“Frankly, I’m looking at it like I’m running a Motel 6. I don’t care if it’s Guantanamo Bay. We want to fill the beds.”


     Those words were uttered by Daniel Cooney, the chairman of the Wyatt Detention Facility's Governing Board.  Yesterday, he was fired by Central Falls mayor Charles Moreau.  Here's Moreau's reasoning for firing Daniel Cooney:

“Comparing the facility to one of our nation’s most controversial detention centers clearly demonstrates he does not share my goal to restore public confidence in the operations of the Wyatt Detention Facility,” Moreau said in the statement.

“It is my highest priority to ensure that, going forward, all detainees are treated with the utmost respect and dignity,” said Moreau. 


      Maybe it's me, but I think Charles Moreau is way off base.  Wyatt is a private facility which is losing $100,000 per week since ICE removed its detainees.  Dennis Cooney's  job was to run the prison properly, and at the very least, meet expenses.  Sure he mentioned Guantanamo, but if anything, he compared it to Motel 6.  Should he have mentioned the Hilton or the Ritz Carlton instead? 

     I don't understand how wanting to increase the "occupancy rate" of Hotel Wyatt is controversial.  Since Charles Moreau appointed Daniel Cooney to the Board, he must have felt he was qualified.  This decision is nothing more than an attempt by a spineless mayor to look effective while quieting his critics.