September 17, 2012 at 3:31 P.M. Attempts to edit my texts at Philosopher's Quest and other blogs are still obstructed. I will continue to struggle to revise my work or to correct "errors" inserted in the texts.
Craig Wolff, "Hudson Official Admits to Graft," in The Star Ledger, September 12, 2012, at p. 1.
Lin That, "Rivals Call For Probe Into What Sacco Knew About Payments," in The Record, May 12, 2012, at p. L-1.
"An attorney representing 'political rivals' of state Sen. Nicholas Sacco is calling on state and federal officials to conduct an investigation into whether the entrenched North Bergen mayor intentionally kept quiet about a clause in his public employee contract suggesting he could claim an additional $188,000 upon settlement."
Mr. Sacco is a longtime North Bergen mayor -- also assistant superintendent of schools in town -- and as state senator, receives multiple paychecks and expected pensions as well as other perks, like health benefits and use of state cars. Under the circumstances maximizing sick-time payout will prove lucrative and may surpass the figure quoted in this article. Mr. Sacco may also still be listed as "principal" in a local school. ("Da Jersey Code" and "Cement is Gold" then "North Bergen, New Jersey is the Home of La Cosa Nostra.")
This is in addition to "other" forms of compensation, if any, for Mr. Sacco's services. ("New Jersey is the Home of the Living Dead" and "Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")
Mr. Sacco has been linked to organized crime, allegedly, by law enforcement and town residents for many years. I wonder how Jay Romano, Jim Coviello, Ray Gonzales, and Mr. Falcone are doing these days? ("Jay Romano and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" and "Feds Investigate Corruption in North Bergen, New Jersey" and "Mafia Influence in New Jersey Courts and Politics.")
A long-established partnership between "Big Bob" Menendez and the North Bergen "crew" has created a kind of cabal that governs Hudson County for the Democrat machine in the state, ensuring that registered voters in local cemeteries turn out on election day. ("Is Union City, New Jersey Meyer Lansky's Whore House?" and "Voting in North Bergen, New Jersey.")
"Boss Bob" and "Big Nicky" take turns calling the shots. FBI inquiries and visits are a regular feature of life in town. ("Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics" and "New Jersey's Politically-Connected Lawyers On the Tit.")
No real improvement in the lives of residents of the county and state can take place until the stranglehold of New Jersey's "bosses" can be broken. ("New Jersey's Feces-Covered Supreme Court" and "New Jersey's Legal System is a Whore House.")
Mr. Christie understands this reality, but seems to have given up hope that he can change New Jersey's culture of corruption while getting reelected to a second term as governor before a run for the presidency. Perhaps this explains the continuing halfway house scandal for New Jersey Republicans. Mr. Christie has stopped caring about corruption, especially when it involves his friends. Stay the course, Mr. Christie. Also, it is possible that Mr. Sacco can shed some light on the censorship and cybercrime that I struggle against in writing these blog posts. ("Struggle" and "How censorship works in America.")
A list of 15 to 20 examples of N.J. corruption and other matters in the media will be added to this essay in the days ahead.
Sources:
Matt Taibbi, "Greed and Debt," in Rolling Stone, September 13, 2012, at p. 42. (" ... A man makes a $250 MILLION fortune [Mr. Romney] loading companies with debt and then extracting million-dollar fees from those companies, in exchange for the generous service of telling them who needs to be fired in order to finance the debt payments he saddled them with in the first place." Mafia? Or Harvard MBA? Same thing?)
Joseph Epstein, "Who Killed the Liberal Arts?," in The Weekly Standard, September 12, 2012, at p. 23. (Accurate assessment of a depressing reality which may explain many of my experiences at "The Philosophy Cafe.")
Nick Gladstone, "Anti-American Protests Flare Beyond the Mideast," in The New York Times, September 15, 2012, at p. A1. (Should we attack Iran? Libya? Egypt? Yemen?)
Joel Goldberg, "Netanyahu: U.S. Can't 'Red Light' Israel Over Iran," in The New York Times, September 12, 2012, at p. 3. (Attempts to sway U.S. election by a foreign leader?)
"Arrested Trenton Mayor Must Go -- Now," (Editorial) in The Star Ledger, September 12, 2012, at p. 14. ("Jo-Jo" Giorgianni, convicted sex offender and Trenton official, was taped by the FBI -- like Bob Menendez, perhaps? -- describing corruption in Trenton and New Jersey while explaining: "I never give nobody up!")
Michael Linhurst & Melissa Hayes, "Analyst Says States' Revenue is Lagging: Christie Blasts Report That Puts Tax Collection $254 MILLION Behind His Plan," in The Record, September 11, 2012, at A-1. (I wonder why there's no money? Theft? Waste?)
"Tango Bergen-Style: Court Hearings Uphold Donovan," (Editorial) in The Record, September 11, 2012, at p. A-1. (Will control of the government be wrested from the hands of the machines and bosses?)
Jeff Green, "West Milford O.K.s Settlement With Its Former Police Chief," in The Record, September 11, 2012, at p. L-6. ("Paul Costello" gets $20,000 for money owed to him for something, we don't know what. Unused sick and vacation time?)
David Espo, "Obama Slams Romney's Hasty Libya Criticism," in The Star Ledger, September 13, 2012, at p. 2. (Mr. Romney's irresponsible comments may place American lives in danger.)
"Romney's Unfounded Attack On Obama," (Editorial) in The Star Ledger, September 13, 2012, at p. 14. (Mr. Romney's blunder followed closely upon his suspiciously timed response to the Israeli Prime Minister. Shockingly, Mormon Elder Mitt agrees with foreign criticisms of U.S. policy on the Iran issue.)
Kelly Haybaer, "Suit Says Rutgers Favors Pro-Israel Groups," in The Star Ledger, September 13, 2012, at p. 16. (Protests against pro-Israel bias in New Jersey. First time I have seen this kind of suit and others like it in different parts of the country.)
Alexis Friedman, "Teacher Pleading Not Guilty: West Orange Case Spotlights STATEWIDE SEX ABUSE in Schools," in The Star Ledger, September 13, 2012, at p. 16. (Erica De Paolo, English teacher -- possible friend of Diana Lisa Riccioli -- in W. Orange high school is charged with having sex with a 15 year-old. During the same week another New Jersey woman filmed sexual activity between a 13 year-old boy and 8 year-old girl. Both alleged offenders seem to have friends in the public sector in New Jersey.)
Matt Friedman, "Campaign-Funded Trip to Scotland Lands Andrews on a 'Most Corrupt List,'" in The Star Ledger, September 13, 2012, at p. 16. (Rep. Bob Andrews is "for all the people" willing to pay for his vacation in Europe.)
Eric M. Maltz, "Chief Justice [Rabner] Overstepped His Authority," (Op-Ed) in The Star Ledger, September 13, 2012, at p. 15. ("Chief Justice Rabner has taken it upon himself to EXCEED HIS AUTHORITY ..." Such exceeding of a judge's constitutional authority -- discovered by journalists after the charges were made here -- may violate the Canons of Judicial Ethics and make all court actions pursuant to it illegal and void ab initio, according to the New Jersey Supreme Court's own prior decisions. Have you no shame, Mr. Rabner? Are you ethical, Mr. Rabner? Why not check with Angelo "The Horn" Prisco on the legality of your conduct, Stuart?)
Susan K. Livio, "Investigation Widens Into Allegedly Dangerous Rsearch at State Centers," in The Star Ledger, July 17, 2012, at p. 1. (Patients subjected to dangerous research or experimental treatment without their knowedge or consent, often with very harmful consequences. Have they been raped? "An Open Letter to My Torturers in New Jersey, Terry Tuchin and Diana Lisa Riccioli" and "Terry Tuchin, Diana Lisa Riccioli, and New Jersey's Agency of Torture.")
