Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Diane Gordon Goes Down

Paging Mr. Barron.

The last time The Optimist weighed in on the saga of disgraced Assemblywoman Diane Gordon, I speculated that were Gordon convicted on the litany of charges brought against her that Councilman Charles Barron would abandon the race for Brooklyn Borough President and seek her Assembly seat instead.

Well, yesterday the inevitable finally came to pass. Though Gordon escaped the most serious charge brought against her, the Assemblywoman was convicted on eight other counts, which could add up to 10 years in prison at her sentencing hearing next month. For anyone who has watched the videotape of Gordon soliciting a bribe from developer Ranjan Batheja, the verdict was a foregone conclusion. Caught redhanded violating the public trust to get herself a new house and new doors for her office (!), Gordon's crimes demand severe punishment, if for no other reason than to strike fear into the hearts of politicians with likeminded designs. Clearly, the example made of her convicted former colleagues in the Assembly, Clarence Norman and Roger Green, was inadequate to deter Gordon from following in their shameful footsteps.

So, what's next for the too-often abused residents of East New York, Brownsville, and Canarsie, who are finally rid of Gordon's dubious service? No word yet from Charles Barron. But come September's primary don't be surprised to see the Councilman slip into her seat.

As for Gordon, here's the YouTube video that made her an internet sensation one more time for your viewing displeasure:

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