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THOUGH WE ARE NOT necessarily sympathetic to the "Free Buddy" movement, we do want to take the opportunity to ask the justice system to reconsider the impact of former mayor Vincent A. "Buddy" Cianci's Ohio prison assignment on his family. Yesterday, the Providence Journal reported that three prominent Providence citizens have written letters to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, requesting that Cianci be reassigned to a prison closer to home for the sake of his troubled daughter. In June, Cianci was convicted on one charge of racketeering conspiracy, for running a criminal enterprise out of City Hall, and sentenced to five years and four months in prison. Barring a court ruling that would allow Cianci to remain free until his appeal process is over, Buddy will have to don the orange suit on December 6. He has been assigned to a prison in Elkton, Ohio, 575 miles west of Providence. The letter-writers, Municipal Chief Judge Frank Caprio, Johnson & Wales vice president Christopher Del Sesto, and Providence Performing Arts Center president J. L. Singleton, expressed concern that Cianci's Ohio assignment would inhibit the ability of his daughter and only child Nicole to visit him. Nicole, 28, a single mother of two children, currently resides in a substance-abuse treatment center in Exeter, according to the Journal. Del Sesto wrote in his letter than Cianci has served as an important source of emotional support for both Nicole and her two children. Yesterday afternoon, it was reported that US Representatives Patrick Kennedy and James Langevin had also signed a joint letter requesting a reassignment for Cianci. "Prison is prison, whether he serves in Ohio or somewhere else, this isn't about the mayor," Langevin said. "This is about helping the family get through a difficult time." We agree with Langevin's sentiments wholeheartedly. Although we believe that Cianci has had due process under the law, and do not object to his sentence, we do not see any reason that he should have to serve his time nearly 600 miles from home. Further, we would like to note that Cianci's two convicted codefendants, Frank Corrente and Richard Autiello, have already had their assignments changed from a Pennsylvania federal prison to one in Ayers, Mass. due to concerns that Senator Jack Reed and others raised about their health issues. Certainly, the requests made on behalf of Nicole Cianci and her children are no less compelling. Buddy Cianci gained sole custody of Nicole after his divorce from his wife in the 1980s; Nicole herself has vouched for the important role of Buddy in her life. Indeed, Langevin's letter was likely in response to a letter that Nicole wrote to the congressman requesting help last week. In her letter, she wrote of herself and her father, "We need to support each other positively in this time of need." Nicole Cianci has a difficult enough life as it is. We hope the Federal Bureau of Prisons hears our voice added to the cacophony of those requesting a change of assignment for her felonious father. Correction The article on pages 10 and 11 ("On Location at the 2002 Election") in last week's issue was illustrated by Tavet Gillson. As if you care... n + 1 |
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