Cranston mayor's legal strategy is weak, critics contend

Cranston mayor’s legal strategy is weak, critics contend 01:00 AM EDT on Friday, October 10, 2008 By David Scharfenberg Journal Staff Writer Cranston Mayor Michael T. Napolitano, at right, talks with Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee, center, and North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi at the State House early this year. Napolitano says out-of-court settlements of lawsuits are the prudent avenue. “Controversy costs money,” he said in a recent interview. The Providence Journal / Connie Grosch CRANSTON –– Lawyers with close ties to Mayor Michael T. Napolitano have collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries and legal fees from the city. Old college friends, campaign officials and members of the mayor’s transition team are among those who have benefited from municipal largess. Critics say the lawyers have failed the city... [read full story]