While researching for a post, I happened upon a website called Nappylies.com, which states at the bottom of the page that it is paid for by the Cranston Republican City Committee. It lists lots of fun facts coupled with cute little emoticons about what the Mayor has promised and failed to deliver in his leadership of the city. I’m no great admirer of some of the decisions and tactics of Mayor Napolitano, but imagine my surprise when I clicked on “the jurors” page of Nappylies.com, and found out that I was one of them!
Well, I guess that’s politics for you — politics in the internet age.
Kmareka.com 
Just when you thought you can’t be any more shocked by the rhetoric spewed by our elected officials, you read an article in the ProJo, shake your head and wonder whether anything will ever change.
The mayor allows his chief to use the city vehicle for personal purposes on 25 separate days which is a clear violation of city law. Then, you read that Citywide Councilman Lanni thinks that violating city law is “not such a big deal”. At first I thought the politicians didn’t get it. I now understand, it’s me. I don’t get it.
Here in Cranston many of our politicians will make promises to look out for our best interests. They will say anything to get elected. But once in office it’s convenient memory loss. Tell me John, it’s okay to break the law? According to you it’s no big deal”. Yup, now I get it. You can count on my vote.
From today’s ProJo entitled: Crash brings to light unauthorized use of City of Cranston vehicle
http://www.projo.com/ri/cranston/content/WB_CARLUCCI_09-12-07_MN736A7.314b1b2.html
“Cranston’s city code forbids personal use of city vehicles by any official, except the mayor.”
“Carlucci, flipping through the calendar in his office yesterday, said he used the vehicle for personal reasons 25 days between February and August.”
“Council member John E. Lanni Jr. said the director of administration’s accident, in that context, is not such a big deal.”
“I really don’t think it’s anything noteworthy,� he said. “If he’s willing to reimburse the city because it was personal use, good for him.�
Just when you thought you can’t be any more shocked by the rhetoric spewed by our elected officials, you read an article in the ProJo, shake your head and wonder whether anything will ever change.
The mayor allows his chief to use the city vehicle for personal purposes on 25 separate days which is a clear violation of city law. Then, you read that Citywide Councilman Lanni thinks that violating city law is “not such a big deal”. At first I thought the politicians didn’t get it. I now understand, it’s me. I don’t get it.
Here in Cranston many of our politicians will make promises to look out for our best interests. They will say anything to get elected. But once in office it’s convenient memory loss. Tell me John, it’s okay to break the law? According to you it’s no big deal”. Yup, now I get it. You can count on my vote.
From today’s ProJo entitled: Crash brings to light unauthorized use of City of Cranston vehicle
http://www.projo.com/ri/cranston/content/WB_CARLUCCI_09-12-07_MN736A7.314b1b2.html
“Cranston’s city code forbids personal use of city vehicles by any official, except the mayor.”
“Carlucci, flipping through the calendar in his office yesterday, said he used the vehicle for personal reasons 25 days between February and August.”
“Council member John E. Lanni Jr. said the director of administration’s accident, in that context, is not such a big deal.”
“I really don’t think it’s anything noteworthy,� he said. “If he’s willing to reimburse the city because it was personal use, good for him.�
Just when you thought you can’t be any more shocked by the rhetoric spewed by our elected officials, you read an article in the ProJo, shake your head and wonder whether anything will ever change.
The mayor allows his chief to use the city vehicle for personal purposes on 25 separate days which is a clear violation of city law. Then, you read that Citywide Councilman Lanni thinks that violating city law is “not such a big deal”. At first I thought the politicians didn’t get it. I now understand, it’s me. I don’t get it.
Here in Cranston many of our politicians will make promises to look out for our best interests. They will say anything to get elected. But once in office it’s convenient memory loss. Tell me John, it’s okay to break the law? According to you it’s no big deal”. Yup, now I get it. You can count on my vote.
From today’s ProJo entitled: Crash brings to light unauthorized use of City of Cranston vehicle
http://www.projo.com/ri/cranston/content/WB_CARLUCCI_09-12-07_MN736A7.314b1b2.html
“Cranston’s city code forbids personal use of city vehicles by any official, except the mayor.”
“Carlucci, flipping through the calendar in his office yesterday, said he used the vehicle for personal reasons 25 days between February and August.”
“Council member John E. Lanni Jr. said the director of administration’s accident, in that context, is not such a big deal.”
“I really don’t think it’s anything noteworthy,� he said. “If he’s willing to reimburse the city because it was personal use, good for him.�
If this is against the law, he should be fined.
I have asked at recent City meetings do we fine company’s in violation of City codes (in reference to Domestic Bank). I wanted to know how many in 2006. I am still waiting. I suppose I would get the same lame @ss remark from Councilman Lanni – that’s shameful and surprising because at one time I liked his instinct and position…..but somewhere along the line he’s become immune to the unethical/criminal wrongdoings.
No big deal that you the taxpayer will be footing the bill of the lawsuit they will bring against him/the City for this. 25 times – yikes! I with you….I don’t get it, and hope I never do!!
Nappy’s mentor and friend, our beloved former Mayor John “Bring ’em to the brink of bankruptcy” O’Leary also had a staffer that wrecked a city-owned vehicle. However, Steve Comeau took it one further – he totalled the vehicle to ensure maximum taxpayer suffering.
I found it particularly interesting the Mr. Carlucci marked off which days he used the vehicle for personal use but failed to record the mileage in violation of the city code that decrees “any official other than the mayor who makes personal use of a municipal vehicle must reimburse the city at the standard mileage rate laid out by the federal government .”
Kiersten, I think it’s more social consciousness than politics at play here. It just so happens that some areas of interest to you jibe with those of the Cranston GOP.
CaptainQ:
It was Steve Cuomo, not Comeau. Also, there are conflicting statutes in the City Charter. In 1998, just before O’Leary became Mayor, the Republican City Council added a new resolution that restricted use of vehicles to the Mayor. Unfortunately, they didn’t address another part of the Charter that left use of vehicles “to the Mayor or his designee.” O’Leary got a legal opinion that he could designate who could use city vehicles.
(I’m just stating what happened; my opinion is that they should have had a better justification than agreement by a Dem Council and the Dem Mayor’s new city solititor.)
And just in fairness, the article also states:
“He declined to discuss those trips, but said the mileage was minimal.
And Carlucci said he had always planned to reimburse the city for that mileage at the end of the year.”
So it sounds like he has mileage records. If he’s does, he should produce them (Public Records Act, anyone?). Otherwise, I’m with you — maybe he has violated the Charter.
But I don’t agree that O’Leary was Nap’s “mentor and friend.” That’s and old talking point from the failed GOP strategy book last year. Also, it was never proven true. Plus, I would submit that by raising taxes this year, Nap has already broken the O’Leary “code” of refusing to hike taxes until it’s too late.
Jesse from Cranston,
Whether you agree or not, O’Leary was definitely Nap’s mentor and friend. In fact, if you called Napolitano’s law office after O’Leary left office, you got a recording that went like this: “for Mike Napolitano, press 1; for John O’Leary, press 2…”
When I see the bunch of clowns Napolitano has surrounded himself with I think I’m watching GoodFellas.
We are screwed with Napolitano.
Jesse, thank you for clarifying on the spelling. Steve graduated from West a year before me and there were a few brothers in West at the same time with the last name Comeau. Hence the confusion.
Now that I’ve given y’all some point of reference, hopefully Mark Lucas will not expose my identity. See how closely I read this blog!
I must concur with John on the Nappy-O’Leary ties. Nappy worked long and hard on the O’leary campaign in 1998 and was appointed to the Municipal Court judgeship by him (approved by the council). They went to PC together, serve in various organizations together, and Johnnie O nominated Nappy for endorsement at the Cranston Democratic City Committee meeting in 2006.
John/CaptainQ:
I had no idea O’Leary was listed on Nap’s phone tree. What I do know is that during the campaign last year, Nap worked to deny ties with JO (understandably). So you guys may have changed my mind (!) on the issue.
Also, Captain, I hope you recall that Mr. Lucas’s guess was completely wrong. Hmmm… so what year would you have graduated? 😉