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Jimmy Breslin is on the story
By Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal
Celebrated journalist and novelist Jimmy Breslin observed the crowd last night at Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop’s rally against corruption at Jersey City City Hall. The author of more than 20 books, including one on former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and several on the Mafia, said he’s going to write a book about the New Jersey corruption scandal in which 30 New Jersey officials and political operatives were arrested July 23 in an FBI corruption probe. Rally Rips Vega (Healy Too)
By Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal Shouting slogans such as "1, 2, 3, 4 – sweep Vega out the door" and waving brooms, about 300 people rallied in front of City Hall last night to protest corruption in Jersey City. The rally was organized by Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop, one of several people to address the cheering crowd. "Every single time that we hire somebody’s brother, somebody’s cousin based on political patronage. Every single time that a contract doesn’t go to the lowest bidder. Every single time that an envelope is taken it is a tax that you pay for at the end of the day," Fulop said with emotion. The rally officially called for the resignation of Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega Jr. – who was among 44 people arrested July 23 in an FBI corruption sweep. But the crowd also chanted that Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy should step down. Healy, who has not been charged criminality, has acknowledged meeting with the government informant at the center of the government sting and his campaign profited from alleged bribes paid to others, according to federal complaints. Fulop is not calling on Healy to resign. At a "National Night Out" event six blocks away, Healy responded to Fulop’s rally with scorn. "Tonight is a great opportunity to get the community involved with the Police Department. Attempts to make political hay out of it by some folks with his own political agenda and ambitions, trying to usurp this event . I don’t have a lot of respect for," Healy said referring to Fulop. Besides Vega, eight other Jersey City officials and employees were arrested and charged with extortion on July 23, including Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini. Healy has suspended without pay the six city employees arrested. Vega, who didn’t return phone calls for comment, has refused to resign. Rally-goers held signs that read, "Restore Integrity, Resign Now," "Vega must go" and "JC Is Not For Sale. Children held signs reading "Don’t Lie. Don’t cheat. Don’t steal" in reference to a Healy campaign motto. "I’m just thoroughly displeased," said Peter O’Reilly, who brought his children Kaitlin, 5, and Liam, 2, to the rally. "I’ve been going to City Council meetings for years and you could see the writing on the wall." Former Jersey City mayor Bret Schundler also attended the event and said like everyone else there, he is "disgusted and outraged." Journal staff writer Paul Takahashi contributed to this report. Hundreds call for Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega to step down at City Hall rally
By Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop is organizing a "National Night Out" rally at City Hall tomorrow night to bring attention to the recent arrests of nine Jersey City officials and employees on corruption charges. "In the past, Jersey City has sponsored individual ward block parties in each neighborhood for National Night Out. This year is different. In light of recent events that have shaken our city to the core, I invite you to…a city-wide rally on the steps of City Hall itself," Fulop says on his Web site. "The crime inside City Hall must be dealt with the same way as crime on the streets." The event is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 280 Grove St. On Wednesday, Fulop put forward a resolution calling on City Council President Mariano Vega Jr. to resign from office, but he wound up the sole council member voting for it. Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson missed the meeting Vega was one of the nearly two dozen Hudson County officials arrested July 23 charged with accepting bribes from a government informant posing as a developer seeking favors. Ward D Councilman Bill Gaughan, who represents the Jersey City Heights, called Fulop’s rally "self-serving." "I think it is a lousy idea because it disrupts what we have been doing (on National Night Out) over many years," Gaughan said. "If it was held on any other night I would not have a problem with it." In his ward for instance, Gaughan said the nationwide effort to put a crimp in crime is celebrated with an event at Pershing Fields where cops mingle with residents and young people and there’s music, dancing, and face-painting. Fulop said Gaughan is engaging in "political spin." "The definition of ‘National Night Out Against Crime’ is where the community comes out and comes together and discusses how to fight crime. What could be more appropriate than a citywide rally in front of City Hall," Fulop said.
Fulop headlines anti-corruption protest in Jersey City
By Matt Friedman / PolitickerNJ.com Reporter JERSEY CITY — In a city where public corruption is considered commonplace, an estimated 250 residents turned out to say it should not be. Protestors gathered in front of City Hall tonight to put a new spin on the National Night Out, focusing on political crime as opposed to street crime in a city where eight public officials and several other political insiders were arrested in last month’s massive corruption bust. All of the arrests involved taking bribes from an FBI informant posing as a developer interested in doing business in the city. Brooms were distributed to chants about sweeping out corrupt officials. Some protestors wore shirts that read "Get drunk, get naked, get elected" — a reference to a photograph of a nude, passed out Healy that surfaced during his 2004 run for mayor. Many residents held small signs made up of an image of a January, 2007 front page of the Jersey Journal picturing the event’s organizer, Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop, behind the headline “City not for sale.” Fulop took the megaphone on the steps of City Hall and started his short speech by saying that the event wasn’t about him. “It’s about a tax on each of you that’s a corruption tax. Every single time that the city hires somebody’s brother, somebody’s cousin based on political patronage, every single time that a contract doesn’t go to the lowest bidder, every single time that an envelope is taken, it is a tax that you pay for at the end of the day,” said Fulop, who since winning a seat on the council in 2005 has spent much of the time fighting with Mayor Healy and his allies on the body. Fulop, a Democrat, went on to criticize Gov. Corzine for writing an executive order freezing development approvals that did not apply to Jersey City. He called on Vega to resign and promised that he would reintroduce legislation on developer pay-to-play, which was defeated by the City Council two years ago….. Read more at PolitickerNJ.com ‘Night Out’ will focus on crime inside City Hall
By Charles Hack / Journal Staff Writer Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop is organizing a "National Night Out" rally at City Hall tomorrow night to bring attention to the recent arrests of nine Jersey City officials and employees on corruption charges. "In the past, Jersey City has sponsored individual ward block parties in each neighborhood for National Night Out. This year is different. In light of recent events that have shaken our city to the core, I invite you to…a city-wide rally on the steps of City Hall itself," Fulop says on his Web site. "The crime inside City Hall must be dealt with the same way as crime on the streets." The event is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 280 Grove St. On Wednesday, Fulop put forward a resolution calling on City Council President Mariano Vega Jr. to resign from office, but he wound up the sole council member voting for it. Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson missed the meeting Vega was one of the nearly two dozen Hudson County officials arrested July 23 charged with accepting bribes from a government informant posing as a developer seeking favors. Ward D Councilman Bill Gaughan, who represents the Jersey City Heights, called Fulop’s rally "self-serving." "I think it is a lousy idea because it disrupts what we have been doing (on National Night Out) over many years," Gaughan said. "If it was held on any other night I would not have a problem with it." In his ward for instance, Gaughan said the nationwide effort to put a crimp in crime is celebrated with an event at Pershing Fields where cops mingle with residents and young people and there’s music, dancing, and face-painting. Fulop said Gaughan is engaging in "political spin." "The definition of ‘National Night Out Against Crime’ is where the community comes out and comes together and discusses how to fight crime. What could be more appropriate than a citywide rally in front of City Hall," Fulop said. News 12 Top Stories – Corruption in NJ
Watch up to date videos on the NJ corruption scandal at News12.com Jersey City Residents Call For Mayor’s Ouster
By Christine Sloan / WCBSTV.com In New Jersey, the furor over the latest political corruption scandal is showing no signs of going away. On Wednesday residents again demanded resignations from the lawmakers implicated. Even before Council Member Steven Fulop introduced a resolution to ask Council President Mariano Vega to step down, Jersey City residents packed the room to tell Vega, who’s been charged with taking bribes, what they think. "Why doesn’t he take a stand on whether Council President Vega should step down?" resident John Seborowski said to cheers inside the chamber. "Nearly 1,000 people spoke loudly against the resignation of Councilwoman Lopez, Council President Vega and, last but certainly not least, Mayor Jerramiah Healy," another resident said. Vega and the majority of council members voted to keep him where he is. "I intend to defend my name and move forward," Vega said. Angry residents also demanded Mayor Healy resign. "It’s a disgrace," one resident said. Healy has admitted to be public official number 4, the person named in a federal complaint that put his deputy mayor in handcuffs. Official number 4, according to the feds, met with their cooperating witness, who helped nab 44 people in the FBI corruption probe. The mayor, who has not been charged with any crime, defended himself. "I’ve done nothing wrong," Healy said. "And I have been accused of no wrongdoing." CBS 2 HD also asked the mayor about Jack Shaw, the political operative who was allegedly caught on audio tape saying he was collecting bribes for public official number 4. Shaw was found dead Tuesday. "I’m very sad for his family, his friends," Healy said. Investigators are calling Shaw’s death suspicious, but not a homicide. In the meantime, in front of City Hall there was another reminder of the public’s anger. Residents left behind the signs they held up in Wednesday’s meeting. Vega was also asked if he violated state ethics laws by voting on a resolution that affects him personally. He replied by saying he doesn’t know about those laws and voted because he is innocent. JCI Editorial: Mariano Vega Should Resign
By The Editors / The Jersey City Independent Like each home run that Barry Bonds slugged out into McCovey Cove in San Francisco, each vote that Mariano Vega continues to cast on the City Council will be tainted by an asterisk. But the business facing Jersey City’s governing body is much more serious than the game of baseball. We cannot afford to have a councilman who votes under a cloud of suspicion serious enough to involve the FBI. One week ago today, the council president was arrested and charged as part of a massive federal investigation into political corruption in New Jersey. While we firmly believe in the concept of being innocent until proven guilty (and sometimes even after — hello wrongful convictions!), we call on the longtime public servant to resign his City Council position immediately. We find Vega to be a decent and affable — if occasionally long-winded — man, and we respect his service. But this is not about Vega. This is about the citizens and the trust of city government. We cannot allow the public’s trust to be further eroded; yet this is exactly what Vega’s refusal to resign does. In order for this city to truly move forward in the wake of this corruption sting, Vega must no longer govern. It’s that simple. In honor of the asterisk, from this point forward, until he is proven innocent, the JCI styleguide will declare: all mentions of Mariano Vega should be written Mariano Vega*. Jersey City council rejects resolution calling for resignation
By Stephanie Akin / The Record Staff Writer JERSEY CITY — Jersey City officials brushed aside intensified calls for the resignation of Council President Mariano Vega Wednesday, telling an angry crowd at City Hall that Vega was innocent until proven guilty. Vega was arrested last week for allegedly taking $30,000 in bribes in a federal corruption sting that netted 44 people, including several Jersey City officials. “These charges will work their way through the system and when they are resolved, we will have an answer,” Mayor Jerramiah Healy said. “Right now it is really up to Councilman Vega to reflect on this situation and make his decision.” The council voted 7-1, with one absent member, against a resolution calling for Vega’s resignation. The resolution was sponsored by Steve Fulop, the only council member who did not run on Healy’s ticket. About 50 protesters who gathered outside City Hall earlier in the day also called for the resignations Councilwoman Nidia Lopez and Healy. The protesters said Lopez has not proven she is a Jersey City resident. Some said Healy was tainted by his connections to the arrested officials — including political consultant Jack Shaw, who was found dead Tuesday night. The criminal charges against Shaw allege that he accepted a $10,000 bribe in exchange for setting up meetings among Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, an official since identified as Healy, and Solomon Dwek, an FBI informant posing as a developer. Beldini has been charged with accepting bribes. Fulop said he did not expect Healy to resign because he hadn’t been charged, but he said the mayor should ask Vega to step aside in order to restore the public trust. He did not address the allegations against Lopez. “In personal life, the standard is innocent until proven guilty,” Fulop said. “In elected life, the same standard does not apply.” He added that he respected his council colleagues’ loyalty to each other after running on the same ticket. “But that loyalty is what got us in this situation to begin with,” he said. The protesters, carrying signs that read “shame” and “resign now,” said the arrests had soured their trust in local government. “We have a government that doesn’t represent the public. It represents special interests,” said Daniel Levin, who organized the rally. Levin ran against Healy for mayor this year. Some residents said the arrests had inspired them to become politically active for the first time since moving to the city. “I want good decisions made in this city for the people who are living and working hard here,” said William Bray, 36. “I don’t want the decisions made, especially in my area, on corruption and bribes. Everyone in Jersey City deserves more than this.” Vega responded by reading a prepared statement. “The events of this past Thursday were as shocking to me as they were to everyone else,” he said. “I am not guilty of the allegations. In our system of justice, we are presumed innocent until proven guilty. I do not intend to resign as city council president nor as a councilman.” Healy also read a written statement affirming his innocence. “I have done nothing wrong and I have not been accused of any wrongdoing,” he said. Healy also expressed his condolences for Shaw’s family. “He was a person that when I would see him at social events or political events, he was always outgoing, had a sense of humor, someone [who] always enjoyed a good laugh,” he said. Jersey City City Council votes to support embattled President Vega, Brennan temporarily takes over as council head
By Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal The Jersey City City Council voted down Councilman Steven Fulop’s resolution asking embattled Council President Mariano Vega to step down. The only person to vote for the resolution was Fulop himself. "While I’m not entirely surprised, I do not believe it (the vote) is in the best interest of the city," he said after most of the votes were cast. "The standard of ‘innocence until proven guilty’ does not apply to a public life that is based on the public trust." Vega was charged in an FBI sting last week along with 43 others. He is charged with taking three $10,000 payments for his re-election campaign in exchange for a promise of help with zoning approvals. Vega made the unusual move of voting on the resolution, even though it was about himself. After the meeting he said that it was clear by the time he voted that it was going to be defeated and that "it seemed like the right thing to do" to vote on it. Most council members did not explain their votes, but those who did primarily said that they held to the principle of innocence until proven guilty. Councilman Peter Brennan said "I think the mayor and Mariano Vega need to sit down and talk this thing out to decide what is in the best interest of the city," to which someone in the audience cried out: "Don’t we know what’s best?" Brennan responded, "That interruption has just changed my vote. I vote nay. Thank you for being so rude." The council also approved a position of "Council President Pro Tem" and gave Brennan the job. Vega said Monday that the President Pro Tem would take over facilitation of the City Council meetings for the time being. Fulop voted no on that resolution, saying that the council "couldn’t have it both ways." Finally, the council voted to make the Tax Enhancement Committee meetings public. The committee votes on tax abatements. The resolution, which was also sponsored by Fulop, originally also requested that Healy take Vega off that committee, but Vega made that point moot by stepping down from the committee Monday. Earlier in the meeting one of the residents asked that Fulop be elected Council President. His request drew strong applause from the audience. |
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