26.10.2010

Good moral character not required

A New York state judge has ordered New York City to reinstate the crane operator license of man with alleged ties to the Mafia.

Judge Alice Schlesinger said that a rule that crane operators must be of "good moral character" in order to have their licenses renewed, was unfair and ordered the city to reinstate the license of Louis Inglese.

Inglese had his license revoked on the grounds of his close ties with a “mobbed up union”.

In a separate case three ex-convicts, including a supposed Gambino crime family associate, are suing the city in the Brooklyn Federal Court to stop their crane operator licenses being revoked on the same ground of ‘poor moral character’.

The three pleaded guilty a number of years ago to federal crimes and are members of Local 14-14B of the International Union of Operating Engineers, which officials allege is controlled by the Mafia.

Gene Panessa, James Mascarella and associate William Duffy, claim that their civil rights will be violated if a revocation hearing finds against them and are seeking more than $2 million in damages.