April 11, 2013 at 1:12 P.M. I am prevented from printing my work at the Morningside Heights branch of the NYPL. I have experienced this form of harassment before. I will have to make use of public print shops. Perhaps other branches will allow me to make use of printing services. Requests for information, such as my personal pin number on my library card in order into print items, may actually be coming from hackers to the NYPL system. I will not supply such information to a "pop-up." Threatening phone calls and other harassments are about normal.
April 10, 2013 at 1:17 P.M. Numerous difficulties today at computer #8, Morningside Heights, NYPL, cause me to worry about renewed efforts to prevent me from writing at these blogs. I will struggle to continue writing on-line, even if it is only for 45 minutes per day.
Ted Sherman, "Essex County Exec. Dined Out on Campaign's Dime," in The Star Ledger, April 9, 2013, at p. 1.
"The Essex County Executive" -- JOSEPH DI VINCENZO, a.k.a. "Joey D" -- "does not face reelection until 2014, but in the past year he has used his campaign to cover the cost of $15,222 in meals at 30 different restaurants -- all labeled campaign meetings -- according to reports filed with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission."
Mr. Di Vincenzo has been rumored to be affiliated with Newark-based organized crime families. ("Mafia Influence in New Jersey Courts and Politics" and "Another Mafia Sweep in New Jersey and Anne Milgram is Clueless.")
Mr. Di Vincenzo has been a friendly adversary and (sometimes) an ally of Mr. Christie. The New Jersey governor has "sung the praises" of Mr. Di Vincenzo on many occasions.
One shudders to think of Mr. Christie's restaurant bill at the taxpayers' expense.
"There was the $302.86 tab at the pricey Sea Grill in Rockerfeller Center last March (along with a $47 parking fee at the West 48th Street Parking Garage). The $480 bill that the campaign covered for a February, 2012 meeting at the exclusive Palm Restaurant at the El San Juan Hotel & Casino in Carolina, Puerto Rico. And the 36 times he dined at [the aptly-named] McLoone's Boat House in West Orange last year, with his reelection campaign picking up the check each time."
Mr. Di Vincenzo's "constituents" are among the poorest residents of New Jersey. I am sure that it will be a comfort to them to know that Mr. Di Vincenzo -- who also receives a six-figure salary -- will not have to worry about paying for his own food and drinks at fancy restaurants.
One wonders how many N.J. politicians joined Joe D for a little "chow-down" party at the people's expense: Richard J. Codey? Bob Menendez? Mr. Sweeney? Corey Booker?
Mr. Di Vincenzo piled-up about $250,000 on his "personal" credit cards from 2010 to 2011, "paying the bills with his campaign account without revealing what the money went toward. More than $3,000 was spent on a political retreat in Puerto Rico during the Super Bowl. He also used his campaign fund to play dozens of rounds of golf."
Mr. Di Vincenzo is a member of the N.J. Bar Association and former member of the legal ethics committee which should DISBAR any attorney who "mishandles or misappropriates" funds for personal use. ("New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System" and "New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics.")
The significance of these discoveries is not necessarily that Joe D violated complex spending laws (I think that he clearly did), but what it reveals about the attitude of politicians in America's "Soprano State." ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State" and "New Jersey's Politically-Connected Lawyers On the Tit.")
Government, campaign money, taxpayer funds, are seen as "spoils" (as they say at Lowenstein, Sandler, Stuart Rabner's old firm) to be spent by politicians, judges, politically-connected lawyers for their personal pleasure and/or gain.
New Jersey's "culture of corruption" -- to quote Mr. Christie -- has yet to be controlled. ("Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics" then "Have you no shame, Mr. Rabner?" and "Menendez Consorts With Underage Prostitutes.")
Money is spread among loyalists by sleazy lawyers and politicians -- like Bob Menendez, allegedly -- in exchange for "favors" and "service." I can only hope that none of these disreputable lawyers are plotting against Ashley Judd. ("New Jersey's Feces-Covered Supreme Court" and "New Jersey is the Home of the Living Dead.")
Public service through government work, politics as the preserve of professionals concerned to SERVE the public interest, is considered naive and laughable idealism. As Bob Menendez may well explain to all of us simple folks: "Politics is about taking care of yourself and your friends."
I can recall conversations with Mr. Menendez's former partner concerning Menendez's and his first efforts to get government "legal work." I am sure Bob is still laughing about the good-old-days and those classic so-called "scams." ("Senator Bob, the Babe, and the Big Bucks" and "Does Senator Menendez have mafia friends?")
"Politics is about getting rich," enjoying yourself, while grabbing the brass ring of "success" and "power." Right, Alex Booth? Howard Brownstein? ("Is Senator Menendez 'For' Human Rights?" and "Senator Bob Loves Xanadu!")
Sources:
New York & the World:
Mark Santora, "In Hours, Thieves Took $45 Million in ATM Scheme," The New York Times, May 10, 2013, p. A1. (Front-page photo of criminals posing with stolen cash will make things easy for police. "Joe D" and the Jersey Boys may have stolen more of your money than these common criminals.)
Elizabeth Malkin, "Ex-Dictator Denies Role in Guatemalan Massacre," The New York Times, May 10, 2013, p. A10. (Efrain Rios-Mont convicted, briefly, then let off the hook was the C.I.A.'s man.)
"How to Generate Distrust On Drones: A Former Administration Lawyer Secrecy on Killing Makes the Program Seem Illegal," (Editorial) The New York Times, May 10, 2013, p. A28. (They are illegal.)
Jonathan Weisman & Mathew L. Wald, "I.R.S. Focus On Conservatives Gives G.O.P. an Issue to Seize On," The New York Times, May 13, 2013, p. A1. (Use of the IRS to alter a form of payment of return or to harass political opponents is inappropriate, Mr. Menendez.)
David E. Sanger & Nicole Pelroth, "Cyberattacks on the Rise Against U.S. Corporations," The New York Times, May 13, 2013, p. A6. (Perhaps nations targeted for 'mining' of data do not like to be stolen from?)
David M. Herzenhorn & Elen Barry, "From Russia, With Wig: U.S. Says Suspect Ejected," The New York Times, May 13, 2013, p. A1. (Ryan C. Fogle, incompetent C.I.A. agent, will forever be known as "Maxwell Smart.")
Charlie Savage & Scott Shane, "Justice Department Defends Seizure of Phone Records," The New York Times, May 15, 2013, p. A16. (Privacy?)
"Spying on the Associated Press," (Editorial) The New York Times, May 13, 2013, p. A24. (First Amendment.)
Neal Gabler, "Entertainment News," (Op-Ed) The New York Times, May 15, 2013, p. A25. (The line between the serious and frivolous has been erased.)
Andrew Pollock, "Closing Is Used to Create Embryonic Stem Cells," The New York Times, May 16, 2013, p. A17. (Will patents finally be available on human embryos created as a result of scientific creativity in vitro?)
New Jersey's Humiliation:
Joe Malinconico, "Suspended Officials's Suit Alleges Stress Led to Stroke: Says Paterson ignored try to explore improprieties," The Record, June 6, 2013, p. L-1. (Paul Forsman suffered stroke for trying to expose wrongdoing against N.J.'s pattern of lying and covering-up. OAE? Mr. Rabner?)
Jenna Portnoy, "Christie Picks Close Ally for U.S. Senate Seat: A.G. Chiesa, A 'Conservative Republican,' will not run in October," The Record, June 7, 2013, p. 1. (Christie is not helping the G.O.P. in New Jersey's federal senate election because he does not want rivals in the Garden State. Mr. Christie is New Jersey's "Mr. Republican.")
AP, "Mayor's Bribery Trial Moved to January," The Star Ledger, June 7, 2013, p. 15. (Tony Mack, alleged corrupt politician, will go to trial "sometime" this year. Mr. Zisa is still sitting at home? John McGill, Esq. of the OAE may have been part of the Trenton political establishment as an African-American Republican.)
Anthony G. Alterino, "Local Official Faces Charges of Assault After Altercation," The Star Ledger, June 7, 2013, p. 15. (Ernest Feist, 54, Director of Emergency Management for Monroe Township, N.J., charged with DWI and multiple assaults has threatened to make the charges go away.)
Charles Stile, "Infighting Tears at New Jersey Democrats: Truce just deeper divide," The Record, June 13, 2013, p. A-1. (Democrat mafia machine is falling apart and will die a well-deserved death with the defeat of Ms. Buono. Has Ms. Buono visited my sites? Is Ms. Buono "connected" to Diana Lisa Riccioli? "Trenton's Nasty Lesbian Love-Fest!" and "Jennifer Velez is a Dyke Magnet!")
Peter J. Sampson, "Prosecutors Seek to Deny New Trial For Bergrin: Lawyer convicted in slaying of FBI informant," The Record, June 13, 2013, p. A-4. (Paul W. Bergrin seeks a new trial after convictions.)
John Patrick, "Man Pleads Guilty in Girl's Death: Admits Sodomizing Girlfriend's Baby," The Record, June 13, 2013, p. L-1. (AKEL A. ACKIE, 37-year sentence for aggravated sexual assault and two counts of endangering a minor as well as other counts. "New Jersey Being New Jersey?")
Stephanie Akin, "Police Airing Problems in Court: Towns saddled with costs as lawsuits add up," The Record, May 28, 2013, p. A-1. (N.J. rank-and-file police, legally, earn more than $100,000 per year on the books. Many earn more in cash payments under the table for services rendered to politicians.)
"Priests Downfall Continues in Court: Fugee Accused of Violating Order to Avoid Bids," The Star Ledger, May 22, 2013, p. 1. (The Rev. Michael Fugee is charged with violating agreement to avoid all contacts with children. N.J.'s status as worst jurisdiction for children remains unchallenged.)
