Denoument: Rick Mariano

That’s it? This is how it ends? A simple little letter, an apology and a few months or so to prep for prison? Color me unimpressed. And surprised.

From his climb to the top of City Hall to his gate-induced injury to his extra protection from the media, I sort of expected some sort of super-fun finish where he punched out Johnny Doc and gave John Street a wedgie right before he was hauled off to prison. But, nope, he’s resigning from City Council, effective Monday, and says he’s truly sorry for his actions.

I can’t help but feel sorry for him. Not that I didn’t before. It’s never funny when someone is hauled away from his family and taken to prison. Even when someone really, truly deserves everything he’s gotten, it’s more disappointing than anything else, unless you have some sort of emotional tie to the case.

And, yes, it’s disappointing that a City Councilman would take a bribe — and, really, a small one at that — and it’s disappointing that he now has to go to jail. There’s no schadenfreude here. Especially, well, as The West End points out, with this shit, quoting an Inquirer article:

By waiting until May 1 to make his resignation effective, Verna said Mariano, who says he has discovered he has diabetes and recently had some polyps removed, would keep his medical coverage through the end of the month.

Eh. Get well soon. Really. Thanks for the memories. (And the entertainment.)

Mariano resigns and admits wrongdoing [Inky]
On the workers’ day [The West End]
Archives: Rick Mariano