May 6, 2010

The Frog March Parade Moves to Municipalities

Justin Katz

My delay in posting this news derives from the swamp of low-grade political shenanigans through which I've been fighting local pro-tax forces in Tiverton, but it's worth noting some FBI arrests of North Providence Town Council members, President Joseph Burchfield, John Zambarano, and Raymond Douglas for alleged full-on extortion:

First Burchfield, then Councilman John A. Zambarano, and, last, Councilman Raymond L. Douglas III, were charged with the extortion of another person and receiving a bribe of more than $5,000.

The case involves a proposal to build a Stop & Shop supermarket on a former junkyard across from the North Providence High School, according to an FBI affidavit and a press release from U.S. Atty. Peter F. Neronha.

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There must be some mistake. No mention is made of the role played by Rhode Island's highest law enforcement official in this investigation and indictment ...

Posted by: Monique at May 6, 2010 6:57 PM

One wonders where else Joe Montalbano's name will surface in this?

But I have to ask whatever happened to Operation Dollar Bill?

The same names from Smith Hill keep cropping up but Nothing, Nada, Zip...

As my brother noted: a Lawnmower Repairman and a Plastic Bag Salesman!!!
Not a lot to show for all the bluster and wasted tax dollars!

Posted by: Aldo at May 6, 2010 7:48 PM

Let's hear the Dapper Mayor laugh now. Can't blame those evil unions for this one, Chuckles.
The only way this town ever gets fixed: dump any member of the Lombardi and Mollis factions.

Posted by: rhody at May 6, 2010 8:20 PM

Rhody, huh? Lombardi has been at odds with the town council since day 1. They're not on his side.

One has to wonder how much money changed hands for the new Lowe's to be built in NP.

Posted by: Patrick at May 6, 2010 9:50 PM

Maybe true, Patrick, but Chuckie doesn't become a radio talk show hero by demagoguing the council.
If there's some cash left over from the Lowe's deal, I hope it can be used for free teleportation for we folks who have to use MSA regularly.

Posted by: rhody at May 6, 2010 10:27 PM

Nobody should mistake this bust for some major corruption investigation. It sounds like it fell into the FBI's lap when somebody the three dopes trusted dropped a dime and agreed to wear a wire. I'm sure the locals know who that was by now and what his real motives were. The three do some time but that will be the end of it.

Posted by: Joe K at May 6, 2010 11:28 PM

These local busts are just as important as State House busts because local corruption directly impacts the neighborhoods we live in. Weeding out these thugs from the council and having a terrific mayor already in place will help "Nort Prov" move on very quickly from this.

Monique I noticed the same thing about Chuckie Moreau's best friend. But should we really be surprised? Patrick Lynch has been a law enforcement firewall for the Democrats for the past 7+ years. Serious law enforcement would not want Lynchie even remotely involved if they're seeking to keep their undercover operation viable as they build their case. I don't believe law enforcement has any trust in Lynch nor should they. He's a very very politically connected dirty boy.

rhody your union whine is embarrassing and hilarious though not quite as embarrassing as the behavior of the firefighters themselves. Time for some new talking points there little fella.

Posted by: Tim at May 7, 2010 8:09 AM

Tim, I apologize for your talking points proving obsolete here. Instead of blaming unions, why don't you go after Baccari, too? The man's had too many enablers in state and municipal government for 30 years now.
Was Lombardi one of them, too? I have to wonder.

Posted by: rhody at May 7, 2010 12:47 PM

I'm just wondering if the thought has crossed ANYONE's minds that if these three councilman had accepted a check as a campaign contribution in exchange for the vote this would all be perfectly legal.

Doesn't anyone realize this is just the tip of the iceberg and, in all actuality, the least of our problem. Thanks to campaign contributions, especially from publuc sector unions members, (who expect generous contracts from public officials in exchange), our government and society are rotten to the core.

We've got serious issues here, and no one, especially the general public, has the stomach to confront it. So, like the Blagoyevich situation, we'll all move on, and learn nothing.

Posted by: Rasputin at May 7, 2010 1:08 PM

Geeze Rasputin, you cant trace cash, you know? Everyone should read the book about the Brown brothers and the slave trade. Rhody has been the same for 400 years...sleaze central.

Posted by: Joe K at May 7, 2010 6:16 PM

To Monique's point about the AG not being there, the NP police were not there either. I guess the NPPD are corrupt too.

Wow, this is fun. I guess we can just make a list of all the people who were not there and smear them by default!

Posted by: swazool at May 8, 2010 10:32 AM
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