What a friend we had in Velella

Wakefield Area News

By Mary V. Lauro

"I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones." That is Marc Antony speaking of the dead Caesar in Shakespeare's play, “Julius Caesar.”

Those words came to mind upon reading of Senator Guy Velella's death. According to the Daily News, he died of lung cancer at the age of 66 on January 26 at Calvary Hospital. He served in the legislature representing Wakefield and its sister communities for almost 30 years. In 2004 he pleaded guilty to a bribery charge for steering state contracts to the bribers. The  case also involved his father's law office. He cut a deal with DA Marganthau and spent a year in jail. Due to his conviction he lost his law license and, of course, his senate seat.

Very clearly, we do not condone bribery. “You do the crime, you do the time.” Even so, we want to pick at those bones. We want to mourn the death of a friend of Wakefield in the full knowledge that humankind is not angelic.

Even the ancient Egyptians in their death mythology weighed the good and the bad before condemning.

No one who worked with Guy, gone to him with a problem, or sought his intercession in some affair ever left without feeling that "here was a gentleman.” Often, regarding a variety of issues we heard other legislators say they would rather work with Guy, a Republican, than with one of their own party.

It made no difference to Guy whether one was in his district or not. If what was needed was worthwhile, he would do what he could to assist the cause. Although 80 percent of the League lies in Senator Ruth Hassel-Thomson's district, it was Guy who responded to the League's requests and needs.

In the most Democratic county in the nation, he was frequently supported in his reelection bids by both parties.

During his time, Guy was the most powerful representative the Bronx had. He involved himself in most of its issues. Every other piece of legislation bore his name either because he introduced it or supported it. During his time in office, no other Bronx legislator was as successful in having legislation passed for the good not only of his constituents, but of the Bronx and the state as well.

He saw to it that DA Johnson's office was generously funded for programs aimed at stemming auto thefts. He was a great supporter of Civilian Patrols. He supplied the funds for the 47^th Precinct's mobile patrol station. For many years he was the prime source of funding for the 47^th Precinct Community Council. Memory fails us to list the many way's he has touched the northeast Bronx with thoughtfulness and funding. But two things will always remain with us. First is his constant support of the League in its decade long quest to move the OTB from E. 241^st Street and White Plains Road. When told the delays were probably due to a personal vendetta, he did not diagnose paranoia. He investigated and eventually asserted we were right. The second is his total support for the League's child safety program, SAFE/WAY/SAFE HOME. He was instrumental in making the McGruff Dog the State's official symbol for child safety programs.

We are left with Velella pleading guilty to Bribery which means he put the money in his pocket when he could have asked the vendors to make contributions to his campaign funds which is standard procedure for the many thieves in Albany. It is at this point that we remain puzzled by the fact that Guy struck a deal with DA Morgenthau to plead guilty on condition that his 90-year-old father, equally accused in the crime, would have the charges dropped against him! Cause for wonder. Cause for tears.