LoHud.com readers had quite a bit to say this weekend and today about the troubling allegations facing White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley.
Charged Feb. 28 with assaulting his wife, Fumiko, who later asked a judge to drop the charges, Bradley’s political position appears to be in limbo. His situation worsened last week, when e-mails written by Fumiko Bradley to a confidante that allege a pattern of emotional abuse were released to The Journal News and other media outlets.
Readers reacted in droves to news that members of the White Plains Democratic Committee struggled over how to address Bradley’s case during their monthly meeting on March 25. Some LoHud.com forum posters felt the matter should be left to the courts, while others said they believed Bradley should resign.
This reader wrote in support of the Mayor:
“Adam Bradley is the Mayor of White Plains for his entire term. As the Mayor has not committed a felony, he cannot be removed from office and cannot be forced to resign. This matter does not reflect on the credibility of any political party. It reflects on the Mayor alone.”
Another felt Bradley’s case was a major distraction given the problems facing White Plains:
“… If he is convicted he will have no credibility with the community, other leaders, his career is over. I would argue he is severely damaged today. The citizens of White Plains deserve better and he must resign. I am hopeful there is someone who can take him aside and explain this to him as his ego has taken over for any shred of common decency. He is the talk of EVERY function, get together, event in the County and how he can claim this ‘private matter’ is not a distraction is laughable.”
This reader was shocked that other local officials hadn’t weighed in on Bradley’s case:
“Bravo to Marcia Papas and NOW for taking a stand on this issue and calling for all the other elected women to do the same. She hit the nail right on the head … Every voter that is concerned about domestic violence should take note and stop supporting these candidates!”
A reader compared Bradley’s case to that of former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate:
“I have known Adam for many many years. I am a former Democratic district leader in White Plains and a former member of the WP Democratic Executive Committee. I have supported Adam in all of his campaigns to date. He absolutely MUST resign immediately for the good of both the City of White Plains and the WP Democratic Committee. When Hiram Monserrate was arrested on the same charges many of the officials now being silent or saying that the legal case must run it’s course immediately called for him to step down before his conviction. What is the difference now? I challenge any of the silent officials to explain that to me.”
Another suggested he consider a leave of absence:
“I do not know Mayor Bradley, and I do not participate in White Plains politics. On a purely personal level, his wife’s e-mails are very troubling, and it appears that the Mayor doesn’t ‘get it’ or worse, his ego is so big that he doesn’t care. If he is serious about saving his marriage, and possibly his career, he needs to take a leave of absence from his duties as Mayor, and pursue some intesive individual and marital counselling, which will require him to be more honest about the matters he is facing. Doing so might also provide an aven ue to deal with the criminal case.”
And a number of readers said offered comments of support:
“Does you mayor come to you house and take you money? Does you mayor send the police after you family when you say he does not do a good job? Does you mayor threaten to kill you for not voting for him? So he has a fight with (his) wife. How does that make him a bad mayor? He still does his job. Does he keep his promise to run the city? Does he fix the problems and make things run? If he is good for the city why should you care if he is not happy with he wife? I say leave him alone. He is good at his job and what he does at home is (his) business.”
Another:
“It amazes and saddens me to see the energy of our community focussed on the personal marital problems of our Mayor. Adam Bradley is a good man, who has devoted his life to being a public servant, and has accomplished mush in our service. He has personal problems. Who does not?? To amplify his problems the way folks are – some for personal aggrandizement – is irresponsible, destructive and narrow minded Our City has huge challenges facing it. Financial challenges, Urban Planning challenges, environmental challenges. We have huge opportunities, opportunities for citizens and public servants to collaborate in helping good things happen, for the benefit of future generations. Does anyone out there believe that it serves the community’s interests to pillory our Mayor, and tear apart his efforts to form a new administration out to cope with the mess left us by his predecessor? WE, all of us, would better focus on collaborating to make a good future for this place we love.”
And another:
“As person I have, as many of you do, a big problem with these allegations. Certainly no one wants a public official representing White Plains under these circumstances. Having said that, he doesn’t deserve to lose his job — if guilty let the law take its course. I will submit the following to all, how many of us have made the following statement recently regarding Tiger Woods ‘what happens in his personal life is none of my business, it’s between him and his wife, the man deserves to get back to work’ Lets not be hypocritical folks.”
What do you think?
2 Comments
I find it interesting that virtually all of the public opinion expressed has been very one sided. After being married myself for 20 years, I’m know that there are 2 distinct sides to every marital story. I’m certain that is the case here. It’s easy to get on the public bandwagon without knowing any facts. There must be other eyewitness accounts of the going’s-on in the Bradley household. If I’m not mistaken there is an au-pair who helps with the children who may be able to shed some truth into a situation that is currently filled with assumptions. I’d be curious to see what she has to say. There is alot more to this than currently meets the public eye. Let’s watch and listen as the other side begins to come into public view.
Bill
Several questions need to be asked. What is the other side of this story? Every story of marital strife has (at least) two sides. Is it possible that he has chosen not to tell his side yet in an effort to protect his family? Why did the neighbors take it upon themselves to bring this matter directly to the police rather than discussing it with both parties? Who released these emails and why? What would we learn if we were to see the complete, unedited version? How much of this story has been exacerbated by the political venom directed by the police department toward the Mayor over contract disagreements?
I have known Adam Bradley for years, and have known his family. I do not believe the story as it has been portrayed. And a careful reading of what has appeared in print will reveal that the worst elements of that narrative have not come directly from Mrs. Bradley at all. It will be very difficult for him to present another side of the story. There are those who will not believe it. For some, his reputation is irreparably damaged.
In seeing publicly what rightly should have been private, we are seeing a tragedy being played out, and exploited by people who have darker motives. We can only hope that cooler heads will prevail, that the court will hear what has not been heard, and that the truth will come out. Somehow, out of this, a mayoralty can be salvaged. Even more importantly, the world of this small family, especially the two young girls, must be repaired and made whole again.