Spin Cycle

Spitzer is working hard toward a one-term governorship. His prosecutorial style does not work as a politician, For one, I'll think long and hard before voting for him again.

Unlike Senator Bruno, I do not think that Governor Spitzer is "unfit" to govern. He is, however, being neglectful in fulfilling his obligations as Commander-in-Chief of the state's homeland security effort.

Terry O’Neill, Esq.
The Constantine Institute
102 Willett Street
Albany, New York 12210

______________________

TerryONeillEsq@aol.com
www.constantine-institute.org

16 October 2007

Hon. Eliot Spitzer
Executive Chamber
State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224

Dear Governor Spitzer:

November 14 marks the anniversary of an extraordinarily important event in the history of America's struggle against international organized crime and terrorism. On that date in 1957, a New York State Trooper, Sgt. Edgar Croswell, exposed the existence of organized crime to an unsuspecting world by interrupting a meeting of Mafia bosses from all over North America in the Tioga County hamlet of Apalachin. That event sparked decades of intense state and national effort to eradicate La Cosa Nostra. No doubt, your administration is preparing to memorialize this anniversary with appropriate observances.

Nothing, however, would be more appropriate than for you to have fulfilled by that date a great obligation you have to the people of New York and to the men and women of our State Police. That is to provide for the stability and continuity of the leadership of the Division of State Police so that they may continue to assert New York’s historic leadership in the struggle against transnational organized crime and terrorism.

We are in the midst of a war on terrorism. And yet, our most important public safety agency remains without a permanently appointed leader. That is bad for the state of New York, it is also very bad for the men and women of the State Police. As Commander-in-Chief of the state’s homeland security effort, it was your obligation to nominate a successor upon the retirement of Superintendent Wayne Bennett. We do not have the luxury of embarking on a leisurely executive head-hunting excursion.

With respect to Acting Superintendent Preston Felton, it should be a matter of considerable pride for New Yorkers that an African-American who is a career State Trooper with credentials and accomplishments quite comparable to those of his three immediate predecessors -- all personally known to me -- has achieved this office. If anything, as an African-American, Felton faced far greater challenges than any previous Superintendent in his rise through the ranks. He has already ably led the Division through emergency and tragedy. He is eminently well qualified for the job.

Please do the right thing.

Yours truly,
TERRY O’NEILL

Re: "Spitzer, Bruno, Come Together"
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=631705&category=OPINION&newsdate=10/22/2007