A few years ago, I went on a dare date. By that, I mean I was out with a rather adventurous fellow and, when I didn’t have a suggestion on where to go for a drink, he said, “how about DiCarlos.” Sure, why not. So, I made my first trip to the “Gentleman’s Club.” While there I learned a few things, one of them is to never order a cabernet in a “Gentleman’s Club.” Another thing I learned was that the women who dance there really appreciate being appreciated. I applauded one lovely young woman when she provided us with a remarkable pole dance. I was alone in my appreciation until a couple of guys realized they were supposed to be polite. (I was a little influential there.)

Later, the young lady approached me with the most sincere smile and thanked me for showing my appreciation. We talked for a few minutes and I made a mental note to thank my Mother for teaching me to always appreciate the performer onstage…they are up there chancing disapproval…in the audience, I am not.

I’m sure you’re wondering why I am relating to you a story of Gentleman’s Clubs but it will soon fall together for you.

So, let’s begin this tale on November 2^nd, the place, Judge Keefe’s Courtroom over at City Court. A woman who, I hear, has had a few run ins with the legal types, stands in front of Judge Keefe,

(I’m going to paraphrase as I have the audio but not the transcript…yet…remember how my quotation marks work.)

“I’d like the DA’s Office to recuse itself from this case,” the young lady’s attorney says.

“The reason?” Judge Keefe queries.

“My client’s sister is having an affair with the District Attorney, David Soares.”

Keefe excuses himself from the bench to confirm…and he does confirm.

Keefe returns to the bench and puts every single fact onto the record and the DA’s office recuses itself from the case against the DA’s paramour’s sister. Oh yeah, and one more little thing…the DA’s paramour also works for the DA as a legal secretary….oh, and, I’m told she is also a former dancer at DiCarlo’s Gentleman’s Club. I knew I recognized that woman!!

Now, I don’t blame Mr. Soares, this woman is a lovely woman and, I’ve heard, he’s now single….but, hiring your paramour when the County is hurting financially is a bit of a stretch. Last year, Mr. Soares spewed venom at the County Legislature declaring a possible apocalypse should the proposed “Breslin Plan” budget cuts be approved. Soares predicted that “The Breslin [budget] Plan will cause the greatest danger to the public safety in Albany County than any other danger in our community.”

The proposed cuts which Soares valiantly fought against in 2010 for the 2011 budget included three legal secretaries…all of which were restored because, ya know, we don’t want to jeopardize public safety.

I’m not like some of those judgmental types, I couldn’t care less who is hanging out at Mr. Soares pool all summer, I don’t even care where that sunbather sleeps, what I do care about is that Mr. Soares most vehement battle since I’ve seen him has been to keep all the legal secretary positions in the DA’s office filled. Too bad he didn’t apply that determination into increasing the effectiveness of his Office.

Now, remember, I’m not saying that Mr. Soares is having an affair with his secretary…everyone else in the Judicial Center is saying it. Regardless of whether or not it is true is a minor detail. My concern is that this young lady will now be the sacrificial lamb in her “supervisor’s” alleged ethically-challenged employment practices.

We should remember that, with Judge Keefe putting the “affair” between this employee and DA Soares on the record after confirming with the District Attorney, there is no need to further prove that there is indeed an affair between an Elected Official and employee. Like I said, I have absolutely no personal problem with the “affair,” I have personal problems with one particular employee having more “protections” than any other employee, that one particular employee may be held to different standards than other employees, or that one particular employee is permitted to keep her job when other employees, who may have a better resume, have no such protection.

While there are many concerns with this situation, probably the most revealing is the arrogance of a District Attorney who believed that attaining and retaining his paramour was a decision made in the interest of the County’s public safety.

[FYI...it was not the freshly announced candidate for DA whispering this in my ear...you know that doesn't work with me! The lag time between the incident and the publishing is because of the Swag Trial and the need for a transcriptionist. I thought I had all the time in the world as I knew the Times Union would never do an anti-Soares story...then yesterday, I got a request for the CD from the New York Post. I had to publish on a Friday night or "come in second." And you know I don't like coming in second.]

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