Recent Mariano news

1. In what is likely to be his last Council appearance for some time, Rick Mariano pulled off passage of a tenants' rights bill.

   If signed by Mayor Street, the measure would require that owners obtain a certificate of rental suitability before leasing out property and would allow tenants to sue over code violations. The certificates would go only to those whose licenses are up to date, who had no outstanding code violations, and who would attest that their property was free from defects.

   Sounds like a good finish, with an unspecified hospitalization and then a federal trial next up on the Councilman's dance card...
   
   
2. Meanwhile, another of the businessmen included in the same indictments, Joseph Pellecchia, decided to plead guilty yesterday to fraud and money-laundering charges. He will not testify against Mariano in the upcoming trial, but his wife apparently will...