Colarusso Brings Common Sense Approach To Solving Problems

A Letter to the Editor from Rich Fortuna:

I am a father of a 11-year-old girl and a youth sports coach here in Stoneham, and I’m deeply disturbed by the young lives being lost to opioids. That’s why I am supporting Caroline Colarusso for State Representative.

As our Selectwoman in Stoneham, Caroline brings a practical common sense approach to solving problems. At the end of the summer of 2016 when Stoneham had experienced 3 fatalities due to opioids, Caroline didn’t speak words. She acted to establish a confidential position to help families deal with a son or daughter caught up in substance abuse. Most politicians talk in empty words. Caroline takes action to help solve problems.

Furthermore, Caroline identifies the root causes to many problems. Opioids are on our streets, because dealers are getting a slap on the wrist from our broken judicial system. Caroline understands this, and she has supported legislators’ efforts to get the infamous Judge Feeley impeached. Judge Feeley of Salem continues to let drug dealers escape jail time, because many who are illegal aliens would be deported if charged. So, he puts them back on the street to deal more drugs which result in more overdoses and more families without a loved one at the table. Judge Feeley has no regard for our families, I say this,because he is quoted to say, " If he was a citizen he would go to jail, this a money crime and the drug dealer was just trying to provide for his family."

Caroline urged Representative Day in a public meeting to get behind efforts to impeach the disgraced Judge Feeley, but Day chose not to do anything.

Caroline supports legal immigration but opposes Sanctuary Cities. These cities become magnets for drug dealers, because there are no deportation consequences when local police can’t communicate with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when they apprehend a drug dealer or violent criminal who happens to be illegal. That is a privilege you and I are not allowed as U.S. citizens.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other federal and local law enforcement experts, approximately 80 percent of illegal opioids sold in this country are brought in by foreign criminal organizations, primarily Mexico-based drug cartels. The drugs often are smuggled in vehicles across the U.S.-Mexico border and taken to distribution hubs in cities around the country. “

Immigration policies affect our ability fight the opioid epidemic and so does our broken judicial system.

I am tired of listening to empty suits talk about this crisis. They tell us what we want to hear, but it's clear when we see the efforts of our law enforcement spending many hours and resources to track down these criminals we have a judge like Feeley who does not care about our children.

Caroline’s approach, if given the chance, will work. She just won’t fight the symptoms, she’ll take a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of the problem.

She will apply the law and oppose Massachusetts becoming a Sanctuary State, like California. Most of all, she is sincere in her belief that our communities can solve the problem, but they must operate within a system that is structured for success. The judicial system is failing, and too many lives are being lost.

We gave Representative Day 4 years in office. We gave him a chance. Instead, I now urge you to give Caroline Colarusso a chance. She works tirelessly as our Selectwoman and gets the job done. She is endorsed by Governor Charlie Baker, and she can work with him to help the families in our community.

Rich Fortuna, 18 Longbow Road