Did Kimberly Baldwin cross the line? As solicitor for Atlantic City, Ms. Baldwin is
responsible for defending the administration's point of view in court. That's often an unpleasant task, such as when citizens sue to stop self-awarded raises ranging from "28%-100%" for Mayor Bob Levy and his allies. But defending unpopular decisions by the mayor comes with the territory. Defending the mayor's personal bad behavior does not.
In a sad and strange scandal in Atlantic City, Mayor Bob Levy claimed to have been a green beret. While Levy does own a long and honorable service record including commendations, he was not a member of the special forces. The scandal started percolating this Fall, when talk show host Harry Hurley (photo) and the Press of Atlantic City began asking questions about whether the designation was earned. As the media turned up the heat, the mayor's administration began to threaten the press.
According to the Press story,
On Oct. 16, a reporter gave administration spokesman Nick Morici a copy of Levy’s publicly available military record and asked for another interview, saying it seemed to indicate Levy had not served with Special Forces.
Within an hour, Morici was on the phone.
"You better open up your ears, now, okay?" Morici told the reporter. "Legal action will be taken if you proceed with this story, by our office."
Then on that same day, Baldwin faxed a two letter ordering the newspaper to "cease and desist from printing any article alleging or implying that Mayor Levy’s military service did not include an assignment to Special Forces. Should such article appear in your newspaper, the mayor is prepared to take swift legal action, including but not limited to a defamation action seeking monetary damages."
According to the Press, Levy himself later claimed not to have authorized the letter and Baldwin, a Queens native who formerly chased ambulances at Capizola, Fineman & Lapham, "could not be reached." Lucky for her.
Having referred to himself as a green beret on his campaign literature, the mayor may have issues that ought to be addressed by his post-traumatic therapists and the voters of Atlantic City. But should a city employee threaten journalists on taxpayer's letterhead and taxpayer time?
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