politician? Who’d of thunk it!

Posted by No suprize November 21, 08 09:53 AM

Race card at 11.

Posted by vj November 21, 08 09:53 AM

All politicians are corrupt. How can you possibly get rid of all of them? Of course he’s going to blame the FBI and use the race card. What are his alternatives. When you’re guilty, it’s all you can do is try to blame others. He’s just another loser!

Posted by Cookie39 November 21, 08 09:53 AM

I just read that Turner is saying the FBI is trying to take down Black politicians, Yes, the FBI is trying to take down politicians, corrupt ones, not just black.
Glad Wilkerson is cooperating, maybe she will be out in 40 years….

Posted by Maureen Golden November 21, 08 09:53 AM

Two respected african-americans taken down by the white racsist FBI. This is entrapment. Anybody would take cash if someone handed it to you. We need to think about this lodgeically.

Posted by Joe Black November 21, 08 09:55 AM

YES!!!!

Finally accountability. Yes yes yes

Posted by Poo Bear November 21, 08 09:56 AM

Wow what a blow to the inner city. Term limits is a must. Looks like no one in the goverment can be trusted. Here we are assuming these people are hardworking honest folk doing the best for the people. Well you know what they say abou assuming. Thanks Chuck we truly use to look up to you

Posted by ES November 21, 08 09:56 AM

jon said “Everyone says Republicans are corrupt. All I see is Democrat after Democrat after Democrat getting arrested for corruption around here.”
Well, jon, not “everyone” says Republicans are corrupt. In fact, because the percentage of Democrats in office in Mass. is so high, we’re way more likely to find corruption among Democrats. I agree that we need reform — we need to reform the entire political system. I happen to be a liberal independent who would like to be able to vote for NON-Republicans and NON-Democrats and have my vote really mean something.

Posted by 02124 November 21, 08 09:57 AM

please take his disgraced honor Menino out next
I mean GET OUT of office
let someone else in
the fish rots from the head down

Posted by JP resident life time November 21, 08 09:57 AM

I read everyone saying race this and race that…It really doesn’t matter the color of the skin..Lots of politicians are corrupt, White, Black, or indifferent. Why are people even wasting their time worrying about race? The bigger issue is the bad politics and the fact that these things are happening locally, nationally and internationally. Big name, or no name politicians. Democrat or republican.
This is a tired nation…Pathetic…But it happens everywhere.

Posted by Mike Stanton November 21, 08 09:57 AM

Yah know, it just makes everyone look bad when he pulls the race card. It’s like me saying the police are sexist when they pull me over because I’m a woman and thus a horrible driver. No, it’s because I was speeding and deserve a ticket. He didn’t get arrested because he was black, he was arrested because he took money that he shouldn’t have. It’s a matter of accountability. As long as races and genders pull those cards society won’t progress for the better.

Posted by journeygirl November 21, 08 09:57 AM

Ha,Ha, time to get out the popcorn. This is really getting fun to watch. Who’s next, Menino, DeMasi, Murray, Coakley…?

Posted by CarveMaster November 21, 08 09:58 AM

It amazes me that people have a camera and microphone thrust in front of them and deny deny deny. maybe he can be Diane Wilkerson’s attorney and she can be his attorney.

Posted by carol November 21, 08 09:58 AM

they are are crooked now the birds will sing they are just the ones that caught so far thats were our tax money its not abount if you work hard to support your family its who you know that is crooked they can fix anything that someone does wrong thank you FBI for catching them

Posted by rich hanlon November 21, 08 09:58 AM

Where is the state AG in this? Failing to perform her duties.

Posted by Joel November 21, 08 09:59 AM

mumbles is many things….but corrupt is not one of them.

Posted by Sharon November 21, 08 09:59 AM

With all the “change” that took place on November 4th, why are things still so much the same? The citizens of this state should realize that a system of checks and balances is the only way to move forward. We need to vote in some republicans and independents to keep people honest and stir up some debate. Continuing to fill Beacon Hill with yes men will only encourage more of the same. It’s time for us to accept that the incumbents are not doing the jobs they promised here or in Washington and to speak up. Votes in my home cancel each other out and discussion leads to good decision making.

Posted by Mass Republican November 21, 08 10:00 AM

Dear God, please let it lead to Menino. Free us from this tyranny.

Posted by bdjohnson75 November 21, 08 10:00 AM

I hope Wilkerson sings like a bird, and all the state legislature members goes to jail. We have too many of them for such a small state, and the majority (i.e. the ones not based in Boston) have no say in any matters and do not affect policy in any manner. They don’t do a better job than the legislatures from other states which are part time, and think of the money we would saved cutting donw on the number of them (and their many relatives who work for the state).

Posted by Tom November 21, 08 10:01 AM

Another corrupt Mass politician …. And state workers doing drugs on the job (the T …). Raising the turnpike tolls so these crooks can continue to waste our money! So this is what I am paying my taxes for !!!! Anyone want to reconsider their vote on ballot question 1???

Posted by PlumHunter November 21, 08 10:01 AM

He already played the race card… Did you guys not read the article? The question is now will the media let him toss that kind of rhetoric with no hard questions about what a jerk he is and how he prefers his prison cell…

Posted by slinky November 21, 08 10:01 AM

This question is for JJ Ob. Why the race card? The rest of the country laughs at us abou this.

Posted by ken November 21, 08 10:02 AM

Let’s get some new bums in there to disgrace the Commonwealth, breach the public’s trust, and line their pockets with kickbacks.

Posted by FBAIRD November 21, 08 10:03 AM

Red, JJ OB and Chris, the race card was already pulled. Learn to read.

Posted by Situation November 21, 08 10:04 AM

I predict Dimasi (criminal), Murray (criminal) and then Coakley (do-nothing) will go the way of Wilkerson (rat) and Turner (criminal).

Posted by kn4eva November 21, 08 10:04 AM

This is just sad, 1st off these are people we rely on to represent us and they seem more interested in CASH. Being an African American I feel deeply betrayed by these two who talked the loudest about racism and how unjust government is. They have been drinking some over proof Kool-Aid. It’s not about black or white it about morality and being honest .These two idiots sorry, detractors have taken the progress of Obama, Patrick, and every other hard working minority and left a steamer on us for what, CASH. You greedy, self absorbed, pompous, nitwit’s .And they get up in arms when the “N” word is used. Please how dare you; your constant and sadly predictable actions are equal to the definition of the word.
If you all are so lame as to even pull the race card on something as so blantely wrong, and hide behind it, then shame on you. So what happens when real racism happens what then…..Sal and Terry will get theirs and that’s fine but you two let EVERYONE down.

Posted by Horace Silver November 21, 08 10:05 AM

Race card? Give me a break. The only color that matters to corrupt officials is GREEN. I have no doubt that someone will try to pull the card, but this has nothing to do with race. Right now its Wilkerson and Chuck, but I would not be surprised is this thing goes beyond these two…

Posted by Korrupt November 21, 08 10:05 AM

I am one of his constituents in Roxbury and I definitely do not think that the FBI is out to get him. I think that especially in our community we need someone who is looking out for our best interests and not their own. His arrest and the arrest of Diane Wilkerson are truly heartbreaking and disappointing. We deserve better.

Posted by Jackie November 21, 08 10:06 AM

I am one of his constituents in Roxbury and I definitely do not think that the FBI is out to get him. I think that especially in our community we need someone who is looking out for our best interests and not their own. His arrest and the arrest of Diane Wilkerson are truly heartbreaking and disappointing. We deserve better.

Posted by Jackie November 21, 08 10:06 AM

this is not something that is just happening here in MA. all over the country elected officials are taking bribes and kickbacks. what has happened to the morals and honesty in this world ? this is just sad.

Posted by theresa November 21, 08 10:06 AM

I can’t believe he tried to play the race card! Just shows you what type of low life he is. He got caught, plain and simple.

Posted by JZ November 21, 08 10:08 AM

What is wrong with Bostonians? They keep electing the same criminals and then complain about it. Are Bostonians drinking the water from the Charles?

Posted by apathy November 21, 08 10:09 AM

WHAT!!! There’s corruption in MA politics?? Well I never……

Ha! I can hear the scurrying on Beacon Hill from here.

Next……….

Posted by Stuck on this ride November 21, 08 10:09 AM

As an African American I am frustrated, embarrassed and ashamed by Turner screaming racism when caught red-handed. Turner committed these acts of greed and abuse because he is greedy – not because he is black. He got caught because he is greedy – not because he is black. The truth is Turner were caught because he abused the power given to him as an elected offcial – not because of his color.

Posted by David November 21, 08 10:11 AM

Corruption has no race. When this is over there are sure to be both black and white Boston pols wearing black and white prison suits.

Posted by Deez November 21, 08 10:13 AM

How long will it be before he claims racism? He already did. The new definitation of racism is any suggestion that a black politican has done anything wrong, or to ask questions about their policy.

If you are not in total agreement with them, your a racist. If they want to raise your taxes and you ask why, your a racist. If you catch them taking bribes or not paying their federal income tax, your a racist.

Posted by Heather November 21, 08 10:15 AM

Chuckie T is going down, Dianne the Rat is so very busy this holiday season! Santa’s naughty list is getting bigger and bigger, no new bras for Ms. D for Christmas, and Chuckie won’t get a new beard comb in his stocking.

Posted by Sue November 21, 08 10:15 AM

posting no. 8 Linda nov.21 is the only correct method to straighten out our political mess “TERM LIMITS” I have been saying this for the last 16 years ask anyone in my family (this should be for all political offices)!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by william c Luosey November 21, 08 10:16 AM

Will, why do you say his (Turner’s) constituents ? What are you really saying ? It pretty obvious what your about, and what your implying. Do you make these generalizations about other corrupt politicians. For example, did you blame the people of Alaska for Senator Stevens corruption. Have you ever done a study on the ethnic make up of convicted politicians and their “constituent base” across the country ? Maybe you should do that before making such commentary without foundation.

Posted by get the point November 21, 08 10:17 AM

Racism has deep, enduring roots in Boston, but that does not excuse the crminal behavior of Wilkerson or Turner. Unfortunately, there is a depsrate need for new leadership in Boston’s AfroAmerican community to truly serve the disenfranchised, poor, undereducated communities that remain largely hidden beneath Boston’s mask as a liberal, well educated, economically productive and creative metropolis. I want to see some white guys indicted now in this city and state where systemic corrpution exists in agencies and at all leves of government. And, yes, Hilda, the guys reign here in the fifedom of MA.

Posted by Louise Venden November 21, 08 10:18 AM

It’s interesting that the story never mentions his political affiliation- If he was a republican, I suspect that would included.

Posted by Martin McGouldrick November 21, 08 10:18 AM

I dont get it. The video is from August 07. That was over a year ago. What did Wilkerson have the tape or something? Someone please explain.

Posted by Dantheman November 21, 08 10:18 AM

What you are witnessing is the fruits of a one party system and the concentration of power in Boston to the detriment of the rest of the state. Commonsense takes a backseat to bandwagon of corrupt politicians that this state produces. Three speakers in a row have been charged with malfeasance of office, while standing on the “moral” principals that gaming would be bad for Massachusetts. The state legislature has rejected the wishes of the people in referendum after referendum and stack the cards in their favor on the few they do pay attention to. This is a very corrupt system and it is clear that if the top is on the take the bottom is not far behind .

Posted by VFS November 21, 08 10:19 AM

IM SURE THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME. I KNEW DIANE WAS NOT IN IT ALL BY HERSELF. I JUST HOPE THAT MENINO AINT IN ON IT TOO. NOW THAT WOULD BE A SAD SITUATION.

Posted by HATEMASSTAXACHUSETTS November 21, 08 10:20 AM

I don’t know who’s running the Dem party up there, but they better get their act together and clean up this mess or Mass will be going red, and I hate damn republicans worse than i hate yankee fans.

Posted by Paul Armstrong November 21, 08 10:21 AM

Wake up MA. We vote down question #1 and within 3 weeks they raise tolls and talk of raises gas taxes.

Look at this corruption and racism on the part of Turner and Wilkerson (they are both bigots).

We need another party in the state. I would opt for a libertarian party. Socially liberal and fiscally conservative – in short, the “leave me alone” party.

Have fun in prison Chuckie. I think they will find you to be quite a cutie.

Posted by Theheraldisbetter November 21, 08 10:24 AM

Question for Heather, Are you a racist?

Posted by Marcus johnson November 21, 08 10:25 AM

This is an embarrassment to the Boston Community. Now I know why my city has gone downhill, the people we elect to help the community are too busy helping themselves. He better not pull the race card! As a black woman I find it highly offensive! Kids are killing each other on the street and the people we elect that we think can “relate” to our suffering give give a rat’s a**.

Posted by mariaG November 21, 08 10:26 AM

Folks…..go back and read the FBI Affadavit. Dianne did not need to “sing”…the serial numbers for all of those $100 bills that she was given were recorded. The FBI only needed to follow the money….not to mention the video, audio, photo evidence on both of them….now for the state house rep that is next in line….. as I mentioned earlier mumbles menino may be many things, but stupid and corrupt are not among them. stay tuned.

Posted by Sharon November 21, 08 10:28 AM

How about to put in Jail Mr Criminal Bush who has lost more than 600 billions dollars in a war with lies and killed one million people in Iraq for oil.

Posted by LUIS BECK November 21, 08 10:28 AM

The comments in this blog show just how ignorant people of Mass are. I am sure the majority of the comments are coming from White folks. Well I can’t wait for some of the “good ole boys” start singing in jail as well. Come on, there are few white boys up there sweating to death to see the next one they bring out in hand cuffs. I am not sure if the blogs would be the same once some people of color are not the only one’s on the chopping block. The FBI is trying to bring down the black elected officials, this dance is the same dance that happen with Martin Luther King and Malcom X. Black folks need to stick together and start yelling for the probe to start targeting some white elected officials. We as black folks know “we” can’t do nothing alone without the help of some white folks in hand as they say they have the real power. Come on FBI get the real crooks.

Posted by WHEN ARE THE WHITE BOYS AND GIRLS COMING HOME TO ROOST! November 21, 08 10:29 AM

Why should I be surprised?

Posted by LastAmerican November 21, 08 10:29 AM

Why should I be surprised?

Posted by LastAmerican November 21, 08 10:29 AM

Chuck has a office in Dudley to serve folks. How many other city or state officials do that? and it is open five days a week. Chuck it at almost every rally for human rights and anti war. How many other elected officials do that? Chuck has always gone beyond what his work is! I wish we had more elected offficials willing to take a stand like Chuck!

Posted by Dan November 21, 08 10:31 AM

This just proves that nothing has change in Boston City politics since the turn of the century. It’s still a haven for the crooked and corrupt. An apology or a probe by the city won’t do anything to restore my trust, it’s going to take many years for my confidence to be restored in the local government.

Posted by Jack November 21, 08 10:34 AM

You know he wasn’t using that $1000 to hire someone to shovel the snow from his sidewalk. What a jerk!

Posted by Fletcher B. Evans November 21, 08 10:35 AM

if we have to pay there legal fees i will sue as a tax payer for there property to refund my tax dollars……i think there homes and bank accounts should be seized…if they don’t want that to happen then they should take back there request for legal counsel from the state and get there own, this thing is gonna get ugly… a lot of people on the hill are scrambling , and i bet city hall is mopping up the sweat right now… we may have an entire city and state government under seige. its far over due…..i wonder how many state and city employees own land they aquired in sweetheart deals>??? lets check that out next!!!!

Posted by sick of it November 21, 08 10:35 AM

Who cares what party they belong to. The only label these jerks should have is PRISONER!! And maybe they can pay back ALL of their salary to the people of the state.

Posted by sickofpolitics November 21, 08 10:36 AM

For all that anxiously awaits the race card to be plucked from a deck of diamonds and hearts –> You will be disappointed. This is a serious issue at hand. This new administration will whole heartedly begin to seperate the sheep from the goats.. You’ll see..

Posted by Clayton Bigsby November 21, 08 10:36 AM

This is a very sad day for the district and for the City. If the allegations are proven true, Mr. Turner and Ms. Wilkerson are going to serve prison time in addition to their character being damaged forever. This was caused by there own alleged actions – they allowed themselves to be a target and take the bait. I cannot judge them; only they know why they accepted the cash. Frankly, both of them should have seen how too easy this was. I do wonder what was going through their mine. I am saddened for their family and the constituents who supported them. If true, an entire community has been let down. I pray for them and their families.

Posted by Evangelist Branch November 21, 08 10:39 AM

That is not a goatee, it is a van dyke. Where are the fact checkers!

Posted by stace November 21, 08 10:40 AM

Chuck Turner: arrogant, ignorant, prejudiced, racist, recidivist, and now convict…

Posted by whatcomesaround November 21, 08 10:41 AM

Elect them President no matter what color their skin is, and send the crooks to jail no matter what color their skin is. It’s called a just society.

Posted by NHViewpoint November 21, 08 10:41 AM

Who’s Next? I hope they keep going till they get them all……

Posted by Zoe November 21, 08 10:42 AM

Did Deval make robocalls for him as he did Diane? What a swell judge of character he is. Between messes like this, the turnpike-toll swamp, the T drivers working half-cocked, Marzilli, DiMasi and Bulger’s perpetual pension grabs, it’s hard to think of a lower form of life than municipal employees in Mass right now. Since they’re all Dems, hopefully Obama will give them all jobs..maybe land mine quality control at the Pentagon.

Posted by Devlin November 21, 08 10:43 AM

Why are they only targeting the minority politicians?

Posted by Bill November 21, 08 10:43 AM

“If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you take out 90 % and be left with us 10 %,” Turner said, according to the affidavit!!! OMG! Is that really the attitude up there?? Everyone else is doing it, get your share too. He would know being up there for 7 years and being exposed to the inner party.

Posted by bahhhoo November 21, 08 10:45 AM

Yeah the race card will be used somehow, but I think it will be laughed at this time.

But the excuse should be good… that is what I want to hear.

Some issue with bills or somthing I’m sure…. Col Sanders is going down.

Posted by Jo November 21, 08 10:45 AM

Well, well, well – its funny how the self absorbed politicians often sabotage their own success. Turner, Wilkerson and others often forget the true nature of why they enter public service. Instead of serving for the public, they are only concerned of “getting theirs”. The only sympathy that I have is for the hard working people of the communities affected by the greed of Wilkerson and Turner and that they are again without a voice and a vision.

Posted by Peter November 21, 08 10:46 AM

I LOVE IT !!!!!

Take Them All Down….

I can’t wait until Menino’s MUG is on here…. (It’ll be like the pool scene in “American Gangster” for Mumbles. )

Posted by Kevin P November 21, 08 10:47 AM

Why are you guys acting like Turner and Wilkerson are the only two ever in the history of Massachusetts politics to be corrupt? I”ll take ANYONE accepting a 1k bribe for a liquor license over HALF of the most despicable charges that members of council have swept under the rug ANY DAY. Drugs, embezzlement of OUR TAX money, fraud, domestic violence, sexual deviation.. the LIST GOES ON….. umm and our beloved Kennedy who left a girl in a car that ‘rolled’ into water. GIVE ME A BREAK!

*Yawn* wake me when a real crime has been committed. Wake me when the councilman or woman that’s arrested for drunk driving is finally taken off the streets. Wake me when that same drunk driver who will one day hit and kill someone IS ACTUALLY PUNISHED FOR THE CRIME. *YAWN*.

Posted by Siobhan O’Reilly November 21, 08 10:48 AM

I would bet Mike Ross is next…

Posted by jennifer November 21, 08 10:48 AM

And Masschusetts voters voted no on Question 1. You get what you pay for…

Posted by Brian November 21, 08 10:49 AM

Sharon is right, Dianne did not have to sing (as if ratting out a lowly city councillor would help her with th feds). Just read the affidavit from her bust (pardon the pun) and you’ll see that the local developer told the FBI undercovers that in addition to the senator, there was a councillor and state rep who need “the report” (code for payola)
The development parcel was in both of their districts and Rep Z will be coming next. Lets just say she is crazy like a ###.

Posted by dotDude November 21, 08 10:52 AM

Of course he, like her, will play the RACE CARD to deflect truth and corrupt further, their positions, these people are scum.
Obama has enabled the playing of the race card and the race blame
If you’re African american you should be held to a lower standard for all the past evils African Americans suffered?

Posted by Spicecowboy November 21, 08 10:53 AM

I’m this is going to start an avalanche of hacks spilling their guts first to get the best deal. This a really sad state of affairs. We really are turning into a banana republic.

Posted by daniel dunn November 21, 08 10:53 AM

The race card will not be used because racism is dead. Obama was voted in by the white vote. If America’s white people are racist, then why would they entrust their own livelihood, the country’s safety, and their children’s future with Obama, the most important job in the world? However you cut it, you have no argument. Mr Jackson and Mr. Sharpton will stop playing the victim and look for new jobs.

Posted by Obama supporter November 21, 08 10:54 AM

with luck MENINO will be next… he’s no different than Buddy Cianci in Providence, strong-arming companies to ‘donate’ to his causes (Fenway Field in Roxbury, the summer camp on Long Island) – in turn for ‘favors’.

Perhaps Boston will be “FIRST and BEST” at corruption!

Posted by BostonHippo November 21, 08 10:56 AM

The government and banks just stole 5 trillion from us and we are foaming at the mouth over a fistful of dollars? This guy is a cookie thief compared to the bankers. When the full nature of the banker heist comes to light, you will pine for the days of “boss hog” corruption.

Peace

Posted by b November 21, 08 11:00 AM

He’s been a lousy city councilor, who is more interested in “foreign policy” and self agrandizement than governing Boston well. I’m a little surprised he’s a crook though.

But never that surprised to find out a politician is a crook, especially in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. I do hope they get a bunch of the white crooks too, though. I don’t think its racist to arrest people who are crooked, whatever their race, but it wouldn’t be fair to ignore the white crooks.

Notice how the “progressive” politicians seem to be falling like flies? I’m really starting to dislike the progressive movement intensely. It seems to be mostly about self righteousness

Posted by charles November 21, 08 11:00 AM

Let me preface this by saying that I am a Republican. Corrupt politicians are a problem in both parties. The public should have no patience or tolerance with this activity and should demand further scrutiny and investigations. Sarah Palin did a great job of getting rid of all the corrupt republicans in Alaska – an act that more politicians should have the guts (and feel obligated) to do. I am not saying Palin should be a VP or President of the US based on this, but she should have received credit where credit is due. And I don’t believe the media or the majority of Americans acknowledged this and said “more politicians should foolow suit.” AAnd that is a negative effect of partisan politics.

Posted by Rob November 21, 08 11:02 AM

SpiceCowboy said: Obama has enabled the playing of the race card and the race blame
How do you figure that one? Corruption comes in all colors. Look up the history of this city buddy. Obama and his election has nothing to do with it. If you’re sorry you’re guy didn’t win, time to find another excuse. Everyone who is corrupt–no matter their color, should be prosecuted. Period.

Posted by Stella November 21, 08 11:04 AM

When he posted pictures on is web site of American troops raping Iraqi women that was from a Romanian porn site. THAT WAS CRIMINAL. It was the supreme insult to our men and women both Black and White that are serving our country proudly in Iraq and Afghanistan. For that alone he shouldn’t have been elected. I hope he gets convicted not for bribery but for insulting our Troops. The fine people of that area deserve better and hopefully will get a person that will serve them honorably like our troops both Black and White serve our country.
TomB

Posted by Thomas Boussy November 21, 08 11:05 AM

I think No-Fool is a racist. Look at his/her comments on other blogs (about Pirates for example).

Posted by Situation November 21, 08 11:06 AM

I have lived in Boston, Jamaica Plain for 65 years. I have watched blue hill ave, dorchester, mattapan, columbia road, I could go on and on, being revitalized at least 5 times in my lifetime…When will they get it right…Dianne and Chuckie have been in the middle of this all these years…we pay…they play…no race card….we have an african american president…so that argument is down the tubes…get rid of them all…TERM LIMITS

Posted by meme November 21, 08 11:07 AM

comment #105 – EXACTLY, why can’t our STATE handle the corruption itself? Why do we need help from the FEDS (FBI)? Did the A.G and State just ignore prior complaints? This makes the state look guilty/suspicious.

Posted by jack November 21, 08 11:11 AM

to Siobhan O’Reilly….wake you when a “real crime” has taken place??? Taking a bribe is against the law, and it is one of the most dangerous laws to break. You obviously don’t comprehend that corruption is one of the worst things a public offical can take part in. It allows the city to be put up for sale, and awarded to the highest bidders. Maybe if the Deja Vu nightclub was not so busy lining the pockets of (hopefully soon to be former) Councilman Turner, his focus may have been on the safety of the kids in his district in Roxbury and Dorchester. I seem to recall a story or two of street violence taking place there????

Posted by ChrisF November 21, 08 11:13 AM

It is no use to play the race card when the lady holding the scales of justice is wearing a blind fold.
Just another money crisis.

Posted by Georgie Pardy November 21, 08 11:16 AM

Wow, this is great. This guy has been screaming “victim” for a long time now. Guess dirty politicians are equal, no matter the color of their skin.

Posted by Tim November 21, 08 11:16 AM

To # 48: Excuse me…I don’t seem to recall Barney Frank’s name EVER being linked to any kind of criminal activity like this. So your point is…?

Posted by charlie November 21, 08 11:16 AM

How can these politicians be so stupid! When the feds ask you have you taken a bribe they already have proof that you did. They just want to add on to your possible sentencing. Times must be hard if you will risk your career over $1000.

Posted by Michael November 21, 08 11:18 AM

Seems as if the only RACE CARD is from the nitwits on this site! If someone is corrupt than they should get arrested and made to step down as they are there to help the people and not themselves.

If the FBI’s checking out EVERYONE then more power to them and more help for us but if they are only after the minorities and the little money then God help them and then you you can start to wonder why.

People need to get over how everyone looks and look beyond…bad people come in all colors.

Posted by Membsie November 21, 08 11:18 AM

I don’t believe race has anything to do with it. If they are corrupt, they should be prosecuted. I do have issues with the photographs of any politician that is photographed seemingly taking a bribe. Let’s see some actual video tape of the alleged crimes. Photos don’t always give you the big picture. We don’t know how much money Chuck and Diane are holding, we also don’t know what the $$$ is actually for. Diane’s photo was more incriminating because she was stuffing something under her sweater. I don’t think you actually saw the $$ being stuffed, just her reaching under. Isn’t everyone innocent until proven guilty????

Posted by H. in Needham November 21, 08 11:21 AM

I try to never play the race card, but I hope it’s diversed when they start bring out the corrupt politicians down. You do the crime, then you need to do the time. You can’t just bring a certain group down and not the rest, let them all go down!

Posted by Cangel November 21, 08 11:21 AM

Let’s stop with the racism folks. He’s another American politician who got caught beating the American public.

Posted by Cat November 21, 08 11:23 AM

If were left with 10% HONEST ones the so be it.

Crooks should be in JAIL!

Posted by rich mad November 21, 08 11:24 AM

He who is without sin, cast for first stone

Posted by Donna November 21, 08 11:29 AM

Bizarro how some people want to make this about Republican/Democrat press bias. Sad for you: Chuck Turner is a member of the Green-Rainbow Party.

Posted by localguy November 21, 08 11:32 AM

The Globe’s coverage of corruption leaves the impression to many commenting here that corruption is a racial issue. It’s not. Whatever the percentage is of corruption in Massachusetts officials that percentage is going to fall without regard for race. Let’s not forget that the majority of civic leaders in Massachusetts towns and cities are other than black. We know that corruption is also happening in those places because power corrupts; when it does, it does not do so along any racial lines. These grainy images of money passing hands are salacious, to be sure. It’s tempting to believe these gratifications represent the worst of the worst. However, I’m sure that out in the parishes bigger fish are openly cavorting in seas of tainted cash having normalized corrupt practices in the full light of day.

Posted by S. McSeam November 21, 08 11:32 AM

Term limits is not needed, just promise yourself not to vote for an incumbent in any election for the next six years. That will take care of everything.

Posted by Michael Mulligan November 21, 08 11:32 AM

This is what happens when you have a one-party state, the Globe and the citizens shoulder the blame for repeatedly refusing anyone with an “R” next to their name.

Posted by Concerned November 21, 08 11:32 AM

Race card in 5…4…3…2…1…

Posted by GoodEffort November 21, 08 11:36 AM

This is perfect. They’re knocking down the small guys to get leads and testimony on the bigger ones. Just watch. This is going to be the best thing that’s happened to this state in a long time.

Posted by Take ‘em all down November 21, 08 11:36 AM

It is sad that it takes FBI arrests to “clean up” our local government of corrupt officials….

Posted by Red November 21, 08 11:37 AM

To #179

Barney Frank was censured for fixing parking tickets for his boyfriend. Also his boyfriend was running a brothel out of Barney Franks apartment for which he was convicted

Posted by outpostinmass November 21, 08 11:38 AM

Comment #174: What a ridiculious statement. Living in Jamaica Plain for 65 years does mean that for those 65 years you have sat on the fence and watched the development of Blue Hill Avenue etc. and never came off the fence and give your physical or mental support for any of the projects in the Communities of Color but, you can find the time to speak about members of the community that have helped us over the years with the development of projects along the Blue Hill Corridor when no one was there for us. We are very grateful for their support and will continue to support them during their time of need. . . Continue to to sit on the fence looking out of your front window. That’s where you belong.

Posted by Claudia November 21, 08 11:39 AM

167: I agree that Obama getting elected should eliminate black people from being able to play the race card. Obviously it hasn’t. Racism certainly is not dead. How many people voted for or against Obama simply because he’s black?

Racism won’t be dead until everyone stops worrying so much about people’s skin color. Do away with all the statistics. Whether someone is running for president, applying for a job, applying to a school, or getting arrested for accepting bribes… skin color should not even be considered.

Posted by Dantheman November 21, 08 11:39 AM

This is what happens with one-party rule. An opposition party would help keep these guys honest. But we keep electing the same people. We Mass. voters deserve this. Really, we do….

Posted by Grego November 21, 08 11:40 AM

Rich Mad I couldn’t Agree more.

“If were left with 10% HONEST ones the so be it.

Crooks should be in JAIL!”

Posted by RW November 21, 08 11:43 AM

I AM PROUD TO SAY I HAVE NEVER VOTED. I AM EDUCATED,AND 63, SO IT ISN’T JUST A WHIM. DIANE , CHUCK ,OBAMA, FRANK, JEFFERSON, SWITZER,JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE HORDES OF POLS OUT THERE MAKE ME PROUD, THAT I DID NOT SUPPORT THESE LIARS. I HAVE WATCHED CAREFULLY OVER THE YEARS TO SEE IF I WAS JUSTIFIED IN NOT VOTING,AND I’M CONVINCED. ALMOST EVERY ISSUE I’M FOR IS DEFEATED,THE CHOICE OFCANDIDATES ARE VERY POOR. JUST LOOK AT THE CHOICES FOR PRESIDENT THIS YEAR, THESE ARE THE 2 BEST PEOPLE OUT OF THREE HUNDRED MILLION? PEOPLE SAY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN EVERYONE FELT LIKE YOU? I’D SAY GREAT THEN YOU WOULDN’T FEEL GUILTY FOR SCUM WHO GOT ELECTED.IN MOST CASES WHEN A PERSON LIKE DIANNE AND CHUCKIE GET ELECTED, IT’S AN ACCIDENT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS GOOD FORTHEIR SUPPORTERS. THEY ARE TRYING ONLY TO FURTHER THEIR CAREERS. IT’S LIKE FIXED HORSE RACE,NOTHING IS WRONG IF YOU KNOW WHICH HORSE IS FIXED. WHY ARE YOU SHOCKED, BY WHAT THEY DO. REMEMBER HISTORY SAYS” POWER CORRUPTS”

Posted by RON November 21, 08 11:45 AM

Im sure Chuck T has been taking brides for years. It just took Diane W to open up this can of worms. It doesnt matter if he is black or white. There are so many corrupt politicians in our State and they take brides all the time. Eventually it will catch up to them.

Posted by Mr. D November 21, 08 11:54 AM

Wow! Did the Globe edit out the last paragraph of this article? I could have sworn that 20 minutes ago it read, “Turner said it ‘shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.” See the reference in previous posts.

Posted by Rick November 21, 08 11:55 AM

I think Mike Sullivan is priming to run for Governor. If he successfully prosecutes all of the people who have thus far been indicted, or otherwise brought under the seemingly big tent this investigation (and let us not forget that they are all presumed innocent), I don’t see how Martha Coakley or anyone else would stand a chance against him.
Further, Martha Coakley or any other Democrat is unlikely to run for the Governor’s seat as long as Deval Patrick is in there.
Bill Weld was a US Attorney before he became Governor. It’s happened before.

Posted by ProfessorFalken November 21, 08 12:03 PM

This will lead to Menino’s door eventually…Menino’s relationship with Millenium Partners and their developments in the City of Boston should be investigated. Retired city employees hired by Millenium with no experience (ie…Mayors former secretary), trips abroad, etc…

Posted by Thom Farro November 21, 08 12:04 PM

Proud to say you have never voted?
What do you think would happen if this country did away with the voting system all together? Soon, the FBI wouldn’t be there to prosecute anyone because we would have a dictatorship. We would have a Castro on our hands, and you wont be able to post comments on a blog like this without fear of prosecution. What a twisted view of things….
There are still examples of your vote meaning something, whether you agree with the results or not, you have no right to complain unless you DO go out and vote.
I am sure this isn’t the end of it, more heads will roll. I just hope that it is a coincidence that the first two are black.

Posted by steven November 21, 08 12:06 PM

(#144) “I wish we had more elected offficials willing to take a stand like Chuck!”

Do you mean willing to take a stand, or willing to take a grand?

Posted by Dave November 21, 08 12:07 PM

To ChrisF… You’re kidding me right? LOOK UP TURNERS RECORD AND HIS WORK HE’S DONE! LOL..
I have a problem with Fed time and RESOURCES being used for a 1 THOUSAND DOLLAR BRIBE for a stinking night club. I”m more worried about issues like billions overspent on the Big Dig. I’m more worried about embezzlement of OUR hard earned tax dollars. I’m more worried about REAL corruption.

On another note to all… this race card thing, I want everyone to shut the hell up about it. WE ALL PAY A PART in this card. Maybe they’ll (blacks) stop using the race card when we (whites) stop using it! Maybe (blacks) should not believe that all of (whites) are racist. Maybe we (whites) should not think all blacks are one way. UGH! If I hear it one more time and people can’t be 100% honest about the role WE ALL play with this freaking ‘card’ I’m going to jump in front of traffic during rush hour on I95!!! I’m so sick and tired of the race card but I’m more sick and tired when we pretend that they have absolutely no reason to use. GIVE ME A BREAK AND GIVE THE CARD A BREAK TOO!

Posted by Siobhan O’Reilly November 21, 08 12:09 PM

I don’t see how or why Terry Murray’s name appears in any of these comments. The woman was not at any meeting with Diane, just as she said, and has never done anything illegal. As it turns out, she wasn’t even in Boston the day of the meeting that Diane claims she attended. That was the only mention of her in the FBI affidavit, an affidavit that they wrote based on Senator Wilkerson’s statements, and I think we can all agree that she’s a liar. We’ll see if the media actually covers the truth for once instead of trying to irresponsibly smear someone’s good name.

And shame on all of you that leap to uninformed conclusions. Have you nothing better to do with your time than to spew forth hatefulness? What a world we live in when we demand to be represented and then resent those that make it their lives to do so.

Posted by Elphie November 21, 08 12:14 PM

Yes!!!! there is a GOD!!!! This guy is one of the biggest slime balls I have ever had the displeasure to meet. In the mid-nineties due to a bogus 209-A order ( it really was ) I found myself court assigned to anger management classes in which Chuck was one of the councelors. He had the power of the courts behind him to decimate men if they did not confess to and take ownership of things they did not even do and he USED IT!!!!. I believe one of the people in the class ended up committing suicide due to his gestapo tactics. Howz it feel CHUCK!!!

Posted by DO November 21, 08 12:14 PM

Dear Mr. Turner and Ms. Wilkerson,

When accepting bribes in the future make certain the cash is in an envelope!

Good luck!

Posted by Daniel November 21, 08 12:18 PM

Yes, corruption is bad but a $1k liquor license bribe? We used federal agents for something local officials could of handled. Yes, Turner was wrong but again *YAWN* wake me when someone is arrested for the Big Dig. If that wasn’t a shady corrupt deal, then I don’t know what is!

Posted by Siobhan O’Reilly November 21, 08 12:18 PM

Poor Marea….Your bubble is about to burst

Posted by Frank November 21, 08 12:18 PM

In tough economic times, it’s a sigh of relief knowing our hard earned taxes go to these folk to manage in our best interest. Evidence is showing that they do a very good job and always legislate with the highest levels of integrity. We’re in good hands…

Posted by LetsKeepVotingThemIn November 21, 08 12:19 PM

In response to – next up, Menino..Then Boston might actually have a democracy (and a mayor who lives in the city instead of suburbia..

Posted by john November 21, 08 09:14 -
FYI – The mayor does live in Boston (as he’s required to, as do all the city council

Posted by Meghann November 21, 08 12:22 PM

Couldn’t happen to a “nicer” miscreant.

Posted by Corky November 21, 08 12:26 PM

OK, so now we know that Rep Z is Gloria Fox

Posted by dotDude November 21, 08 12:30 PM

Did Turner stuff the bribe in “HIS” bra too…. ??

Mumbles….”You’re Next !!”

Posted by Kevin P November 21, 08 12:32 PM

The mayor is the executive officer and has no power over the legislature (city council) Be careful who you accuse. Who knows, maybe he asked the feds to help out? I’m not saying he’s a saint but I am almost positive there is more to come. If people understood more about how things work and stayed in touch with their reps, maybe we could nip this stuff in the bud. Yeah, I know, “pie in the sky,” but blogging like this is only a start. Contact the people with power to do something.

Posted by JohnEK November 21, 08 12:33 PM

I say a strong corrupt government makes for a strong socity

Posted by TheStza November 21, 08 12:35 PM

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Blame it on Bush!!!

Posted by CW November 21, 08 12:37 PM

What no bra?

Posted by rplb November 21, 08 12:40 PM

There will be nobody left!!!!! I’m so happy…..I hope they get everyone of them!!!

Posted by Donna Fiander November 21, 08 12:42 PM

For anyone who knows Chuck, there simply is no arguing that he is a dedicated public servant, who has been going above and beyond the requirements of his job for decades. His principles and his record speak for themselves, and this ALLEGATION is not enough to shake my confidence in his integrity.
In any case, let us not convict this man without all the facts. Keep in mind this is the same courageous person who held hearings at city council to hear evidence of federal officials being involved in supplying drugs to the inner city, and the feds are now after him. They’re no angels- remember COINTELPRO?

Posted by Alex November 21, 08 12:44 PM

This is what all you liberal clowns get for voting these people in every single election simply because they have a “D” next to their name. You’re the reason this state is far and away the most corrupt in the country. It’s really sad that we as residents can’t change this and that the FBI has to come in and put the house in order.

Posted by Dave November 21, 08 12:45 PM

Comment # 211 – LOL Siobhan! Your statement is so VERY true!

Posted by Sharon November 21, 08 12:47 PM

#167 – Racism is dead?

Please get a clue.
All you have to do is read this message board to see that even within the 200 posts so far there are still plenty of racists ready and willing to spew their venom.
Welcome to Massachusetts!

Posted by amazed November 21, 08 12:48 PM

All the more reason I voted agaist any incumbent. They got us to this point and will continue in their same ways. We need new people.

Posted by Jeff November 21, 08 12:50 PM

would now be a good time to start talking about term limits?

Posted by J-man November 21, 08 12:51 PM

Change we can believe in Massachusetts. Finally we do not have a Republican governor and look how quickly things have turned around in this state!! Gov. Patrick ha truly instituted some beneficial reforms and Wilkerson and Turner are perfect examples of his working coalition up on Beacon Hill. The democrats in this state don’t have to worry about any silly checks and balances so they rig software deals (DiMasi), accept bribes (Wilkerson and Turner) and run the state into the ground with no economic strategy in sight (Patrick).

I can only hope the country witnesses the same “benefits” from a similar set up in Washington, D.C. with the Obama-Pelosi-Reid leadership team in place. Ask yoursleves this question, were you better off two years ago or today?

Keep electing these intelligent, morally strong politicians and we should be in great shape for the next 200 years.

Posted by Rich November 21, 08 12:52 PM

Ha!
It took all the way to comment #140 untill someone
brought up George Bush!
Maybe his approval rating is going up?

Posted by “h”less Jon November 21, 08 12:52 PM

Last time I checked Hyde Park is within the city limits of Boston. Idjit!

Posted by gingerina November 21, 08 12:52 PM

It’s oviously Racism. The FBI is trying to bring down all blacks in government.
How else do you explain these sporadic arrests? Why couldn’t the FBI complete their investigation before making arrests?

We need to speak out now so that the white people involved are also brought to account.

Posted by Beaudler November 21, 08 12:53 PM

There will be no house cleaning, no less corruption and certainly no term limits. The corruption is systemic and prevalent throughout this City, State, and Federal Govn’t. We have lost our way as a people. America will soon be a third world nation, our own intelligence agency says so . There will be rich government officials and the rest of the begging for scraps. We’ve dumbed down society through our own actions or lack thereof. Our public schools rank in the mid-teens on a world scale, universities and colleges are places where our young adults now go to find themselves, ie experiment with their sexuality and “open their mids”. We’ve lost the idea of winners and losers and replaced it with the idea that there should be just equity for all. Look at our next president he won this election promising that America should be, could be and will be more fair to all citizens. And what experience does he have??? Ahhh, Community Organization, just like our Ms. Wilkerson and Mr. Turner, I feel safer and more comfortable now. God bless us all, as the fall of the US will be greater than the collapse of any empire known to man.

Posted by truthsayer November 21, 08 12:54 PM

Dilday is a piece of work! ‘Where’s all the white people? ‘Where’s all the white people?’ Classic race card. Check this guy very closely. Earth to Dilday: the skin color doesn’t matter. You’re pathetic.

Posted by Tuckerg November 21, 08 12:55 PM

comment #216 – to dotdude….. You must be clairvoyant! LOL
I am surprised that the Globe updated the article and released her name prior to her being led away as well… I do hope that we are all learning a bit more about “reaping what we sow” here. There is a HUGE lesson to be learned from all of this.

Posted by Sharon November 21, 08 12:57 PM

Its shameful that someone getting caught taking a bribe is more concerned about why others (whites) aren’t getting caught also. I am not sure he has any right to worry about those “others” when he is one himself. All I can say is that I know I don’t take bribes for anything, so I have the right to be mad about it. ME, not you. I feel bad for the tax payers, whether they are white or black. WE are the victims here. FORGET RACE!!!! and enjoy jail.

Posted by Shane November 21, 08 12:59 PM

It certainly seems like a set-up to me, and I am not one of Turner’s constituents. It’s pretty amazing to me that almost all of these comments assume that he’s already been convicted. What happened to “innocent until proven guilty”? Plus, the little sign superimposed on the Globe’s photo (“CASH” with an arrow) is pretty cheesy. He could be at a check-out counter, for all we know.

Posted by Chris November 21, 08 12:59 PM

For those of you who can read, Turner did not play the race card, the attorney “James Dilday” Made the comment about only the black politicians being hooked….and If you read the affidavit Turner never asked for money, or said give me money , “CW” kept saying I’ll take care of you…..that’s a set-up and the FBI pulled the strings all along… and for petty cash, why break the mans door down to his house and issue a flight warrant…the intent was to make a stone cold example of him….But Wilkerson & Turner didn’t write the rules to this game, or are major players…this stuff goes deeper than the chickens they are scratching out…look at the Big Dig, & BRA deals…..it is about race….

Posted by Lucille November 21, 08 01:01 PM

What’s with the negative comments from non MA residents?Focus on wherever it is YOU”RE living and your problems, and we’ll do the same here….Stop sticking your nose in our issues–what can you do about it? We’re the ones who have the right to btch and moan about it, not you….!!!!!

Posted by pricklysoul November 21, 08 01:02 PM

Did he put the money in his BRA??? Don’t these folks get it?

Posted by Joe A November 21, 08 01:02 PM

Bottom line Black/White/Brown/Yellow, Republican/ Democrate, Male/Female they were caught accepting bribes which is illegal and therefore they belong in prison. If black politicians want to justify taking bribes just because whites are doing it too then its Monkey see monkey do. Two wrongs don’t make it right. God has gifted each one of us with a brain lets use it once in a while or with some people mind is a terrible thing. I say more power to FBI let them go get all the corrupt politicians give America back to its people. When MLK said he had a dream that the black people will rise he did not mean by following white crook people.

Posted by AWT November 21, 08 01:06 PM

I hope the FBI knows what it is doing, thank god it is cold and windy out so there cant be a black riot and blasks start burning down the city like LA.. Again a guy taking a possable campain money is being arrested.. I white and I don’t like what is going on were is SAl in all of this…

Posted by happyhappy November 21, 08 01:06 PM

As a black woman, I’m disgusted and outraged! I didn’t see anyone holding a gun to his head, forcing him to take the money! Why is it so hard for black politicians to stay clean? Politicians like this make all of us look bad! We deserve better than this!

Posted by Liz November 21, 08 01:08 PM

I don’t think the race card will be pulled in this case. Most black folks I know (myself included) feel disgusted in Diane and Chuck. If constituents blame Chuck’s arrest on a conspiracy…shame on them!! He clearly is taking money from people who he is supposed to be representing. How else can you portray this? It does not matter what color they are…they are still wrong. Wrong is wrong

Posted by Lally November 21, 08 01:08 PM

I love Boston

Posted by Michael November 21, 08 01:09 PM

First off, he’s not a Democrat- the article clearly said he’s a member of the Green-Rainbow party.
Second, he hasn’t had a trial yet, and for that matter, neither has Dianne. We cannot act as though we know what is going on behind the scenes. All we know is what the FBI is alleging, and they are as crooked an institution as this country has ever seen. J. Edgar anyone?
Third, Siobhan O’Reilly’s right- this whole conversation is tinged with a weird racial element, our own internal guilt or anger or whatever about race- let’s not pretend we don’t live in a society which taints ALL OF US with racism.

Posted by Alex November 21, 08 01:11 PM

It looks like a lot of you are “pulling the race card” in your remarks and not Turner.

I’d actually thought that the recent election showed us that Bostonians had become more progressive and understood that race is indeed a factor in all that happens in the U.S. Of course, Turner, and most people of color, wonder if we are targeted because of race vs. actions. You’d wonder also if you had the same experiences that most people of color sadly share.

My 8 and 12 year old sisters were once detained along w/ me for over an hour by a policeman when I was just barely 20, because someone reported a robbery in Newton — and we were at Bloomingdales a few miles away.

I guess we were the only black people the cop could find, and he treated us like dirt. I’ll never forget the humiliation of being held for no reason other than being black — and all of the ridiculing stares we got. We were told that three black women had stolen shoes, and my sisters were little kids. But they were treated unbelievably poorly and spoken to as if they were adult criminals and not innocent children.

Then the cop lied on his police report saying that we swore and seemed “aggressive.” He did not want to get in trouble for holding us unjustly.

So until you’ve experienced something like that — being held for no reason other than being a person of color — you should avoid your ugly remarks about pulling the race card. It’s almost impssible not to question if race is a factor in dealings w/ the law when you aren’t white.

I won’t even go into the story of my (black) boyfriend sitting on my stairs once and having three separate cop cars go by to “check on the neighborhood” while he waited for me to come home.

So again, stop acting like the cop — or the FBI under Hoover (do you remember the racist comments he spewed?) and expecting that black people WON’T question if racism is at the bottom of many acts of aggression towards them.

You’d wonder too. Trust me on this one.

Posted by Dee MS November 21, 08 01:12 PM

Massachusetts has been dominated by liberal democrats for years. The end result is corruption run rampant. Now with Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid in charge, we can expect the whole US to be just like Massachusetts.

Posted by Dayana Martinez November 21, 08 01:12 PM

Anybody taking bets that this Republican-appointed US Attorney will be fired before any of these cases come to trial?

Posted by Observer November 21, 08 01:12 PM

In response to reds’ question as to when will they claim its racism, re-read the last paragraph. Here we go, because Turner and Wilkerson are politicians who just happen to be black, they want to know where the white ones at? Who cares what color they are, they are both dirty politicians, they need to go. For the record, I am sure there are “white” politicians on the take also and when they have enough on them, I’m sure they’ll get a front page spot too!

Posted by Flash89 November 21, 08 01:16 PM

“I wonder what party these two crooks are in? The article just doesn’t say. I can’t imagine why the reporters wouldn’t identify the party affiliation of these two.

Posted by Craig ”

The article *says* Turner is Green Party member.

Read, Craig. Read.

Posted by reindeergirl November 21, 08 01:18 PM

The sad put is Turners statement.

“If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you take out 90 percent and be left with us 10 percent,”

How true can it be?

You should have voted yes on question 1 !!!!!!!!!

Posted by John Barrett November 21, 08 01:19 PM

Thank God they got rid of this corrupt man…and $1,000.00…oh my…if they keep this up we will really clean up gov’t. forget the 8 billion “lost” in Iraq from shrink wrapped pallets, this guy trying to take $1000 buck? Let’s kill him!

Just like America to go after the small fish and make and a big stink about it. While everyone looks the other way as our president gave away 6 trillion dollars in 8 years to criminals, dictators, thugs, terrorists, and other low-lives.

way to go FBI, it’s good to know your not sweating the small stuff.

Posted by somecommonsense November 21, 08 01:21 PM

While Turner appears to have made two huge bad decisions here, the first being the rape photo blunder, per #169 above we have people with negative morality and unfathomable greed to thank for the biggest problems this country faces. Alpha Magazine, published by financial services group Institutional Investor, reported that in 2007 the top 25 hedge fund managers earned a combined $14 billion. That is $560 million dollars in one year each for the faceless and unelected Wall Street charge leaders. This liberal clown did the math, and all the haters screaming in capital letters about Chuckie could get you and 10,000 like you a 2009 F-350 Super Duty, two months in a luxury condo in Branson, Missouri with shows and meals and dinner at the Cracker Barrel every night for a year from just one of those hedge fund freaks’ yearly compensation packages. $1000 is not the kind of corruption your energies should be focused on if you want real reform.

Posted by Steve Q November 21, 08 01:23 PM

At leastg he was “working” in his office at 7am! lol

Posted by DStodd5150 November 21, 08 01:26 PM

The proper term for a man-bra is a “bro.” FYI.

Posted by kmacjp November 21, 08 01:27 PM

in response to pricklysoul
regardless where one lives everyone has the right to their opinion and to say and write what they want.
As a State Senator and City Cuonselor (or should I say former….) tax dollars pay the salariies of these people, they should be held to a higher level. They abused their power (and I hope they pay big time) and everything they do..say afffects people all over this country.
This isn’t just a MAssachusetts disgrace, it is national and I am sure it happens in every state. No wonder public trust is questionable

Posted by mazie November 21, 08 01:29 PM

This is disappointing, not so much what happened to Chuck, because that is a tragedy, but the amount of hatred I’m reading on this board about a man none of you obviously know or you wouldn’t be writing the things you are writing. People, put down the damn torches and educate yourselves before burning this guy at the stake.

Fortunately there are a few here who know how dedicated this man really is but it’s clear to me that black elected officials are under attack. Yes, this is about race.

I’m white but I can tell you having spent time observing the way we do things, we still have a VERY SERIOUS race problem in Massachusetts and the whole country. Simply because we voted for a black man for president doesn’t change that fact. We also have a black governor and blacks are still being arrested and charged with crimes far more often and sentenced far longer than whites despite whites commit far more crimes than blacks in this state and the nation.

We are living in a police state, folks. The only way to stop this nonsense and to create a safer society is if we pull together and recognize what is causing our streets to be unsafe. You’d be surprised to learn it isn’t what you think.

Posted by Kayla November 21, 08 01:34 PM

It must be George Bush’s fault.

Posted by CI November 21, 08 01:35 PM

They are all bought and paid for one way or another. Do we think the other “reps” are deaf dumb and blind. Take back our government. Vote them out. Smaller gov means less taxes, more freedom. Vote Libertarian.

Posted by ltaylor1 November 21, 08 01:35 PM

You know what I don’t get? How cheap it is to buy off Boston politicians. A thousand bucks? Really? That’s worth risking your career and being on the front page of the paper?

Wilkerson collected over $20k through many bribes, but even so, is that really that much money? I’d say, let the bidding start at 10k, thank you very much.

Posted by Ldog November 21, 08 01:36 PM

Regarding comment # 32 – thank for your input, Mrs. Turner……..
Seriously, between the city of Boston and this pathetic state, this is what we get when we have one-party rule. Why should any of our politicians behave when they have no opposition to call them on it when they don’t? As long as this state is so full of loony, lefty, academic and union liberals who vote D no matter what, it will never change. You’re better off moving to another state if you don’t like it.

Posted by Jeff November 21, 08 01:37 PM

To you vigilante-like characters who claim to know the entire story without presuming Mr. Turner’s innocence, YOU will ultimately have to eat your ignorant words: Mr. Turner deserves more respect than this. He DOES have support from people in the community, Black, White, Asian, Latino, old, young, working and unemployed, LGBT and straight. He has shown us over these last 8 years that he’s willing to stand up for justice, despite his critics and those accusing him of bribery (including Feeney and Menino!!) and pulling his governing responsibilities before he has an opportunity to defend himself.

Posted by Liza November 21, 08 01:37 PM

“If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you take out 90 percent and be left with us 10 percent,”

I like his idea of taking out the 90% and being left with 10%……. SOUNDS GREAT TO ME. 10% is about 5% more than we need anyway.

Posted by steven November 21, 08 01:43 PM

For a long time we have known that Democrats were using corrupt tactics to keep a grip on city and state government. Now we are seeing the proof of that and finally seeing arrests. We, as voters, have given their party too much power for far too long. Now they are off to jail and we should be off to vote for Republican replacements. Honestly… a declining population, rising unemployment, crumbling infrastructure, financial crisis, and now bribery and corruption to top it all off. I do hope that this is the wake-up call that finally gets our citizens speaking out with their votes.

Posted by Mark McNulty November 21, 08 01:53 PM

Please get your facts straight. Turner is not a Democrat but a member of the Green-Rainbow party.

Posted by R. Rilger November 21, 08 01:56 PM

will you people read the article? “Turner, a member of the Green-Rainbow Party, has served in the City Council since 2000, representing District 7, which includes Roxbury, Lower Roxbury, and parts of the Fenway, South End, and Dorchester.”
Green Rainbow! Not Democrat, Not Republican, but it was there for you all to see.

Thank you Horace Silver, you summed it up.

Posted by nonamehere November 21, 08 01:57 PM

Not just Boston, but our entire Massachusetts government needs to be investigated, including the lottery commission. There is no doubt in my mind that each and everyone of them has taking some type of trade off for special favors, there may be few exceptions. And it is not the color of the skin, it is the character of the person and the lack of a clear conscience when our elected officals grow to be self serving. They spend our money faster then they can collect it and then they hit us up for more. Blue collar crime hurts few, white collar crime hurts everyone. Look where our economy is now, we can all thank those with the deep pockets.

Posted by Jan November 21, 08 01:58 PM

I’m suprised. I thought they were all honest.

Posted by paf6574 November 21, 08 02:04 PM

I believe these two people will get whats coming to them but don’t stop now they are little fish in a much bigger pond. Don’t forget that the Licensing Board consist of 3 major players and only they can determine who will and wont get a License so that in itself has to tell you something. Right is Right and Wrong is Wrong and I don’t care what color you are Karma is a _ _ _ _ _. Silly rabbits tricks are for kid LOL.

Posted by MeMe November 21, 08 02:05 PM

Dee MS, that is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. THE GUY WAS CAUGHT RED HANDED, SO WAS WILKERSON. How you can pull the race card on this is beyond ridiculous. So according to you, every single time a non-white person commits a crime and is caught, it’s racism?? How long are we going to have to keep paying for things that happened in the past that no one alive today had anything to do with?

get over it.

Posted by Alex November 21, 08 02:06 PM

Post 141, if you a are looking for a racist , I would suggest you go look in the mirror. “White boys” indeed.

Posted by White Boys? November 21, 08 02:08 PM

Race shouldn’t even be an issue here. Who cares what color he is? The fact is that he got caught red-handed taking a bribe. Time to face the music. His community should be happy he got caught before more corruption ensued. Anyone who calls his crime alleged is in denial, plain and simple. The photo is all you need to see. The truth can be hard

Posted by reality check November 21, 08 02:18 PM

If the only charge against Chuck Turner turns out to be accepting $1000 in cash, and for that, the FBI broke down Chuck Turner’s front door, there will be no need for anyone to pull out any race card. the FBI already will have done so.

J:D

Posted by John Spears November 21, 08 02:21 PM

Say it ain’t so Chuck!

Posted by Lefty November 21, 08 02:22 PM

So here we go again..We have Wilkerson, Dimasi, Mike Neighbors,the former mailroom clerk who got promoted to head of Roxbury court without any credentials to support his promotion, Patricia Mcdermott a convicted felon who still collects a hefty salary in Dedham court ( thought you couldn’t have a record to be a courthouse big shot) and now this guy. I’m not voting for anyone who is currently in office now…We need to start fresh and let the new guys ( and all of them for that matter ) know that we are watching them closely

Posted by Imsickofit November 21, 08 02:24 PM

He can be a wonderful politician and get things done, but that is all bull**** because he’s using his public position to benefit himself. One for you (the community), one for me. Does not matter if he’s black, white, brown, gray, any color of the rainbow, he’s crooked. It’s really too bad. It seems like he WAS doing some good.

Posted by Samuel Adams (not the beer) fan November 21, 08 02:25 PM

for those of you who are naive “innocent until proven guilty” is just a saying. anyone who has been pulled over for anything in the past can attest to that. although it has a nice ring to it and makes the US sound like such a grand place to be, it is far from how things go here.

corruption has no color, greed has no race, fraud holds no political affiliation.

When corruption runs rampant in state government then the state government cannot be trusted. That is when the federal government, FBI, is usually brought in. So it is probably safe to say that the corruption in Mass is at a point that the local authorities also could not be trusted. Wilkerson was a senator who reports to the state. Turner is a councilor who reports to the city of Boston. One is state the other city. they are on two different playing fields.

Posted by nonamehere November 21, 08 02:29 PM

once again it proves the need for term limits across the board and the need for all meetings to be held in a public forum and witnessed. public workers across the board have stolen, lied and cheated in this state over the years and yet they claim innocence and then plead out the charges to avoid further embarrassment. i am waiting to see if this guy needs state paid attorney as well.

Posted by al November 21, 08 02:30 PM

Sorry to all you talk radio loons out there but Chuck is not a Democrat, he is registered Green/Rainbow.
One comment suggested a strong third party would end corruption… ya think?
State Attorney Michael Sullivan is the most incompetent stooge to ever hold the office. “Here’s a little something to take the wife and kids out to dinner” Where is the quid pro quo statement? I give you money you do this?
$1000 really?
Shame on Chuck but it really sounds like a fishing expedition. What a waste.

Posted by Bill O’Neill November 21, 08 02:31 PM

I just viewed the companion article showing photos of six legislative members who are cited for criminal abuses and scandal. Of the six, four are white. Why is it that the black politicians always resort to saying they are being indicted because they are black? Do they expect authorities to look the other way because they ARE black? Prosecution of corrupt politicians is color blind. What gives with this perpetual, lame excuse?

Posted by Willard November 21, 08 02:35 PM

This guy has a history of using racism as a divisive tool to promote himself and divert our eyes from his corrupt ways. I hope the Obama administration puts these dinosaurs like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in the extinction bin.

Posted by Paul November 21, 08 02:37 PM

Yes there is certainly a racially tinged tone to this convo, but only b/c everyone with an IQ over 11 knew it was a matter of time before Turner’s defenders came out with their asinine defenses. Everyone knew the race card would come out and the race baiters took the bait. I don’t need to be black , or live in a black neighborhood, etc to know that a politician taking a bribe is a dirty one. Good riddence to garbage….oh was that racially tinged too?

Posted by bosshogg November 21, 08 02:44 PM

The geographical concentration of this string leads me to question what the prime real estate communities of Roxbury and Dorchester are being set up for. Two of the strongest and vocal leaders/protectors of Roxbury have been dealt a blow. Who will have the experience and muscle to protect the poor indigenous residents and institutions of Roxbury from exclusionary development – gentrification? How long will it take before Northeastern constructs a new dorm on Warren Street? By no means do I approve the charged officials’s behavior, they know the rules and expectations, but we all must read between the lines. If they both in fact took bribes, it was done in a zone of comfort that one gets when the behavior is a part of the culture (i.e. everybody does it).

Posted by Roxbury Native, JD, MBA, MS November 21, 08 02:44 PM

Let’s hope Menino is next, would enjoy seeing all three sharing the same cell

Posted by Ruby1946 November 21, 08 02:45 PM

I’m all about cleaning out everyone and I’m glad they got this guy. But I’m sure there are much bigger fish to fry. I’m willing to bet 1K is pale in comparison to others who have not been caught yet. Hope they get them all!

Posted by mike10678 November 21, 08 02:47 PM

I guess I just don’t understand this race thing. Here we have politicians
accepting bribes – so where does the race issue come into play ? Did some white person cause this black politician to accept the bribe that he/she was
given? Or, is it that the first response is the race card for potential defense
in court? I would suggest it is not a race thing – it is just a bunch of
crooks (white and black) getting caught taking bribes to line their own
pockets – at the local, state and national levels.

Posted by GF November 21, 08 02:47 PM

Pokaski is next.

Posted by Ward 4 Precint 2 November 21, 08 02:49 PM

I feel that the FBI should also start lloking at the Mayor and all his croney’s withing the BPD and the corruption that takes place there?

Posted by Harry November 21, 08 02:52 PM

I was depressed to hear of Councilor Turner’s arrest, and am even more disturbed to read these comments. I live outside of Boston, but I have seen firsthand and many times the good that Chuck Turner does not only for his own community but for everyone who is in need or who has been wronged. I will not condemn him. As (too few) commenters have pointed out, we still say that people are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. We still live in a country where Cointelpro happened, where Boston’s own FBI hero John Connolly cost a lot of people their lives. What does it tell you that Councilor Turner was in his office at 7am working already? What does it tell you that the FBI decided to break down the door of his home? There is a message here.

Posted by Sani November 21, 08 02:52 PM

This guy is insignificant. Another with take his place in due time. This is pointless.

Posted by Classless November 21, 08 02:53 PM

If it not the race card that keeping Salvatore F. DiMasi ($2,000,000.00 and Robert P. Spellane ($350,000.00)a freeman. It must be the good old boy network.

Posted by Good old girl network November 21, 08 02:54 PM

It’s getting so that If President Elect Obama wants to visit Mass Dems, he will probably have to go to the slammer to see half of them! Err , two thirds of them? You never know.

Posted by JimJ November 21, 08 02:55 PM

“As a black woman, I’m disgusted and outraged! I didn’t see anyone holding a gun to his head, forcing him to take the money! Why is it so hard for black politicians to stay clean? Politicians like this make all of us look bad! We deserve better than this!”
Posted by Liz November 21, 08 01:08 PM

Liz, notwithstanding the possible convictions of these two allegedly corrupt politicians, what’s most disappointing to me is that you, as a black woman, would single out members of your own race (“Why is it so hard for black politicians to stay clean…”) as if Black politicians are at the core of corruption in local, state, or national politics.

As a person of color, you should understand that necessarily and conspicuously attributing Councilor Turner’s or former Senator Wilkerson’s race to the alleged corrupt acts only creates an even more vigorous and acceptable atmosphere of racial prejudice and hatred. Furthermore, it displaces the important and salient questions the underlie the alleged crimes and overwhelm the suspicions, misconceived or not, that race is indeed a factor in criminal prosecutions in this country.

Even the most naive of us have to wonder, in a state/city where Black politicians make up somewhere on the order of 1% or marginally more of the total politicians, how two among that group have been arrested by federal agents within months of each other while members of other racial groups have not. Is the consensus as you stipulated, that Black politicians are drawn disproportionately to corruption? If that’s the case, then please ignore my little rant. If it is not, then we indeed must look at the genesis of criminal investigations and whether they spread a balanced and broad net — not such that corrupt politicians that happen to be black aren’t caught, prosecuted and punished, but so that the policing agents can be trusted to apply the law to everyone while not turning a blind eye to the typical politician. Justice not only demands prosecution of criminals, but it requires that the law be distributed evenly and equitably.

jw.

Posted by J. S. White November 21, 08 02:58 PM

All you folks who love using the phrase “race card” really need to study your history better. I don’t know if Chuck is guilty or not, but COINTELPRO was a very real program implemented by the FBI in the 1960s and 70s and it used all manner of dirty tricks to destroy the African American, Native American, Chicano and Puerto Rican civil rights movements; this history is well-documented, but it is rarely ever taught in the schools or mentioned in the so-called free press in this country. So it is not some paranoid fantasy of the left wing and/or Black nationalists to suggest that there might be entrapment in this case as well. The real crimes are racism and the continued denial of racism by white foks, not the calling out of racism when it rears its ugly head.

involved in this case as well.

Posted by JohnA November 21, 08 03:04 PM

I agree with the few bloggers that speak about the good work that Chuck Turner has done. While I lived in Roxbury as a child, he really was an advocate for those persons that were marginalized by poverty and despair. HOWEVER…if, the allegations are true, then he should go to jail…and get extra time for breaking the hearts of those he was elected to serve. Do young black people need another reason to be cynical about “doing the right thing?” With this happening so close on the heels of Diane Wilkerson’s arrest…I never thought I would agree with term limits, but MAssachusetts has to implement them. Even a politican who starts out genuinely caring and serving is too likely to be corrupted by power..the ugly side of human nature. My sister-in-law is active in various community organizations in her town, and recently ,as a joke, my brother said, “You should run for some kind of office.” Then her own brother said, “No____, you would never get elected. You’re too honest—nobody can buy you.” Now what does that say about the average person’s expectations and perceptions of politicians, especially in our state? As a Black person I feel sorry for any up and coming black politician, anywhere. James Baldwin said it best, “When a white person falls, he falls alone, but when a Black person falls, he falls for the whole race.” This is the TRUTH card. Look at the ignorant comments on this blog linking the alleged criminal acts of Turner and Wilkerson to Gov. Patrick and President Obama. President Bush was never linked to Whitey Bulger although they are both white.

Posted by Jocie November 21, 08 03:06 PM

247… Give me a break. You weren’t held because you are a person of color you were held because you fit the description of a someone who commited a crime. That could happen to anyone. If you want to be upset at someone be upset at the people who commited the crime. If the police were told to be on the lookout for three black females and you are walking around with two other black females…

Is that the best you can do? Newsflash… some cops harass people when they have nothing better to do. Once I was sitting outside my college dorm late at night talking to my girlfirend and a cop came and asked what we were doing. Instead of getting mad we were respectful and told him we were just talking. Then he went on his way. Cops can be a pain to people of any race but if you are courteous rather than have a bad attitude there shouldn’t be a problem. Get over it.

Posted by Dantheman November 21, 08 03:07 PM

I must say that I am deeply troubled by the majority of the comments above more specifically because some represent thoughts that some can’t even say in another’s face and if you can it is even more disheartening.

Uneducated, misinformed, disrespectful, disparaging, inconsiderate, callous (the list could go on…)

We are entitled to our own opinions yet fail to understand that our personal comment or thoughts are not the final naysayers of how one’s character or value is measured.

What remains most important in my mind, is that each one of us should remember that at the end of the day, each of us will be judged. I am sure each person who has rendered a comment can look introspectively and recall actions or decisions they made in the course of their lives that weren’t right, just, or plainly: one’s which we would be proud of.

This is not to exonerate decisions people “may” or “may not” have made, but hold off from casting your stones and condemning folks and look inside first.

Posted by Chike Ibeabuchi November 21, 08 03:08 PM

His comment that “Everyone does it.” is probably accurate but not a defense. I was once offered a very good contracts [legal] job at the MTA. I was very excited until the hiring manager called and said that job costs $10,000. I said what are you talking about? He said jobs aren’t free and if you want to work at the MTA you have to pay the dues. I declined the job.

Posted by Wayne November 21, 08 03:15 PM

We’ll be seeing more crimes like this as politicians like Obama, Duval Patrick, Turner and Wilkerson take the helm of American Democracy. A political landscape such as Africa and South America is in the foreseeable future.

Posted by j1251970 November 21, 08 03:18 PM

little ditty bout chuck and diane
2 politicians
stealin best they can

Posted by mikey November 21, 08 03:18 PM

Give the FBI some credit. At least theyr’e now making arrest. I wish they would come over to Malden and help out the District DA. The theft of an alleged half million dollars of tax payer money was stolen from an employee in the treasurer’s office at Malden City hall is still lingering. She was arrested last Thursday with another man. The 26 year old is the wife of a Malden police officer and her father works for the DPW, plus she is related to a couple of other city hacks. She was given card blanche to write out checks to people who over paid on their taxes. Instead she allegedly has been writing checks out to others, not the tax payers, for the last five years and would meet them at the bank, cash the check and split the proceeds to feed her Oxi habit. Again, we are talking a possible half million dollars, if not more. Five years of this and the City Treasuer, the Mayor, and the City Council knew nothing about this? The only reason she got caught was because an outsider dropped a tip, so the mayor had to call the DA. The DA is praising him for calling. But as another citizen from Malden pointed out, if this outsider did not report it, this still would have been going on because there are not checks and balances at Malden City Hall. Reportedly, the DA is staying that there could be another 20-30 more arrest, but still, no one else has been arrested. I wish the IRS would do an audit and the FBI would come to Malden to take over this case and clean out Malden City Hall. I am not saying that everyone in City Hall is guilty of stealing, but any one who did not catch what this woman was doing, from the Mayor, down to the Treasurer, should be ousted for not doing their jobs.

So again, as sleazy as Wilkerson and her Chuck friend are, be thankful that it was only a few thousand stolen from Boston, and that the FBI caught them. Plus Dianne is out of a job. Here in Malden, there is no FBI involvement, it was a half million dollars stolen, and everyone still keeps their jobs. FBI, IRS Do you hear me?????

Posted by fuente November 21, 08 03:20 PM

RE comment 59.

You said “Wilkerson lost her job over $23,500 in bribes which is stupid.”

$23,500 that we know about.

She’s been pulling stunts for years. Not filing tax returns. Filing knowingly false documents in a court filing. Campaign finance irregularities.

Posted by Mike November 21, 08 03:27 PM

I find this to be disappointing. He is a great man who did a bad thing. He should resign effective immediately. The other individual should be fitted for a jumpsuit.

Posted by whats going on November 21, 08 03:28 PM

Chuckies in love…………with the money…
Boston deserves better……Big Papi for city council !!!!

Posted by Rich November 21, 08 03:30 PM

From the article identifying the “CW” as Ron Wilburn:

“With his slight build and what acquaintances characterized as an affable, polite manner, Wilburn is described as a steady family man with no criminal record. Often, the FBI recruits cooperating witnesses from the ranks of criminals. That makes Wilburn an unusual figure in an FBI sting.”

In other words, people do not cooperate with police unless there’s something in it for them. Either Ron’s been paid for his coercion (read the affidavit, it’s quite troubling) or they might have something on him now that he wishes to go away.

Do not put anything past the FBI or the police, their jobs depend on this kind of thing, even if they have to ininvent it.

Posted by Kayla November 21, 08 03:35 PM

I can’t believe a black person did this, this was a set up by the FBI……just kidding but I am sure that is all we are going to hear

Posted by JoJo November 21, 08 03:39 PM

Broke his door down? Did they break his door down?

Posted by aod November 21, 08 03:43 PM

Pretty lame affidavit. I can see why feds dragged this guy to Worcester.
At least Turner had the smarts to hire someone who could screen him. Have to believe the City Hall episode will get him off the more serious charge.

Maybe next time he wants to stage a gig for Al Jazeera he’ll remember that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!

Posted by Dave Farrell November 21, 08 03:47 PM

Can you say O.J This will be divided by race. He will have to cut a deal and testify against Wlkerson to stay out of prison. If he doe not he will ride the race card and government conspiracy defense. What a pair the two of them are. They lack the moral fiber to admit wrong doing and move on. They are not corrupt black politicians just corrupt politicians, like so many of their kind. At least when they go to prison they will have many of their consituents there too.

Posted by JC November 21, 08 03:51 PM

I love the comments from people who say we should vote Republican now. Why? So we can be like any other of the white trash red states? Oh, yea, let’s be like Texas or Mississippi. Let’s be backwards and poor and intolerant.

Posted by redstate wannabe? November 21, 08 03:58 PM

Crime hurts everyone, whether its blue, green, white or gray, doesn’t matter what color, if you commit it then you should pay the penalty, whatever it might be. The problem with these idiot politicians, the’re at it for so long, they forget who they should be serving, and then they forget that “eyes” are on them.
I’m an African American, and I say “Send them away.” Its very disappointing.

Posted by MakeADifference November 21, 08 04:00 PM

Siobhan – please grab my hand when you walk into traffic! I am sick of it too! But you did make a very good point and I had to sit down and really think about the role I play with the ‘card’. I am black and I think I’m fairly intelligent and rational enough to think clearly and make my own decisions about most things. But I’ve been a ‘tad’ bit irrational when it comes to race. Its so funny how a simple blog can have you rethink all your thoughts. “Maybe they’ll stop using it when we stop using it.. Maybe whites shouldn”t think all blacks are one way.. Maybe blacks shouldn’t think all whites are racist..” Those simple statements really say alot about me, personally. I’m 31 years old and I think all whites are racist. I remember going to all white schools, in the 80s, and being taunted, looked at as if I was a plague, teased solely because of my skin color. Can you imagine someone spitting on your child.. your baby for no reason? I remember some of the cruelest words thrown at me and I can feel the sting like it was just yesterday. I have experienced personal examples of racism through the progression of my life – elementary all the way through college to even earlier this year. Reading Siobhan’s post made me realize that I play a part in this race card thing too. I struggle with my own underlying racist thoughts. I’m guilty of thinking all whites are racist when I do not know every single white person in this country. I have lost out on possibly some very good white friends because of my underlying thoughts about race. I even convinced myself that I had a right to think this way because of the personal examples I’ve been through. I remember saying ‘I have a right to think this way about whites because of everything I’ve experienced FIRST HAND by them.’ Experience is the main ingredient for a personal opinion so it makes sense to me why I feel the way I do about whites but its not completely rational nor is it FAIR.

I think we all have to take a step back and ask ourselves ‘why do I think this way about blacks? Have I ever sat down one on one with a black person? Have I ever experienced first hand what I think negatively about them? Has every single black man attempted to snatch my purse in passing? No.’
‘Why do I think that all whites are racist? Have I really had a bad experience with every single white person I’ve come across? No. Just because that white man called me a n*gger does not mean the white man I work with thinks the same way.’
We then have to put the shoe on the other foot. I finally built up the balls to ask my Grandmother about my Grandfather. My father never mentioned him, she never mentioned him.. I thought my father just had a no-show of a dad and he never brought him up. Do you know that I found out my Grandfather was lynched. People seem to think we are 100, 200 years away from these kind of stories but like I said, I’m only 31 just 2 generations ago. The pain of a lynching has kept my family silent for 50 years. My grandfather was taken out of a city building in the south because he was asked a question by a white man and he didn’t like his answer or the tone of his answer and he was dragged out never to be seen alive again. Can anyone imagine that? No. I never got to meet the patriarch of my family because of racism. My father lost a father and my grandmother lost a husband because of one single factor – the color of his skin. That’s unimaginable for most non-blacks.
We all need to let the race card go. We are all at fault for the card being used. We can not continue to think that all whites are this and all blacks are that and then with a straight face point the finger at each other. Because like Siobhan said, If I hear it one more time and we’re not being honest about it I’m jumping in the Charles and that’s worst than walking in traffic! lol

Posted by Anjela Marie November 21, 08 04:00 PM

John Spears. Even accepting $1 in bribes is a crime and unethical. Let alone $1000. He is corruptible, that’s all that was proven. We don’t need someone like this using their position as an elected official, abusing their power.

GOOD RIDDANCE.

Posted by Alex November 21, 08 04:03 PM

and then after jumping into the charles I will walk into traffic!

Posted by Anjela Marie November 21, 08 04:10 PM

What a disappointment !

Posted by Brittany Stears November 21, 08 04:13 PM

Massachusetts has the best politicians that money can buy!

Posted by Bill November 21, 08 04:15 PM

Watch out Sal, you should be saying the lord’s prayer.

Posted by sali kama November 21, 08 04:32 PM

U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan today ruled out Gov. Deval Patrick’s office, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Legislature in connection with the city bribery scandal.

“There are no other members of the state Legislature who have been complicit in this investigation,” Sullivan said.

So maybe now the people that have been foaming at the mouth waiting to see “Who’s next?” can all take a nice deep breath and relax now. Looks as though it’s confined to Wilkerson and City Hall since Menino was ruled out but not the rest of the Council.

Posted by Elphi November 21, 08 04:34 PM

the feds should investigate Tom Menino, his relationships with developers, and his role in liquor licenses.

Posted by jen 1023 November 21, 08 04:42 PM

as the saying goes … There is no loyalty amongst thieves. The dominoes are gonna start falling…put your seatbelts on, Kids!

Posted by Joan November 21, 08 04:45 PM

to Alex comment 271 – Those are the remarks I struggle with – the what happened in the past is the past and shouldn’t be brought up today. Are you saying that racism doesn’t exist today? It’s so insulting to hear what people experienced just simply dismissed as if its just a figment of one’s imagination. STOP SAYING NO ONE TODAY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH YESTERDAY. WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY. Most people I know have stories of right now. We are not going around talking about 70 years ago. There are theories tested every single year on racism – i.e. racial profiling of RESUMES. Most hiring managers have admitted that ‘black sounding’ names on resumes get bypassed even WITH MORE experience; most blacks today statistically get harsher sentences for the same exact crime committed by whites; it has been proven that a white male felon has more of a chance of getting a job than a black male non-felon with and without a degree (2007 study); a very close girlfriend of mine was discouraged to apply to Harvard and said she should apply to Spelman (a black university) – she got into Harvard and graduated; I’ve been told that I was lying when my academic credentials are brought up; someone at work a recently heard that my father worked at a prestigious university and said ‘was he a janitor? No, actually a professor; ‘it goes on and on. Most blacks are not talking about yesterday.
Siobhan is so right. Until we are absolutely honest about race we will always have the same issue.

Posted by fedupwithrace November 21, 08 04:45 PM

Clean up all the greed .Way too much stealing and bribes .I still cant beileve GM leased corporate jets asking for money to bail hem out.It like asking for welfare while working.JUST REMEMBER PEOPLE THEY ARE ALL CAR DEALERS SWINDLERS TRYING TO GET MORE MONEY THROUGH BAIT AND SWICH mixing up the numbers

Posted by Liza November 21, 08 04:45 PM

Unless I missed something in the 14 pages affidavit of the Special Agent Krista Corr…Chuck Turner is guilty of having shot off his big mouth, and lying to the FBI. The last time I check the legal definition of Extortion it said “Extortion is the unlawful demand or receipt of property or money through the use of force or threat. If you read the affidavit you’ll fine that the CW (Corroborating Witness) Offered to give Turner a fund raiser Turner responded either that or a personal contribution would be fine. I am with the government on the Wilkerson case she is gone, but this one has a lot of fur on it, and might come back to bite the U.S. Attorney and may compromise the governments case against Wilkerson. I agree that there a bigger fish in the pond and the Government is going to get either Turner or Wilkerson to roll and at 68 and 53 years old 10 years is real hard time. The big fish has yet to be landed.

Posted by Just a thought November 21, 08 04:53 PM

If you think that this is a fishing expedition…then we need a trawler out there, absolutely disgraceful & disgusting that two top “voices” of the “people” have been nailed….what ‘s the war cry now ??? The FBI is racist ? Enough is enough of that crap, this should putt every corrupt person on notice that you can take but you can’t hide.

Posted by marty November 21, 08 05:04 PM

I caution all who are making up their minds about Chuck Turner’s situation based on these allegations to slow downa nd let the evidence be heard and seen. A photograph of an individual holding folded bills is hardly enough to convict them of anything; if it was, all of us would be facing sentencing. Chuck has been an extraordinarily committed, effective, and selfless public official, and deserves his day in court before judgment is passed on him!

Posted by sandy pliskin November 21, 08 05:04 PM

Now it’s time to charge Murray, Menino and the Board.

Posted by GN November 21, 08 05:09 PM

This guy has a history of using racism as a divisive tool to promote himself and divert our eyes from his corrupt ways. I hope the Obama administration puts these dinosaurs like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in the extinction bin.

Who protects us from these snake oil dealers.

I STRONGLY SECOND THIS EMOTION!!! Having these stone age relics around is like buying a 2009 car with an hi fi 8 track in it. They’ve been around around so long they forget who they work for and what theyy are suposed to do.
My

Posted by Horace Silver November 21, 08 05:14 PM

yes, apparently you all have forgotten the concept of “innocent until proven guilty”

Because that blurry picture of someone with a beard and some green paper obviously = GUILTY!

Jesus people, the “race card” is being “played” because everyone who knows Councilor Turner knows this is out of character. Of course character can be faked, but we will wait for the legal process to decide that. I think that people are not able to employ the critical abilities, and that they assume he is like any other politicians. Why don’t you look at what he’s actually worked on?

Just because he is a politician does not make him guilty by default, and considering his advocacy of certain causes (keeping Roxbury’s schools open, stopping the Bio Lab), it does make his arrest suspicious.

Posted by Anonymous November 21, 08 05:18 PM

It’s appropriate to discuss the race card comment made by the Councilman. It seems he opened the door in his remarks. However I’m seriously concerned about those of you who predicted it in the thread, prior to receiving confirmation that the remark was made. This is only directed at the above mentioned ppl. I have lived here all my life, and I’m not surprised to see that we still have the same number (if not more) of, hateful, scornful, negative, racist, jealous people living here. Yes… the remark is in the affidavit. However for you to even think of this yourself, shows just how insecure and intimidated you are of those who don’t look like you. MEaning…you are a racist. I am so sorry that I have to shop, work and ride the T with you. I pray to God I don’t live next door to you. Let’s stop discussing race in this thread from here on out. Let’s move on! Deal?

Posted by landofthefree November 21, 08 05:18 PM

LOL @ a couple corrupt politicians let many in this convo vent out some of their pent up racism. Go ahead and tell us how you really feel, Boston.

Posted by YOUHATEME November 21, 08 05:20 PM

Another one bites the dust!!!! HAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA
I love the comments from “us black folk need to stick together”
Are you for real here? What if all of the white people said that every time something happened with a white politician? What a DUMBA$$ COMMENT!!!! Just because someone is black you all need to stick together so the white folk don’t pick on you?
Some people are more stupid than I thought!!
GUILTY BLACK OR WHITE!!! CUT THE BULL WITH THE RACE CARD – I THINK WE ARE ALL SICK OF IT!!!!!

Posted by GUILTYBLACKORWHITE November 21, 08 05:24 PM

THIS IS WHY WE NEED A TWO PARTY STATE
TWO PARTIES WILL POLICE EACH OTHER
THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSE TO WORK MASSACHUSETTS
LETS GET OUR ACT TOGETHER!!

Posted by BOBMCD November 21, 08 05:29 PM

Turner looks like a homeless guy.

Posted by jamesdawg November 21, 08 05:31 PM

Don’t you know Black people control everything in the City of Boston and that is why they are receiving all the payoffs and graft. We have such great influence that anybody who needs to get something done in the City has to come through us. Give me a break. I’m glad Mr. Sullivan has spent my money going after this case at the expense of the more complicated and lucrative pay-offs that typify our political process.

Posted by Paul r November 21, 08 05:33 PM

Again – Globe reporters – Why did United States Attorney Sullivan force the undercover investigation to stop? Why didn’t he let it continue to get ALL the corrupt politicians? Come in Shelly – ask the hard questions!!!!!

Posted by Paul November 21, 08 05:37 PM

When we compile the wish list of those who will be going down, let’s not forget John “The Money Launderer” Rogers, our house majority leader.

Posted by the bossman November 21, 08 05:39 PM

No. 289……right on the money !!!

Posted by Shawn November 21, 08 05:43 PM

This makes me so angry. Why do only Black politicians get busted for this kind of petty issue? The governor of MA accepted a free trip to Israel in exchange for his efforts to defeat the popular Somerville Divestment initiative on the behalf of Israel lobbyists. I’d like to see him go to Guantanamo for that, but nothing, not even a slap on the wrist. Absolutely shameless corruption. Clearly the powers that be are targeting Chuck Turner because he represents the people.

Posted by Karin Friedemann November 21, 08 05:45 PM

Hello! All you people who bemoan the docile electorate and say we deserve our ethicallly-challenged leaders – we *did* vote out Dianne Wilkerson! She *lost* the last election. Pay attention!

Posted by Crespo November 21, 08 05:45 PM

People – it doesn’t matter what his race is. What matters is the color of the money he took. When he took that bribe, he abused the trust of all the people he represented.

As for the comments that he only took $1,000, come folks. He only took $1,000 because that’s all they offered him.

There’s a famous old story which I’ll paraphrase here. A man asks a woman if she would have sex with a stranger for a hundred million dollars. She says yes! He then asks her is she would have sex with the stranger for $1. She replies “what kind of woman do you think I am?” He responded “We’ve already determined that, now we’re just haggling over the price.” Same goes for Turner. The photo shows what kind of man he is.

Posted by wilfredolearysprodigialson November 21, 08 05:48 PM

Can we please clean up this city??? How come so many corrupt democrats run this city? Isn’t this city due for a change?!?!??

Posted by boston234 November 21, 08 05:59 PM

WE HAVE THE BEST POLITICIANS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT MONEY CAN BUY.

Posted by LEE LARSON November 21, 08 06:14 PM

Wow, all you white folks on here are really angry.

Posted by Joe Black November 21, 08 06:27 PM

Hey Steve,. It is a free country,so I can speak, an exercise my right to not to vote. It is not a duty or priviledge. Less than 50% of people vote, and I think their fed up,and smart. Why be sheep, and vote. Do you see drastic changes in your life regardless of who gets elected. In Boston every office will be held by some one who is Irish,except in minority districts. Big surprise there Ha

Also regarding Castro. How did you like living in Boston with Finneran and Bulger in charge. Talk about Dictators!1

Posted by ron November 21, 08 06:33 PM

Boston is racist, targeting minorities when we all know this is common behavior among most state politicians. The statehouse has a reputation for it far outside the state lines.

Posted by Ryan November 21, 08 06:36 PM

I personally thinks it is goes to peoples characture and judgement as to the way they were raised and influence of people in their lives as they were developing into adults that plays a part in who they are today, black or white. How can you tell the intergrity of people when you vote them into office only on their campaigning I think you can’t
Like Mr Turner said if you take out corruption out of politics, what’s left ?

Posted by christopher james trudeau November 21, 08 06:37 PM

Wilkerson, Turner, hopefully now DiMasi. It’s your turn fat boy they’re comin’ for ya! Doesn’t matter what party you’re from we’re gonna git ya…Time to give the reigns back to the people!

Posted by Old Dude November 21, 08 06:40 PM

There was a developer named in the supoena of Chuck Turner’s records. This developer uses state subsidies and tax credits. Should public funds be awarded to someone if they are found quilty of corrupting public officials. The taxpayers just can’t Winn.

Posted by Longhill Gardens November 21, 08 06:41 PM

Commenters…do not threaten nor warn me, etc. But this is classic James Michael Curley. Those struggling to get themselves a foothold in the American Dream are challenged and tempted by the money. Curley did, and in spite of that left an incredible legacy to the City of Boston. Not looking for forgiveness, just citing what happened 70 years ago. Now the Irish Catholics hold most of the cards…and are seeing the political landscape shifting. Diane and Mr. Turner are in trouble. They will disappear, but there are incredibly talented people behind them. We all need to keep the faith… Mary
Ma

Posted by mary November 21, 08 06:45 PM

Please, all of you think MA is bad for racism? You should come live in DC! This guy could have been videoed accepting the money and his constituents would still let him off – claiming whitey set him up. Everything down here is black and white.

Posted by Mike November 21, 08 07:04 PM

Another corrupt politician, he is guilty as hell

Posted by TConsidine November 21, 08 07:35 PM

O yea get ready for the race card to be played i can hear it now”this is just the white man trying to bring down the poor black man” .

Posted by carl attardo November 21, 08 07:46 PM

How quick did this scum bag pull out the race card “they’re going after the blacks” give me a break. He shouldn’t have taken the money.

Posted by Gary November 21, 08 07:47 PM

I admire and respect Councilor Chuck Turner. I can’t believe how people quickly forget the principles of our judicial system. What happened to people being innocent until proved guilty. Chuck says that he is innocent. I believe & trust him.

Posted by Taciana Ribeiro Saab November 21, 08 07:50 PM

Corruption exists, by design, when process, prodedure and law are subverted by the interests of sitting politicians. Through the benign neglect afforded by the paramount nature of constituent services (ie, votes) , rather than the implementation of an equitable and transparent government, these power brokers create a ineffective structure of personal hierarchy to replace public process. This is less about race than it is about the culture that has been created by the top dogs (Menino and his cronies in the city and DiMasi and others on the state level). Corruption should not be measured solely by the cash transaction, but also on the scale of benefit afforded to those who, just by their proximity to the axis of power, amass property, assets,development rights or other economic benefit including contracts, sales or purchases. Sadly we are all caught up in the $1000 or $23,000 that changed hands (or as many of you have noted, found its way into bras and beards) but ignore the vast personal gain quietly garnered by those backroom deal particpants and beneficiaries at the licensing board, the ZBA, the BRA and the rest of our public agencies that act on the personal whim of elected officials.

Posted by just wondering November 21, 08 07:54 PM

As they start to fall, and lets hope that all are caught and convicted, it does not matter what race or creed they are a crook is a crook. There will be those who still blindly support them because they want to believe in them. But in the end the more scum that gets picked up the cleaner the pond and the better off we all are.

Posted by dag November 21, 08 08:12 PM

JS White in response to post 294 I ask this as a point of intellectual curiosity only: can you please point out ANYWHERE in the world on a federal, state, municipal or community level where there is black government of a black majority (or even a significant black minority) that has its act together? And feel free to use your definition of having one’s act together: infant mortality, GDP, access to health care, access to clean water, access to food, productivity, job creation, corruption etc.

Liberia? Detroit? S. Africa? Zimbabwe? Haiti? Botswana? Roxbury? Chicago? Suriname? Somalia? Nigeria? Southern Sudan? St. Louis? the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans? Anything? Anywhere? Train wrecks, all.

It is way past time to stop making excuses (colonialism, slavery, disenfranchisement, racism, neo-colonialism, hegemony, blah, blah, blah). It’s time to live up to a universal an absolute standard. The next four years will be a huge turning point.

And before you paint me as a racist please understand that I am hoping to find such a place. Unfortunately the more I study the more that place eludes me and the more depressed I get. Also know that my kids are half ethnic minority and I have (obviously?) fully embraced their culture and heritage.

All that to say, put both of the b@stards in jail and throw in as many crooked white pols as you nee to assuage your liberal guilt. Wrong is wrong.

Posted by Just asking November 21, 08 08:42 PM

Bye Bye Chuck…You are a race baiting joke…good riddance.

Posted by James Brogioli November 21, 08 09:09 PM

Umm… this is the one that came to light. How many others are taking bribes? I know Cops who do more than that, drugs, stealing, illegally abusing people. Where are all the articles about that? It does seem like only the BLACK people are truly getting caught because they step it up a notch to catch them. Ever think that others just have the right connections with the FBI, lol.. dumbasses. Who cares? 99% of you that responded on here would’ve done it yourselves, how honest are you really, stop bullshitting yourselves. Worry about catching WHITEY Bulger or something FBI, not making BREAKING NEWS over $1,000, woopdie fucking do. The news needs to talk about good things for once, like charity benefits and such. Hey anyway on a good note I found this great site that has cheap stuff for every day things: www.tandvexpress.net , you even get a raffle ticket if you go into the store!

Posted by TT November 21, 08 09:11 PM

Do you think the FBI just goes around charging whomever they want with a crime, Anonymous??? Come on, you cant be THAT naive!!??! Also, are you advocating that if someone commits a crime , we should let them off the hook for no other reason than because they are nice and have done nice things for people? It sure sounds like you are. Honestly, I could care less about what Turners done for the community, as Im sure do most of the other posters – when you commit the crime, you do the time, PERIOD. Innocent until proven guilty – sure…. but weighing the facts as we know them, Im with the majority on this one. ANOTHER CROOK!

Posted by NorthOfBoston November 21, 08 09:36 PM

There is a soon to be divorced woman and her 2 year old daughter out there laughing at this issue. This woman was left on Christmas day in 2005 while she was 7 months pregnant! She was left for Chuck Turners 21 year old of a daughter! Chuck has condoned this relationship! He condoned his 21 year old daughter to break up the home of a 35 year old husband and his pregnant wife! The Turner family is trash! And his daughter is a whore. This skank and her boyfriend (who is STILL married) picked up Chuck Turner in their SUV today… Bet Chucks paying for the divorce, he allows this under his roof.

Posted by happy i’m not them November 21, 08 09:57 PM

I read these boards occasionally and when something like this comes up 95% of it is dominated by angry posts. I understand the emotion behind that, but until there is a conviction I just don’t have the intimate details to lash out. I find this place amusing.

Those interjecting the race card are showing their true colors. I’m white, and I think this has NOTHING to do about race. Yes, these public officials are black. When I scan through these posts I can’t help but feel that most of you are white. Boston doesn’t have a reputation for being racist for nothing…

Posted by 3m3 November 21, 08 10:27 PM

Couldn’t happen to a bigger dirtbag. This guy alleged that our GIs were raping Iraqui women and produced cheesey porno magazine pix as “proof”. The Globe was so eager to smear our troops that they printed the story, porn photos and all. I will never understand how people in this state vote for these democrat hacks over and over. Lemmings.

Posted by ronzo bogini November 21, 08 10:52 PM

You are innocent until proven guilty. Why is Mr. Turner being stripped of his Committees and he has not even been tried?in a court of law. The majority of the listed comments are from whites which are as ignorant as the rednecks in the South. However, they want to get a tan in the Summer, but forget that blacks built this country,nursed their babies and took care of them. The whites forget that their forefathers dragged us here, we didn’t just arrive here because we wanted to come. Boston, MA is very racist and always will be, as is most of the United States and the World as a whole.

Posted by Jacqueline November 21, 08 11:19 PM

I think Menino is innocent, but he is not a leader and must go.

Posted by T in Boston November 21, 08 11:26 PM

Of course he’s innocent….yeah, right – I expected nothing less. You were framed, right????
.This guy’s always been a fraud. Just chirp’s louder than the rest of them. Play the ‘just stickin’n up for the community card’. He & Dianne should make great cellmates.
The time has come Menino… it’s time to clean this filth up.
The people of Boston desreve better.

Posted by Justanobserver November 21, 08 11:46 PM

LOL what an idiot

Posted by Bosstown November 22, 08 12:23 AM

This is a sad commentary on the current state of Boston politicians as a whole. Every since the current administration has taken office, there has been nothing but scandal after scandal, and I would wager that we have not seen the end. The police department is in shambles and no longer has respect, the education of students is deplorable, our streets are filthy, and crime is up significantly. Organizations known as neighborhood associations are akin to terrorist groups as they have the elected officials in their back pockets. Child services commit atrocity after atrocity against our children with no end in sight. Boston Inspectional Services has been under fire for over a decade due to their incompetence and bullying techniques. Boston Housing Authority spends more of our tax dollars to defend house people who are not paying their rather than forcing these people to get a job. We have a dictatorship at City Hall with no end in sight as long as the current staff is in power. Boston is viewed as a racist city, but that does not excuse the behavior of Turner, who is a despicable and rotten person. He flaunts his position in the view of the public, and then plays the race card to deflect the fact that he is a crook. Shame on you Turner, and may you rot in jail next to Wilkerson.

Posted by rockportres November 22, 08 05:58 AM

Has the Attorney General’s office been asleep all this time? Why is it that it took the Feds to take down all these crooks in local government? I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone is on the take from the Governor to the cop on the street. Massachusetts is becoming a laughing stock of corruption!

Posted by Mickey M. November 22, 08 06:37 AM

What’s that supposed to man, Ronzo? You think dems are suddnly going to vote for republicans, like there are no corrupt republicans around? Give me a break. Does the name Stevens mean anything to you?

Posted by ItWasAFumble November 22, 08 08:24 AM

365 comments to date. That is why this is front page news. We’ve made it front page news. Scandal is news, especially when it involves a person who “has done so much for the community”.

I would like to touch on the race issue. To see two African Americans involved in scandals so close to each other does raise some questions. The FBI is involved, is the FBI racially driven? Probably not (yes I’ve read up on COINTELPRO). Could it be that some person on Beacon Hill wanted these people out of the way (for what ever reason, race could be one factor) so they ratted them out to the feds? Yes a possibility. Maybe this “CW” person was in too deep and decided to “sing” to save his rear. He picks the politicians he deals with and knows the most? Just some thoughts. Remember that this was a “sting operation”. They have people on camera taking bribes. In order to conduct an operation of this kind you have to have some prior knowledge of bribe taking. So it was probably known that these people took bribes in the past, now they just have to get them on camera doing the same.

I’m getting off the point. The point is people will think what they want. I can definitely see the side that says this is “targeting” the black politicians in MA. I can also see the side that says “hey they got caught and just happen to be black”. But for people to banter about a “race card being pulled” is appalling. And it sets us back once again. Why didn’t Dianne Wilkerson pull the female card? You know the “they’re doing this to me because I’m a woman” thing. Are we over that one? Why wasn’t there any banter about that? It has been proven time and time again that black Americans do not get treated the same as white Americans whether it be in regards to employment, in the courts, or in everyday life. We as a society need to resolve this before there can be any change. We have elected a President of mixed racial heritage. But we have not changed as a society. We all need to lay aside the hatred of the past, disregard the ignorance that we have been exposed to in our lives. We cannot move forward and progress until this happens.

Posted by nonamehere November 22, 08 08:25 AM

While I don’t condone what Turner may have done, did anyone notice that he pulled out of the City Hall parking garage in a circa 1984 sh*tbox Toyota Corolla while Mayor Menino pulled up to the steps of City Hall in a chauffeured Cadillac Escalade? Seriously, who’s the real crook?

Posted by Lazlo Penniflex November 22, 08 08:38 AM

I don’t think a lot of people realize that he took the money as part of his fight for economic justice.

Posted by plt3012 November 22, 08 08:49 AM

With the notable exception of the clergy, I am saddened by the continued cries of protest from the Black community. If they continue to support flawed, mediocre and/or corrupt politicians, that is what they will continue to get. As a race, and as a community, they deserve better. (As an aside, if equality is what they are seeking, then they have achieved it in this area because the White community in Massachusetts has been electing mediocre to corrupt politicians for years!) Blindly supporting elected “leaders” in the face of overwhelming evidence of unethical behavior and corruption simply because “they look like us”, does a huge disservice to the community and sets a terrible example for future generations. Obviously, they have not really listened to the words of Dr. King when he said: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. How is it that the White community “got it” and overwhelmingly helped elect Deval Patrick and Barak Obama, yet the Black community continue to “settle” for mediocrity at best and corruption at worst. Somewhere, Dr. King is crying over this failure to embrace his dream.

Posted by Buddah November 22, 08 08:49 AM

This looks like selective enforcement to me. No one believes that the only corrupt politicians in Boston are black. Who invented bribery and corruption in Boston???? The Republican-led FBI had better take down the originators of slime in this town or everyone will know that this is racially based.

Posted by SJW November 22, 08 08:52 AM

Typical. Blame it on being Black. How about blaming it on being wrong. The louder yuo shout at these press confrences , the more guilty I think you are. You should just take your licks and go away.

Posted by Baby Bella November 22, 08 10:05 AM

Oh big surprise, he’s playing the race card. Didn’t take long for that. Racism is alive and well and it’s rearing it’s ugly head constantly in the black community.

Posted by Dee21 November 22, 08 11:38 AM

Can this kind of behavior be wondered at in a state as Democratically inbred as Massachusetts? Group Think is the order of the day here and to hell with even the most token checks and balances that at least a few more Rebublicans or Independents could provide. Pathetic. And this has nothing to do with race, it has everything to do with criminals (allegedly) caught in the act.

Posted by worcester November 22, 08 12:51 PM

I am so saddened by the vitriolic tone of most of these comments. Chuck Turner has worked so hard for Boston and served his constituents so faithfully. Doing something illegal (or not – that could be a payment of owed lunch money in the picture, or not Turner at all since you can’t see his face) would be a terrible thing, but the way the FBI is going about this – dragging him (and ONLY him – really? He was the only politician in Boston these brilliant FBI agents could manage to get any evidence on) out in handcuffs and demanding $50,000 in bail is ridiculous. Politically motivated at the very least, and yes, selective enforcement is an indicator of racism.

Posted by Sally Newman November 22, 08 01:41 PM

The many years of corrupt politicians in this city but they some how just seem to go after the few minority politicians. This sounds like the race card to me.

Posted by Noah November 22, 08 05:01 PM

Posted by Ellen Anderson November 25, 08 07:56 PM