When sentencing time comes for Keith Wasserstrom, Hollywood Mayor Mara Giulianti should be standing there beside him, awaiting her set of silver bracelets. Giulianti's son, Stacey, was right beside Wasserstrom trying to profit on the sewage company -- and under the law that's just the same as if it was the mayor herself.
She misrepresented her son's role in the scheme -- which trial testimony revealed was quite extensive -- and then tried to cover it up with Emailgate. And the jury apparently didn't buy the state's claim that poor little Mara was duped by Wasserstrom -- it didn't convict on the two official misconduct charges that dealt with that matter.
And her performance on the witness stand revealed that she is STILL trying to cover up the truth, as she was a hostile witness for the state.
Now, one of the good things about being me is that I don't have to cover all these meetings and detritus that most reporters have to cover. Therefore, I can go mostly incognito. I've spoken with the mayor once or twice, but it's been a while -- and she clearly forgot what I look like.
During a break in the trial on Thursday, I sat on a bench outside the courtroom passing the time with a crossword puzzle. Mara, who hadn't yet completed her testimony, walked up with a friend and sat down right next to me. Then she started yapping on her cellphone. I overheard her -- and wrote it down on the newspaper I was holding. To read about what she said about the prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge, click here.
One thing not there is pretty hilarious. Sentinel reporter Ihosvani Rodriguez walked by us and had an exchange with the mayor. I was a bit uncomfortable at that point, hoping he wouldn't say anything to me and unintentionally blow my cover. Thankfully the reporter called "Geo" didn't. Then Rodriguez walked down the hall and started talking with Sentinel columnist Michael Mayo, who had just arrived at the trial. The mayor looked over at the two of them and said:
"Oh no, there's Michael Mayo," the mayor said. "He knows he makes me nervous."
Of course Mike makes her nervous -- he tells the truth.
Ah. Good luck, Hollywood.
