Dispatch From A Chuck-Free City Hall
Walking around Government Center this morning you would hardly know
that the City Council’s premier fraud got locked up here a few hours ago. Maybe
because it’s less of a surprise than when Lance Bass fled the closet.
There are no
wild packs of notebook wielding reporters. Nor are Chuck Turner’s constituents
storming the entrances outraged that their guy allegedly palmed payoffs like
their former state senator.
Other than the
councilors, who shut down and tuned out completely while promising a statement
before 1pm, it’s business as usual around here. There’s even a charity bake
sale in the lobby. “We can use the proceeds for his bail,” a volunteer jokes.
She’s one of the few who speaks up; most people serve me with a “no comment” as
I approach them with my pen drawn.
NECN got some
face time with the Mayor down at Fenway, but other than that I don’t think anyone
is talking. Still, sometimes politicos and aides don’t need to speak to send a message.
Outside the
council office I ask the few people who walk by what Chuck was doing inside
City Hall at 7am. The man is a legendary late riser, and from what I understand
he generally spends Fridays at his district office.
“Where do you
guys keep the shredder around here?” I ask. “I want to check it for Chuck’s
fingerprints.” Not surprisingly, just about everyone chuckles, then puts their
head down and speeds past.
In an attempt to
confirm my hunch about Chuck’s waking habits, I ask some security officers if
they ever see him at City Hall that early. “Nope,” one guard says. Another one
agrees: “I know I’ve never seen him here at that time.”
While this would humiliate most people, there
should be little doubt that Chuck believes he did no wrong. We’ll have to see
what happens though; for now the only thing we can be sure of is that tomorrow’s
page one Herald headline will read “Chucked.”
As Turner faces the U.S. District Court judge magistrate in Worcester
this afternoon, I’ll head to his home turf in Roxbury to chat with community
members. No doubt it should be beyond entertaining to see how this unfolds from the
courtroom to the corner. Personally, I’m looking forward to some pics of Chuck
shoving cash in his underwear.