Reader says All this speculation about Parking Money Collection is for naught
The most useful statement of the principle for scientists is
“when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better.”
All this speculation is for naught, the plain fact is the town was more concerned with getting money back than jailing this loser. When Hemmer stole over a hundred thousand dollars from the Ridgewood PBA coffers, his father paid the money back and he didn’t go to jail either. A meter man got caught falsifying summonses and got charged accordingly but got probation instead of jail. It’s within the prosecutors authority, with consent of the presiding judge to make plea deals and sentencing recommendations end of story all other conjecture is BS.
‘How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?’
Sherlock Holmes Quote
Get over it people it is finished and all the bitching and moaning changes nothing.
#2, nothing has changed, and until it does, we won’t get over it. Why are you constantly defending the un defensible? Were you part of the corruption?
The 800lb gorilla in the room is nepotism. Let me explain.
Government, and particularly local government, bears no resemblance to the private sector in many ways. We could go on about these differences but let’s just focus on how jobs are filled. Sure, there’s an element of nepotism in the private sector, but local government is almost all about political favors and basically who-you-know. Ever sent your resume in for a government job without any insider connections? You didn’t get so much as an interview, right?
Now the big problem with this kind of hiring practice is what do you do when that person screws up, or worse still, gets caught with their snout in the trough. In a lot of cases, things tend to get smoothed over and nothing gets done. In extreme cases (particularly when the issue becomes public knowledge), it becomes necessary to fire (and possibly prosecute) that person. This becomes really awkward being that the person is still well connected.
I’m not suggesting that this coin-theft guy was was one of these connected guys, but just pointing out the inherent problem of hiring people based upon the friends and family plan.
“I’m not suggesting that this coin-theft guy was was one of these connected guys, but just pointing out the inherent problem of hiring people based upon the friends and family plan.” WOW the world according to DECLAN. Just like the Sub Human comment you made. Why don’t you name one incident of theft in the town that was smooth over because they were related?
Well DECLAN my father fought against guys like you who thought that they were special and everyone else were a sub species .
“Sure, there’s an element of nepotism in the private sector” But it ok for you. Matter of fact you even disguise it with a special phrase. NETWORKING. Sure their isn’t any politics in the privater sector but don’t take care of the boss son or daughter it will reflect in you bonus or you division will be downsized Tell your story walking Declan.
While there is some truth to the notion that the simple explanation is more feasible, one cannot overlook this this theft’s role in a series of embarrassing mis-steps by the Mayor and his administration. Maybe there was no conspiracy with the parking meter money but it’s just the latest incident that the Mayor and his team has had to spin and then hoped would just go away.
Nepotism is the practice of hiring relatives over nonrelatives. It can occur on the corporate or small-business levels, using a merit system or out of blatant favoritism. While nepotism can be problematic, the negative connotations often associated with the term may not always be warranted. The private sector is particularly open to nepotistic practices because those in positions of power are free to hire and advance whomever they choose without public or other oversight.
Your argument doesn’t really fly. Rwd is a civil service town which has hiring rule of 3 that prevent this kind of nepotism. Should someone have a family member as an employee of the village, they still have to pass the civil service test, and come out in the top 3. One of the biggest faux pas was when the village did not fire PTL. Elwood for having oral sex with an 18 yr old in a village police car while on duty, to the best of everyone’s knowledge he had no relatives in the employ of the village , so the family angle really doesn’t work.
Nepotism goes a lot further than hiring relatives. You can have all the checks and balances in place to limit the hiring of relatives, but they aren’t effective against nepotism-driven hiring than involves friends, connections, and political favors.
Do a Google search on nepotism if you are unsure about its meaning, or perhaps it was your counter-argument intention to simply focus on only one aspect of it.
It certainly seems like I’ve ruffled the feathers of those who enjoy the perks of working in local government.
So what your solution Declan ? This has going on since civilization was created
Nepotism – as defined by dictionary.com hiring or patronage or favoritism based on a family relationship in business or politics.