Consigliere D’Amato?

Here’s an interesting email from the inbox.

Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:57:16 -0800 (PST)

From: Michael DAmato

To: [removed by Owen]

Brady Streeters,

As many of you know, I am supporting Sam McGovern-Rowen in the election for the next Alderman of the 3rd District.

Over the past 15 or so years, together, we have done some great things and have built a tremendous community. I know that some of you have been around
much longer than me, but remember what the neighborhood was like back in 1989 when I first went to work for Larraine Mac-Mac? High crime, empty
stores, rampant panhandling, drug dealing and little commerce. It may have been the ultimate low point for the Brady Street neighborhood.  But a strong,
dedicated group of neighbors and business owners decided that they weren’t going to take it anymore. They didn’t complain, they took matters into their own
hands and built what has become a great neighborhood to live, play, work and raise a family.  A neighborhood now known and used as a positive model
throughout the country.  Along the way they received support and encouragement from a strong, forward thinking Mayor and a young Alderman who used to be an aide.

The Brady street neighborhood means a great deal to me, as it does to each of you. I’m afraid that with the wrong Alderman all the progress and momentum we’ve built over the years willl be lost. I think Sam has what it takes to keep us moving forward. He is intelligent, responsive, understands what it takes to lead and serve this very complicated and demanding district and, best of all, beleives in what we’re doing. I hear so much about what the other candidates are against (virtually everything!) but not what their for. One (Sura Faraj)  regularly uses Brady Street as an example of what NOT to do and another (Kovac) is financed by the very people who dragged into court good, honest people who were working to preserve the East Village. Kovac’s friends made your neighbors pull money out of their own pocket to hire a lawyer to defend them against a group of nasty landlords. It’s crazy!

I know that each of you will seriously study all the candidates before you make your final choice. I hope that in the end you will agree with me about Sam and
find him worthy of your vote.  If any of you would like to discuss this further I would be happy to.

Please feel free to pass this on to whomever you may think would find it useful.

Mike

It’s from Milwaukee Alderman Mike D’Amato. 

Did you notice what he chose as his email address? 

consigliere.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

That isn’t a word that is without meaning.  In fact, it has a very specific meaning in the American lexicon. 

A “consigliere” is the title given to the third highest ranked member of America’s Cosa Nostra families.  The consigliere acts as an adviser to the Boss - particularly in matters between families. 

So why is Mike D’Amato using a Mafia title in his email address? 

It’s a particularly interesting choice when one considers that his district is booming with developments, which are traditional targets for mob schemes, and that he represents a district that encompasses part of former Senator Gary George’s district.  Gary George gained some fame when he attended the funeral of former Milwaukee Godfather Frank Balistrieri.  

Is Mike D’Amato trying to tell us something?  I’m not suggesting that D’Amato is in the Mob or anything.  Milwaukee hasn’t had its own family in quite some time.  Perhaps D’Amato just thought it was a cool word and didn’t know its meaning.  Or perhaps he does know its meaning and thought that it would still be cool and mysterious to use.  Regardless, given his position in the community, it was a very poor choice of an alias.