Tea and Vitriol

Controversial Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley announced her resignation earlier this week. It will take effect on August 31, so she has another three weeks to milk to office for all that it's worth. Monroe County NY includes the dying City of Rochester. In a rather mawkishly sentimental statement, she announced that, at 62, it was time for her to ride off into the sunset. Many people would argue that she should have left a long time ago. But, at 62, with 33 years in the DA's Office, and 13 of them as its head honcho, she will be able to collect a healthy pension in full. Monroe County's first female District Attorney is most famous for offering "The Deal," by which violent criminals and white-collar felons are allowed to plead down to lesser charges for reduced sentences. This allowed her to clear her books and state that "Justice has been done." Only it hasn't been. One example consists of a young man who intentionally murdered and se...

It has been nearly two years since Steve Amenhauser was doused with flammable liquid by two teenage feral urban humanoids. With second and third degree burns over 70% of his body, from which he succumbed four days later. It has taken two years to bring his murderers to trial. And it has taken two years for the local news media to comment on it, albeit it ever so briefly. In an insultingly brief statement, News 10 NBC announced that Monroe County Family Court Judge Stacy Romeo could announce her verdict regarding Adriel Riley today. This was a bench trial, as the defendant's request, and not a jury trial Adriel Riley, who was 14 at the time he and his buddy, Zayvion Perry, set Steve Amenhauser ablaze, was charged with murder, arson and criminal possession of a weapon.  If Judge Romeo finds him guilty, he could spend up to 25 years behind bars. Or maybe not, since the latest fad in "justice" doesn't permit people to serve their full sentences, regardless of an extensive...

 In 2015, three people were shot and killed at Rochester's Boys and Girls Club while exiting a basketball game. It was a drive-by shooting. Three others were injured during that incident. Three men were eventually charged in connection with that triple homicide: Johnny Blackshell, Jalen Everett and Michael Mathis. Only Blackshell was convicted for his part in the triple slaying. The other two were eventually acquitted. Not everyone believed that they were innocent. Two years after his acquittal, in 2019, Everett was shot to death in a car in Rochester's historic Maplewood neighborhood. It used to be so peaceful and quiet there. Just coincidence? Or was Nemesis at work? Nemesis was the ancient Greek goddess who personified retribution. She is notoriously slow but ultimately effective when the laws of men fail. This past Saturday, January 22, Nemesis struck again.  The result was Rochester's second homicide of the year. The victim? Why none other than Michael Mathis, the othe...