Bothering the sanctioned mayors and raised in opinion forums:
(1) disproportion between offense and penalty, (2) timing and (3) motive
A six-month preventive suspension of Mayor Rama for what appears to be a lapse of adviser or sub-manager, which in the first place doesn’t require half a year to investigate? Then a knockout punch of a dismissal as penalty for another offense?
A one-year punitive suspension of Mayor Cortes — a good crucial third of his term — for what could be a temporary and necessary appointment and, at worse, an error of judgment?
The length of penalty — coupled with the timing: just before or running into the election season — would add up to fuel doubts about the motive. Probable rivals of the three incumbent mayors seem to be “weaponizing” the law and prerogative in suspending public officials. The incumbent is literally stripped of his or her powers to get reelected.
