Signs say: RESIGN!

 

Protests mount against those arrested; Elwell, Hoboken chief of staff step down

 

Local mayors Peter Cammarano and Dennis Elwell were under pressure this week – internal and external – to resign their positions in Hoboken and Secaucus, as was Jersey City’s Council President Mariano Vega. All three were arrested on Thursday, July 23 as part of a statewide political corruption sting that netted 44 politicians, religious leaders, and consultants.

 

Elwell notified town administrators at 1 p.m. on Tuesday that he was resigning his position and turning control of the city over to Deputy Mayor John Reilly.

 

Cammarano had said before that he would refuse to resign, even though his chief of staff resigned on Tuesday and hundreds of people have protested on the City Hall steps.

 

Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop called for Vega’s resignation and has organized a rally at City Hall on Tuesday during the “Night Out Against Crime.” A group of protesters planned to descend on a Jersey City council meeting on Wednesday.

 

One top-level Hoboken source said last week that it was an “impossible” situation for Cammarano to continue governing.

 

Subpoenas were sent to City Hall in Hoboken and Secaucus on Tuesday requesting records in conjunction with the investigation, according to city officials.

 

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office could not confirm or deny any subpoenas.

 

Corzine, Ramos, others: resign

Gov. Jon Corzine publicly said this week that anyone involved in the allegations should resign his or her elected position for the good of the people. Since then, other Democratic leaders have piled on.

 

In Hoboken, Assemblyman and close Cammarano ally Ruben Ramos Jr. joined Democratic committee leaders in calling for the mayor’s resignation, as did City Council members Dawn Zimmer, Beth Mason, Ravi Bhalla, and David Mello.

 

Ramos said he was “wholeheartedly behind” the call for resignation.

 

“I just don’t see how he can govern under these circumstances,” he said in an interview.

 

All six Cammarano transition team chairmen sent Cammarano their resignations at noon on Tuesday, including Michael Novak, who had run as a City Council candidate on Cammarano’s ticket.

 

Cammarano Chief of Staff Joe Garcia resigned his position on Tuesday after less than a month on the city payroll. He cited a lack of opportunity to achieve the goals for the city under present circumstances.

 

“I thought we would be finally able to tackle the problems of Hoboken,” Garcia said Tuesday. “I no longer believe this is possible.”

 

In Jersey City, Fulop introduced a resolution calling for Vega to step down and asked resident to attend a protest on this coming Tuesday night.

 

“The crime inside City Hall must be dealt with the same way as crime on the streets. Let your leaders hear your voice and know how you feel about their deception, their lies, their stealing,” Fulop said.

 

Vega maintained his innocence at the council’s caucus meeting on Monday.

 

“The events of this past Thursday were as shocking to me as they were to everyone else. I am not guilty of the allegations,” Vega said in a statement. “In our system of justice, we are presumed innocent until proven guilty. I do not intend to resign as council president, nor as councilman.”[...]

 

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