Here's my correspondence from yesterday with Pat Howard of the Erie-Times:

Pat:

Don't you think you were beating a dead horse with Sunday's column?
Instead of throwing the final loads of dirt on our ex-mayor's political
grave, why aren't we talking about an even bigger potential scandal that
may have emerged out of the Filippi trial? That is Greg Rubino's influence with the state prosecutor's office. Did, in fact, he use his influence to cause the defendents to be charged with a crime that wasn't even a crime? And if so, how did he get such sway? What Rick and his friends may have done pales on the corruption scale in comparison to what Rubino, presumably with the backing of the Baldwin
Brothers, may have pulled off. Dare I ask if the Baldwins hold sway over
the Times?


Sincerely,

Ralph


Mr. *****,

Neither Rick Filippi nor Greg Rubino and Baldwin Brothers hold sway over our newsroom. The suggestion of the latter seems odd, in fact, given our coverage and commentary as it applies to Mr. Rubino's and Baldwin Brothers' interests in some recent high-profile issues. Trust me, Rubino and the Baldwins are no fans of ours. As I've written repeatedly since all this started, I make no judgment on the criminal case against Filippi. That's for the jury, and the jury has spoken. My point was to put the events in perspective -- namely that the tragedy of Filippi and what his decisions put himself, his family and this community through were larger than that case. The timing seemed apt to me. But opinions vary. Thanks for writing.

PH