Editor, Times-Union: There once was a man, a politician, affectionately called the “Little Flower.” This is because he was short, 5’4”, and he always wore a carnation in his lapel. He was mayor of New York City during the dark times of the Great Depression and World War II. His name was Fiorella LaGuardia and he was a Republican. He was a compassionate and creative mayor.
He had a unique habit of showing up at city offices unexpectedly and taking over management responsibilities. One night he showed up at a city court and relieved the judge from the bench. He took over the role of judge for the evening. A woman was brought before him on the charge of petty theft. She was accused of stealing a loaf of bread. When asked to explain why, she said her daughter and two children lived with her. The father had abandoned the family and the children were going hungry. She stole a loaf of bread to feed them.
The grocer was in court that night as the woman’s accuser. He insisted she face full judgment. He said it was a bad neighborhood and she must be punished to teach the people a lesson. Mayor LaGuardia was forced to agree. He pronounced the judgment: “Ten dollars or 10 days in jail.” At the same time he was pronouncing judgment he reached in his pocket for the 10 dollars. Then, astonishingly, he said something like this: “I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom 50 cents for living in a city where someone has to steal so her grandchildren can eat.” The crowd broke out in spontaneous applause.
Everyone paid, including the red-faced grocer, petty criminals, policemen and court personnel. A total of $47.50 was collected and given to the woman.
It seems to me there are two realities to this story. First, Mayor LaGuardia could not be a Republican today because he imposed a tax that night. This is the highest political evil in the Republican ideology. The second point is this: Unless we change our present course we are going to have a lot more poor grandmothers and starving children.
