Investigations, Districting and Courage
By Henry J. Stern

July 10, 2003

    HOT PURSUIT: Today the Post picks up the scent in the Brooklyn judicial scandal by telling us that the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York is looking into allegations that a judicial candidate used city Councilmember Angel Rodriguez, subsequently convicted for bribe-taking, as a conduit for a payoff to political leaders.  Over the last twenty years, under several US Attorneys, the Eastern District has built a strong record as the place to bring political corruption cases.  

    WHO PAID THE PRINTER?   Meanwhile, Brooklyn District Attorney Hynes’ investigation into the sale of judgeships appears to have veered in the direction of the Mark Green campaign, as reported in today’s Sun.    The allegations of money laundering are confusing; was the $13,000 supposed to have been paid to two political clubs part of the $245,000 already paid to county leader Clarence Norman's organization.  The issue arises whether, if it was a crime for Norman to have received the money, was it a crime for the Green campaign to have paid it?   If that view is accepted as law, it is likely that every judge in Brooklyn would have to trade his or her robes for stripes.

    GOD IS IN THE LINES:  An impressive column we call to your attention appeared in the July 8 Times. It was written by two members of Congress not well known in New York.  They are Earl Blumenauer (Democrat-Oregon) and Jim Leach (Republican-Iowa).  They discuss Congressional redistricting, and how it is increasingly becoming shamelessly partisan, as a result of manipulation by each party wherever it has power.  This article is totally relevant to the New York State Legislature, where a Republican Senate and Democratic Assembly are, in fact, guaranteed by the district lines, artfully drawn by the dominant party in each House.

   Districting is not a fascinating subject, except to math and politics wonks, but it is extremely important, and is the basis of many inequities in public policy, federal, state and local.  Its manifest unfairness is a public scandal.  Can the judiciary combat this gross, self-serving misuse of power by the legislative branch?

    BREAKING AWAY: Bob Herbert’s Times column today should be reprinted and read nationwide.  Think about the difficult issue he raises, and admire the courage which he showed years ago under gunfire, and demonstrates again today with his words.

Henry J. Stern is the director of NYCivic.