In February a small group of officers called a rally to support Joe Santiago. Conveniently for the organizers, Kent Ashworth (Palmer's Spokesman) and Peter Page (Santiago's Spokesman) were on hand to set up the chairs and cajole with the media.
In the very small crowd was Barry Colicelli, the high-priced gang consultant for Mayor Palmer. At one low point of a speech Colicelli ignited applause from the crowd by clearly being the first, and loudest, to clap. On this day Colicelli was nothing more than an $85,000 cheerleader.
Those behind the podium, supporting Santiago, included the Mayor's driver (a detective), members of the Internal Affairs Unit and Professional Standards Unit and at least five officers who were promoted by Santiago. The message delivered by the small group of "contents" was consistent with the message of Palmer, Council Members and the pro-Palmer community groups. In a nutshell: This isn't the time to point fingers of blame and now certainly isn't the time to criticize the elected officials.
No matter how you look at it, this well orchestrated though poorly attended event was simply a campaign rally. With more than a year until the election Palmer, his popularity slipping, needs all the help he can get.
We wonder if the city administration would be so open and helpful if an anti-Palmer rally were held at city hall. Also, would Santiago permit on-duty officers to attend such a rally? Will he allow on-duty officers to attend and participate in today's (5/19/05) Anti-Corruption rally at the State House?

People who pay attention are surprised. Somewhat.
Palmer  decided  to "get  involved"  just  weeks  before  Trenton's  schools  were  ranked #1 on the  state's  Most  Dangerous  Schools  list.

On March 3, four-term Mayor Douglas Palmer made a special appearance at the City Council meeting. Taking the bull by the horns, the mayor told the members of council, and those present, that there is a problem in the Trenton school system. The mayor went on to say that he was now going to get involved. “When I get involved, that means it’s a problem,” were the words attributed to Palmer in the local media. The nagging question to the small portion of the city’s population who actually pay attention is: When did the mayor become uninvolved? Just to be sure, the K9News checked the records and found the mayor has not taken an official leave-of-absence and his four terms have been continuous. Palmer has been the mayor for 15 years, meaning three graduating classes of students have spent their entire scholastic life under Palmer's reign. Yet, at some point, the mayor has chosen to abandon the children in the city schools. And now, with things so far out of control,  the  mayor

is vowing to get re-involved in the city’s education system. In January 2003 Palmer told The Trenton Downtowner, “As a partner with our schools, I am resolved to continue collaborations with our outstanding School Superintendent, James Lytle, on behalf of the children of the city.” Apparently Palmer was involved then, so when did he abandon the partnership and stop working "on behalf of the children of the city?" It really is important for the people of Trenton to know just how long the mayor was uninvolved. Did his period of apathy, or perhaps lethargy, coincide with the growth of the city’s gang problem? Has the Mayor been involved or uninvolved with crime in the city? These seem reasonable questions given the fact that Palmer himself admitted he was uninvolved with the schools. Recently the Trentonian went of their way to say the mayor was not involved with the abandoned (Hill Wallack building) construction site on South Broad Street. To avoid future surprises, we ask that the mayor provide a list of city projects he is not involved with. Also, which projects he became uninvolved with. And lastly, which projects he plans on getting re-involved with once matters get out of hand.

Local Yokel seeks re-election
Springfield (AP) - Elected barn door closer Cletus Yokel announced his bid for re-election yesterday. Yokel, in his fourth term, believes he is the best choice for the job, despite his history of repeatedly closing the barn door after the horses escape. “This time I'm really gonna do something. I promise,” said Yokel, "I'm involved now."

Better to say something stupid, than nothing at all

During the May 10 meeting of City Council the hot topic was a new curfew ordinance. Council discussed "changing" the curfew to 10 PM for school nights. Council really should have read the existing ordinance (§ 58-3) first because, as it stands now, the curfew is 9:59 PM on school nights. Did they really mean to quibble over a minute, or are they just that stupid? Councilwoman Lartigue also said something of concern when she suggested summer school would help keep kids safe. Perhaps feeling the need to say something she forgot that city schools were named the Most Dangerous Schools in the state. These kids need to leave Trenton for their safety, not go to summer school.