Somewhere, Chief Cronin Is Smiling

Nancy Stevens, the mayor of Marlborough, vetoed the city's proposed sex offender residency laws yesterday. The proposal was very similar to the Fitchburg regulations passed earlier this year, although it did include a wider restriction zone, which left only very small slices of the city open to Level 2 and 3 sex offenders.

Check this out, from today's MetroWest Daily News:

"Earlier this week, Stevens had said she would sign the measure that would bar Level 2 and 3 sex offenders who offended against children from living in most areas of the city.

Yesterday, Stevens said the ordinance provides a false sense of security to residents and little to no enforcement power to police.

'I am concerned about the constitutionality of it,' Stevens said at a press conference in the Bolton Street police station. 'I am putting this back on the City Council and challenging them.'"

Of course, this is exactly the same thing Police Chief Edward Cronin has said about the Fitchburg rule: Ineffective, tough to enforce, might be against the Constitution. Clearly, Cronin and Stevens are on the same page on this issue.

It's an "I told you so" moment for Cronin, and while we recognize the issues, it doesn't take away from the fact that the Fitchburg law -- which limits how close Level 2 and 3 offenders can live near schools, parks and daycares -- will make sure those offenders don't live near those places. It might create the aura of safety, rather than actual safety, but isn't much of how safe you feel really a feeling, not a fact?

At the end of the day, perfect or not, this is a good law for Fitchburg, and one well worth fighting for when the inevitable law suit arises.