UPDATED: Premo to Mayor Lou: Go back to Kindergarten

Here is an email exchange that started with Councilman Bob Doherty, D-District 4, first criticizing the attorney for Chief John Tedesco, Brian Premo, for coming on my show Sunday and then criticizing the chief for being less than gracious with Mayor Lou Rosamilia for giving the chief his duties back.

I won’t defend the radio show or the station but anyone at any time is welcome to come on my show or call in on Sunday from 10a.m. to noon.

While Doherty may have been well-intentioned in his email, it’s evident – as I wrote – that Premo and the chief will not let bygones be bygones and are taking any chances on what the future may bring just in case the future does include another police commissioner.

In other words, Premo pulls no punches and the funniest part is when he implies Rosamilia should go back to kindergarten ... or even pre-K.

(Updated with Premo's response to Doherty's response at the end of the email exchange)

Enjoy:

-----Original Message-----

From: Robert Doherty [mailto:doherty4troy@gmail.com]

Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2014 7:45 AM

To: Bodnar Dean; Zalewski Ken; Wiltshire Rodney; Robertson Anastasia; James Gordon

Cc: John.Tedesco; Lou.Rosamilia

Subject: Public Discourse- Bob Doherty

Nice letter in the Record today about Police issues by Kimberly Mazor.  

Brian Premo is on Franco this morning. I hope the comments critical of Lou Rosamilia will be gone.  I was disappointed the Brian continued to review the old conflict in the press as the Chief was getting the reins back.  Conflict between the Mayor and the Chief is well known own and I hope resolved, given the recent direction of restoring full leadership to him.  I'm not sure a politicized talk show is a good venue for the Chief's advocate.

There has been a run discord fueled hyperbole on that station that seems to include denigrating a memorial because it was referred to as a "Celebration" and accusations that people were naked at the event of Jan 25th.  Makes no sense to fuel public anxiety.  The PBA member who loudly called the African American Pastoral Alliance a "Clown Circus" is of the same unhelpful position.

References to the KKK in discussing the Kokopellis event serves to reinforce defensiveness can contribute to dismissal and distraction.

Ever heard of the Four agreements?

The Four Agreements:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Don Miguel Ruiz

On Feb 18, 2014, at 2:44 PM, Brian Premo <bpremo@premolaw.com> wrote:

Gentlemen,

I send this welcomed response on behalf of Chief Tedesco, who is presently on vacation.  It is a communication concerning impending litigation as all past correspondence.  

Firstly, Councilman Doherty's comments are as offensive as those recently made by the Mayor and Mr. Magnetto concerning the many issues pending.  

Secondly, it is hoped that my recent statements have made clear Chief Tedesco's position: a resolution of his claims requires the execution of a Settlement Agreement which includes an enforceable term that no further action will be taken by the Mayor, any City Council member or other city official to cause his unlawful political discharge, usurp his authority or duty, or create a hostile work environment in violation of the City Charter, NYS Civil Service Law, and/or the U.S. Constitution.  

Thirdly, the violation of his rights does not concern an "old conflict" simply to be forgotten (see quotes below about hypocrisy).  In short, the issue has not been resolved simply because Chief Tedesco has successfully turned public opinion against Mr. Magnetto, the Mayor and the Administration through discussion of the facts and truth of the matter.  Nor has it been resolved because the Mayor was unsuccessful in his attempts to appoint a Public Safety Commissioner (or unlawfully appoint another Police Commissioner) to continue the effort in violation of Chief Tedesco's rights.  

Fourthly, any Agreement in settlement of Chief Tedesco's claims must be premised upon the fact that the Mayor unlawfully appointed Mr. Magnetto to usurp his authority and duty to institute police department policies and rules dictated by the PBA President, which they both tacitly admitted in recent public statements.  However, although not surprising considering his previous admission to Chief Tedesco that he did not want to vote for the appointment of Mr. Magnetto but "had to support the party line", Mr. Doherty's comments make clear that he now wants to ignore the fact that Mr. Magnetto's appointment was unlawful, that Mr. Magnetto usurped the unlawfully authority and duty of Chief Tedesco, that Mr. Magnetto countermanded Chief Tedesco's established policies and orders to implement those dictated by the PBA President at the direction of the Mayor, that the Mayor and Mr. Magnetto treated Chief Tedesco in an hostile, unprofessional, and undignified manner in denigration of his rights, and that the violation of Chief Tedesco's rights have caused him damages that must now be remedied.  

Fifthly, Mr. Doherty's comments do nothing to remedy the past violation of Chief Tedesco's rights or ensure that no similar action will be taken against him in the future, which come only by way of enforceable Settlement Agreement.   

I will send a related letter to members of the Council and others discussing the matter as soon as practicable.

In closing, since the issue concerns the remedying of rights violated by the unlawful acts of those who clearly have not followed The Four Agreements, I must say that I find the following quotes to be appropriate to the matter:

1.     "Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change."

Frank Lloyd Wright (Architect, interior designer, writer & educator)

2.     Man is the only animal that learns by being hypocritical. He pretends to be polite and then, eventually, he becomes polite."

Jean Kerr (Irish-American Author & Playwright)

3.     "You can't defend the indefensible - anything you say sounds self- serving and hypocritical."

Diane Abbott (Actress, once married to Robert DiNero)

4.     But, far better than all, I recommend the reading of "All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten."  If its tenets were followed by the Mayor, there would be no issue to remedy at this time. It is hoped that what should have been learned in pre-school days has now become clear: there is no place for politics in a police department, especially bad politics.  It is also hoped that all hypocrisy is left unspoken in any future related conversation, public or private.

Please forward this reply to Mr. Silverman.

Brian Premo.

From: Robert Doherty <doherty4troy@gmail.com>
Date: February 18, 2014 at 8:24:13 PM EST
To: Brian Premo <bpremo@premolaw.com>
Cc: Bodnar Dean <bodnard@hotmail.com>, Zalewski Ken <zalewski@troycitycouncil.com>, Wiltshire Rodney <wiltshirefortroy@gmail.com>, Robertson Anastasia <anastasiavoice4district2@yahoo.com>, James Gordon <jgordon003@nycap.rr.com>, Tedesco Chief John <john.tedesco@troyny.gov>, Rosamilia Lou <lou.rosamilia@troyny.gov>
Subject: Re: Public Discourse- Bob Doherty

Mr. Premo,
   I did not address any correspondence to you and will not continue argumentative correspondence with you.  I wish to correspond within the Council, Public Safety Committee and when appropriate, the Administration without your input or response.  Although you have a client among the addressees, I do not think that gives you entitlement to participate in our correspondence.
   To the other addressees: I had asked and was told that the restoration of the Chief to full responsibilities was accomplished and accompanied with his clear understanding of the Mayor's authority and role..  There is some irony that in an article where the Mayor choses to restore full authority to the Chief, the Chief's advocate is attacking the Mayor's allegedly poor decisions.
   At these times of focus on Public Safety, continued arguing is unseemly and undermines our ability to come together.  I was also told by council advocates of the Chief that he was quite willing to proceed to work with us all. I find it tiresome to be giving energy to this past conflict or such personalized responses from outside sources.  I also think it important to get on the team or off the wagon. "To give orders you need to take orders" was something I was told a long time ago. Bury the hatchet and drive the bus.
The Public Safety Committee was a strained activity for the Chief and the Committee in the last term.  I do not intend to repeat a conflict process.  As far as I know, neither does the Chief.   

Bob Doherty

Premo said he never got Doherty's last email and in response said:

"Funny, only in dealing with Mr. Doherty since the advent of the Internet this is the one and only email purportedly addressed to me that I did not receive," he said. "In any event, it's content is no more than further unintentional, self-effacing, water-spilling, fallacious, political rhetoric which warrants no further response."