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Saturday, 2:15 PM

From the Metro staff at The Boston Globe

Special of the day: Shock at alleged payoff venues

October 28, 2008 06:31 PM Email| Comments (15)| Text size – +

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

It was not so much the allegations that a politician accepted $23,500 in payoffs that sent ripples through the lunch crowd today on Beacon Hill. The shock was that state Senator Dianne Wilkerson allegedly was brazen enough to accept the cash in bustling restaurants just steps from the State House.

The disparate settings for the alleged crimes varied from the Fill-A-Buster lunch counter on Bowdoin Street, where bureaucrats squeeze ketchup onto the meatloaf special, to Mooo, a modern restaurant with 25-foot ceilings where white gold chandeliers bathe the airy dining room in warm amber light and a 52-year-old single-malt Macallan scotch sells for $425 a glass.

One FBI surveillance photograph shows Wilkerson allegedly grabbing a handful of $100 bills over a starched white tablecloth at a lunch June 18, 2007, at the esteemed No. 9 Park, where a loin of Colorado lamb is served with fava beans, Greek yogurt, and pickled garlic scapes ($65 in a three-course prix-fixe). In the dining room set in an 1803 Bullfinch Mansion, Wilkerson then allegedly stuffed the $1,000 into her bra, according to a surveillance photograph and an affidavit filed in court.

"If I were going to make some illegal transaction, I would duck into a bathroom or somewhere a little more discrete," said a State House employee of 34 years enjoying that meatloaf today at the Fill-A-Buster. The man was afraid to give his name, like many frequenting the scenes of the alleged crimes for lunch. The same was true for his co-worker seated at his table, but that does not mean she did not have an opinion.

"We were city kids," the woman said with a chuckle. "We'd find an alley or something."

Authorities allege that Wilkerson accepted the first bribe of $500 on June 5, 2007, at Scollay Square, an American bistro where lunch includes Island Creek Oysters ($13) and blackened center-cut swordfish steak with mixed greens ($13.50).

Instead of seeking refuge amid the orange glow of the dim restaurant, Wilkerson appears in an FBI surveillance photograph to be seated at an outside table allegedly accepting the cash bribe on a sun-dappled day on Beacon Street. Wearing a red hat, Wilkerson sat facing the State House, which looms at the end of the block.

As a steady drizzle fell this afternoon, State Senator Jack Hart ducked into Scollay Square at lunchtime. A man in a blue suit walking up Beacon Street caught the attention of the Democrat from South Boston, who gave him a nod of recognition.

"Strange times," yelled the man in a blue suit, who later declined to give his name as he walked the half block to the State House.

"It's shocking,'' Hart said later in the day. "I've seen the pictures at this point, and a lot of people who serve are very angry about it. It's an assault on the public trust.''

After a lunch of Wellfleet oysters with raspberry mignonette and salmon at Mooo, Suffolk law professor Bernard M. Ortwein speculated about the potential advantage to accepting bribes in restaurants. At Mooo, Wilkerson allegedly talked to two undercover agents about steering a land deal.

"As an old criminal law teacher," Ortwein said as he twirled a rolled-up umbrella in his hand, "it might be better to do it in a public place where it is less expected."

The discussion was perhaps most frank at Fill-A-Buster, the six-table, 13-stool Greek-style diner where Wilkerson allegedly accepted six of the bribes. Owner James Grigas said he has been making the senator bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches on whole wheat toast for breakfast for at least a decade. She always took the time to ask, Grigas said, about his 19-month-old daughter, Haylee.

"I'm not surprised that politicians take money," Grigas said. "Just her -- she's a nice lady."

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15 comments so far...

Exactly why we must vote YES on question #1
These are the people who take your hard earned cash and spend it becasue you're not smart enough to spend it locally in the town in which you live.
Dianne is smarter than you! And more ethical too.

Posted by nofool October 28, 08 07:17 PM

"or somewhere a little more discrete"

Think you meant "discreet" -- sorry, pet peeve.

Posted by MPD October 28, 08 07:58 PM

Is the author a food critic or just really hurting to add anything meaningful to the story that is already old news, might as well print the menu, what is this People magazine? Do the people of Boston really care what she had to eat that day? Pathetic lack of journalistic integrity on Andrew Ryan's part, next, why don't you print her iPod playlists? What WOULD REALLY be newsworthy is for someone to report on who tipped her to the FBI and why, that would be worth your reader's time.....

Posted by William October 28, 08 08:15 PM

Im sorry, I just re-read this Weds. food section piece and it is ever more ridiculous the second time around, might as well be on Food Network / TMZ. ANDREW is your last name really Arnett? Are you reviewing the local restaurant or reporting on a crime?

"One FBI surveillance photograph shows Wilkerson allegedly grabbing a handful of $100 bills over a starched white tablecloth at a lunch June 18, 2007, at the esteemed No. 9 Park, where a loin of Colorado lamb is served with fava beans, Greek yogurt, and pickled garlic scapes ($65 in a three-course prix-fixe).

"After a lunch of Wellfleet oysters with raspberry mignonette and salmon at Mooo, Suffolk law professor Bernard M. Ortwein speculated about the potential advantage to accepting bribes in restaurants"

"(Mooo) a modern restaurant with 25-foot ceilings where white gold chandeliers bathe the airy dining room in warm amber light and a 52-year-old single-malt Macallan scotch sells for $425 a glass."

ROFLMAO!!!!! GIVE US A BREAK AND REPORT ON SOMETHING EVEN REMOTELY RELATED TO THE CRIME

Oy!

Posted by william October 28, 08 08:28 PM

I suspect that most politicians on Beacon Hill believe they deserve the millions they are responsible for spending. The truth is that very few of them could make a decent salary working in the real world. Unfortunately, they are exposed to and probably jealous the various lawyers and lobbiest they meet daily and would love that lifestyle. I'm not surprise when any of them take all they can get. We would probably have more honest politicians if this a part time job. Let them meet on Saturday mornings and then work real jobs the rest of the week. I suspect that we would see better people going into politics and those people would understand the real world they attempt to legislate.

Posted by Kevin October 28, 08 08:48 PM

"It was not so much the allegations that a politician accepted $23,500 in payoffs that sent ripples through the lunch crowd today on Beacon Hill. The shock was that state Senator Dianne Wilkerson allegedly was brazen enough to accept the cash in bustling restaurants just steps from the State House."

Clearly you're supposed to be accepting these envelopes full of money at the tony restaurants like Locke-Ober. Diane should have checked out the Globe's feature "25 Secret Places" before arranging the payoffs.

Obviously, people are shocked that she got caught, not that she was crooked. A Dem politician NOT taking bribes, now that would make you look twice!

Posted by Chris-B-3 October 28, 08 08:58 PM

She was a disgrace from the get go this woman. She never paid income tax on her salary for many years as I recall too, and then tried to defend it with all sorts of coockoo excuses. It's amazing to me why we haven't had a mass/Mass revolt with all the corruption in governement these days!!!!!!

Posted by Hank October 28, 08 09:13 PM

Posted by Hank October 28, 08 09:24 PM

Taxes are not charity!!! The religious and ethical arena used to provide the social services that the liberals now demand that the government mandate. Both the politicians and the public have been seduced by the welfare state. We need a clean sweep in local government where 70 % of the taxes in the USA are collected. Charity ,not taxes, should be required to be paid by the public. Vote yes on Q 1 !!!

Posted by Art K. October 28, 08 09:51 PM

"If I were going to make some illegal transaction, I would duck into a bathroom or somewhere a little more discrete," said a State House employee of 34 years
"We were city kids," the woman said with a chuckle. "We'd find an alley or something."
SO ONLY THE ELECTED OFFICIALS EVEN FEIGN OUTRAGE? RANK & FILE STATE EMPLOYEES AREN'T BOTHERED BY THIS? I JUST SWITCHED, YES IT IS ON QUESTION ONE!.

Posted by aging cynic October 28, 08 10:13 PM

"If I were going to make some illegal transaction, I would duck into a bathroom or somewhere a little more discrete," said a State House employee of 34 years
"We were city kids," the woman said with a chuckle. "We'd find an alley or something."
KEEP CHUCKLING FOLKS. THIS IS WHY QUESTION ONE HAS A SHOT. IF YOU WEREN'T CORRUPT YOURSELVES, YOU WOULD BE OUTRAGED AT ALL THIS.

Posted by aging cynic October 28, 08 10:25 PM

It's a time of year when you'll find opportunists (& squirrels) 'most anywhere you look!

"NOFOOL" - If there's any logical connection between allegations that an elected official "sold" influence & repealing our State income tax, you certainly were far too subtle for me to grasp that linkage (none of those allegations against Wilkerson suggest that any State funds were misdirected). So, is your theory that repealing the income tax will "starve" politicians out of the State House? Once vacant, what sort of new low-life will then crawl thru the windows to take-up residence??

The State income tax provides an equitable means to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth have equal opportunities & access to education, public safety, good roads, safe bridges, etc.. The overall tax burden for Mass residents is pretty-much in the middle of the pack, despite the claims by whiners who'd prefer to play by themselves in the sandbox. Regardless of where you live in this State, it's unlikely that your daily routine doesn't put you in contact with some aspect of government services & infrastructure that were funded by tax dollars paid by someone earning more than you, or from residents from other parts of the Commonwealth. Many important facilities & essential services couldn't exist, if every community had to fend for itself. If you want more cost-effective government, stay informed & get involved with it - don't just take cheap shots at it!!!

Posted by deltaman October 28, 08 10:43 PM

sigh

Posted by Big B October 28, 08 11:51 PM

Alaska has a negative tax burden; everyone gets a fat check from the government every year. The state has no sales or income tax. Ted Stevens, a longtime Senator from Alaska, was just convicted of corruption, including accepting bribes.

This has nothing to do with Question 1, and everything to do with power going to a politician's head.

Posted by Liz October 29, 08 12:16 AM

Ten to one she gets re-elected

Posted by chuck huber October 29, 08 05:23 AM