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The Antonelli-Veldell Convictions
M AYOR WASHINGTON has described the bribery pared with Mr. Antonelli's gains. But aside from
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and conspiracy convictions of his tap alle, Joseph illegalities of this connection, the relationship in
P. Yeldell, and millionaire developer Dominic F. Anto- event was precisely the sort that prudent gov
nelli Jr. as a tragedy for the District of Columbia, as mentofficials should take pains to avoid.
well as for the two men and their families. The mayor
By receiving financial favors [rom someone
is half right—eertainly there is personal tragedy in this whomhis city government agency was in a pos
case for the two men most directly involved. But this is to do favors of a most profitable nature, Mr. Ye
nut a tragedyfor the communily. It is an ordinary case showed, as he had on other occasions, a remark
of corruption—and neither the integrily of the local insensitivity to the public responsibility entruste
LOvernment nor of businessmen should suffer as a con+ him. Through the years, it was Mr. Yeldelt’s inc
sequence of it. The crimes committed, in fact, were un- ing preoccupation with the trappings of poli
fortunately commonplace when you consider the many power, coupled with administrative incompete
states and federal agencies where investigations of top that interfered with his agency’s ability to serve
public officcholders, friendships and cash have pro- people of this cily who need help the most.
duced evidence of government corruption.
It was inexcusable that Mr. Yeldell was allowe
What the jury found was an arrangement whereby mismanage for as long as he did, with no effort by
Mc. Yeldel) traded a fat D.C. government lease for a superior, Mayor Washington, to do something al
secret $33,000 persanal loan from Mr. Antonelli. You it. At least now it is a thing of the past—and th
could say it was a (ragedy that Mr. Yeldell's participa- anything buta tragedy for the local government
tion in this arrangement netted him so Jiltle com- the people it still secks to serve.
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