Fred Says "Money Talks."

The (Gun-for-Hire) Advocate has printed another chapter for the superintendent's public relations machine, with a front page article and smiling photo of the man himself. Evidently, money (the well-known "drug" of choice of the superintendent) is urgently needed to keep security cameras on at night and to purchase new hydraulic lifts at the English and Keverian School. In "question and answer" style, The Advocate allegedly asks the superintendent several questions about the security cameras and the hydraulic lifts. We say "allegedly" since Mr. Mitchell only knows the phone numbers of public officials when he's looking for advertising....which means that John Cook Dowd probably cooked this one up. If it was Mitchell, Journalism 101 should have had inspired him to call members of the school building commission, who could have either verified Mr. Foresteire's claims, or provided historical background. Fair and balanced? You be the judge.

In the article, Mr. Foresteire pointed the finger of blame at the Ragucci School Building Commission. He alleged that the school building commission failed to provide "state of the art" security, instead of the security systems currently in use at the English and Keverian Schools. The current system requires operation by means of a "joystick" and the superintendent insisted that this would require an operator all night.

The superintendent also found fault with the purchase of a hydraulic lift at the English School. Mr. Foresteire alleged that the lift was the wrong size, and that he "advised" Mayor Ragucci and the SBC of this issue - to no avail. He has also stated that the lift originally slated for the Keverian had never been delivered. The lift from the LaFayette has to be moved between the LaFayette, English and Keverian schools, which has led to the damage of the sole hydraulic lift.

What's the truth here? It's hard to say. It might be true. Then again, it might not be. Memo to Steven Simonelli, the Ward 2 Councilor whom the Superintendent wants to propose a resolution to secure the money. Ask Fred for the documents that support everything he says. Ask him for the letters that he wrote to Mayor Ragucci about the lifts and the cameras. Ask for the written opinion of an independent security firm to determine whether the security system is as obsolete as Fred claims.

Check it all out before another dime of taxpayer money is handed over. Remember what Ronald Reagan said. "Trust, but verify." In this case, given the history here, you have every reason to verify these claims before proceeding.