The City’s Bank Job, Plus: Don’t Lie To Big Daddy

The city’s placing the old Mechanics & Farmers building at Main and State for sale. Is it the right thing to do? Is it a fire sale? Has me wondering, though, what else can be sold.

As Barack poises the country for what may be the mightiest stimulus package in history focused on massive infrastructure improvements, Congressman-elect Jim Himes has asked the city to dust off its wishlist of potential projects that require funding. Perhaps something like the Congress Street bridge, antiquated schools, sewage treatment or flood-control projects.

All across the country, public works directors, police chiefs, fire chiefs, municipal engineers, you name it, are frothing over the possibilities and want to be in play. I hope the city has its act together. A lot of good can be done.

(By the way, what kind of assessment notices have you received in the mail? I hear it ain’t pretty.)

Speaking of infrastructure, I see where $2 million in bonding was approved by the state for the Lake Forest dam, a project Republican State Sen. Rob Russo had pressed Gov. Rell for approval. Let’s see now, in just nine months on the job Russo secured $250k for a comprehensive audit of the Bridgeport Board of Education, the Lake Forest loot and a multi-million loan for Lacey Manufacturing saving hundreds of jobs.

Amazes me how all those senior Democratic legislators in Hartford couldn’t get shit done, and then Russo comes along with a strong relationship with the governor and delivers. Then the electorate–led by low-information, first-time voters (inspired by Barack) paying no attention to the accomplishments of their state senator–blows him out of the water.

Well, you know what I say, let’s lift a glass to past, present and future public officials at the OIB party Wednesday, 5:30 at Two Boots. Let’s enjoy slices of gourmet pie and start a few (or many) rumors.

 Don’t Talk To Strangers (without a lawyer)

I hope Michael Sohn has a good lawyer. He’s gonna need one, and not just any lawyer. Congressman Christopher Shays’ former campaign manager is apparently riding high in the Himalayas, possibly Nepal, anticipating the emotional low he’ll face upon his expected return Dec. 26.

Federal investigators are looking into the misappropriation of a few hundred grand from the Shays campaign account and they think Sohn can help them understand where it went. The feds have been looking at this case since the campaign’s lawyer Stan Twardy, a former United States attorney for Connecticut, alerted them of the financial disconnect about three weeks ago.

It’s killing Shays that he had to turn his closest political advisor over to the feds, but he had no choice. When staffers learned of the discrepancy they alerted Shays who confronted Sohn who apparently didn’t have a satisfactory explanation. If the feds find out the boss knew something and didn’t come forward, well it puts him in a pickle.

What Sohn told the feds before he left I do not know, but hopefully he did not lie to them. Trap door number one is fibbing to the government. Investigators, in the beginning anyway, generally don’t ask a question to which they don’t know the answer. Sorta goes like this:

“Did you have access to a campaign debit card?”

“Yes, for campaign expenses.”

“You never used the card for personal expenditures?”

“No.”

“You never used the card to access cash for your personal benefit.”

“No.”

“You never used it at a gaming facility?”

“I don’t recall.”

“Okay, were you at (such and such as place) on this date?”

“Oh, yes, I was there that day.”

“So, who had the authority to use this card on this day when you were there?”

“Well …”

“Okay, you want us start all over from the top?”

That’s why when Big Daddy comes calling–and you’re in the crosshairs–you need an experienced defense lawyer. Don’t lie to the FBI. It’s a felony. Better to shout lawyer!