Just saw this thread. Martino's a fraud. Years ago, my girlfriend was ripped off by a carpet company that was paying to be on his referral list. Ripped off as in outright fraud - she ordered an expensive high-end carpet and they delivered and attempted to install cheap crap that you'd only put in a rental.

I got involved when they called it a "misunderstanding" and said it was her fault. No one can possibly charge someone for the best carpet they sell and deliver the cheapest grade they have in their store unless they're both dishonest and really stupid. It was obvious they intended to defraud her from the get go.

Not knowing any better, we called the "troubleshitter" and Martino personally defended his advertisers to the hilt.

Far as I'm concerned, any business that is on his list is so likely to be overpriced/dishonest it's not worth the time to even get their bid. If they're honest well meaning businesses, I think they'd smell the scam and not be his advertisers. And have some pity for the poor folks who never shop beyond his referral list and overpay for everything...

I was SO amused when he got sucked into the balloon boy scam and chased after it in his helicopter. (Heh! No one's as easy to con as a con man, particularly one who thinks his sewer smells like fresh cut clover.)

And yes, he shakes down his referral list advertisers for work on his house, etc., etc., etc. - all of which I'm sure he shows at wholesale, if at all, on his taxes. He's that kinda guy.

Took an Italian friend to point this out to me (she should know!) but all Martino has done is 1) found a legal way to run a protection racket, and 2) so thoroughly integrated himself into the media power structure that he's practically immune from investigation.

I've lived here all my life, and in that whole time only Westword has dared show him for what he is.