May 24, 2006

Today's Times carries a column on B1 by Dan Barry about former Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington's legitimate claim to medical benefits for injuries he suffered on and after 9/11.  The column is sympathetic to Washington and his role in the Giuliani administration.  It is, in its way, poignant.
 
We recommend that you read Barry's column.  We cannot link to it, because the Times requires readers to have Times Select to receive the work product of their columnists.  You could buy the paper for $1, or borrow it from someone.  Most people discard the bulky newspaper after reading, and perhaps you can intercept the paper on its way to recycling, and remove the page from the rest of the paper.  If these methods fail, e-mail us at StarQuest@nycivic.org and we will be helpful to you without violating any laws on intellectual property. 
 
It is regrettable that, after eight years of faithful and competent service to the city, Rudy Washington comes to significant public attention as the result of his injuries, and the city's response to his late claim.  He was a first-rate Deputy Mayor, reasonable and fair-minded, helpful to those with whom he dealt, inside and outside the administration. 

This decent and intelligent man deserves a significant role in government, where his interpersonal skill and analytic ability would be made available for the benefit of all New Yorkers.  He is currently a member of the NYC Civil Service Commission, a part-time position.  If his health allows, he should be asked to do more.


 
We have written on this irritating subject before, but we call to your attention an op-ed piece in today's Post by Lawrence J. McQuillan & Hovannes Abramyan.  The article, on p35, is headed: "THE LAWYERS KILLING N.Y.:  When Ambulance Chasers Write Laws."  To coin a phrase, read it and weep.

To us, it appears outrageous that this situation continues, and that it is considered perfectly legal.  But how can one expect the laws to be changed when it is legislators and their leaders who profit from the status quo.  We ask defenders of these practices to speak up and explain to our readers why they are appropriate.


 
In the News, Michael Goodwin writes a regular column, "On Politics.”  Today's head: 'TIME FOR SPITZER TO CHALLENGE ORTHODOXY.”  Goodwin calls on Spitzer to have a Sister Souljah moment, referring to an incident in the 1992 presidential campaign when candidate Clinton repudiated the extremist position of rapper Sister Souljah.   Clinton's behavior contrasts with John Kerry in 2004, who said that Whoopi Goldberg represented "the heart and soul of America" after she performed at Radio City Music Hall with an obscene tirade about President Bush.