Let’s hear it for Darcel Clark!
The District Attorney in Waiting for The Bronx emerged from her cone of silence last night, fearlessly fielding questions from a mostly-friendly group of 50 audience members at the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club.
Since being anointed by Democratic county leaders last week to replace outdoing D.A. Robert Johnson, it’s been all but impossible to reach Clark to find out her positions about the many law-enforcement issues facing the borough – including the prosecution of cases on the scandal-plagued Rikers Island.
With no notice to any major media outlets, Clark delivered what sounded like her first stump speech to voters, going over her resume and then fielding questions from audience members.
Luckily for all of us – and perhaps unluckily for Clark -- the Riverdale Press was in the house, recording her entire speech and asking her the toughest questions of the night about the last-minute switcheroo by Johnson who suddenly decided to resign only after he won the primary this month.
“I didn’t create the process. I didn’t create the process. I’ve been asked to serve,’’ said Clark, giving little insight on how the whole deal actually went down.
An audience member asked if she had ever spoken to Johnson about his plans to resign.
“He didn’t say anything to me,’’ Clark said.
How did she learn about it?
“I read the papers.”
But even if one can accept this narrative as well the original sin of how Clark is poised to take over the troubled D.A.’s office, her plans are as sketchy as Donald Trump’s briefing book.
“My goal and my vision is to make the Bronx district attorney’s office the best in this city and in this country. So that’s my vision and I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen,” said Clark, who gave little policy points for anyone to chew on.
How will she help fix Rikers?
“I will meet with all of the key stakeholders in that operation.”
Will she set up a wrongful conviction unit like has been done in Brooklyn?
“I can’t say I will definitely do it.”
What’s her assessment of the heavily-criticized incumbent?
“Mr. Johnson did a lot of good things and it’s a tough job.”
Clark’s underwhelming debut appearance to the voters shows why we have elections for district attorney rather than just appointing them. In a heavily-Democratic borough like The Bronx, the party’s nominee is effectively the winner.
If Democratic leaders like Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio truly care about justice and fairness in how their party is run, now is the time for them to speak out.
In the meantime, it would be nice to hear Darcel Clark speak out some more and grapple with some more pointed questions.
Bob Hardt