Friday Morning News Roundup
By Jon Whiten • Jul 31st, 2009 • Category: Blog
- Political consultant Jack Shaw had reportedly agreed to cooperate with federal authorities in their corruption probe after he himself was arrested last week. He told the feds he could help develop new information on those already charged in the case and to possibly identify new targets. Shaw was found dead in his apartment on Tuesday. Shaw was also reportedly taped discussing possible illegal payments to former state Community Affairs Commissioner Joe Doria. Meanwhile, the Times paints a darker picture of Shaw than what we’ve been reading in our local papers.
- While working on a tight 30 day clock, federal investigators are widening the inquiry and looking to strengthen the case against those who maintain their right to remain silent, hoping to get some of those who have been charged to flip and help with other targets.
- Former Parking Authority director Jimmy King is one of the 19 officials arrested on corruption charges last week that could collect their public pensions and lifetime health benefits, even if convicted. King receives a monthly stipend of $3,350.19.
- When Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith put in a call to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on behalf of purported developer Solomon Dwek, top DEP officials responded promptly to that call, directing subordinates to investigate the status of contaminated Garfield Avenue property that interested Dwek, according to documents obtained this week by the Record. Critics contend that this type of behavior shows how politicized the supposedly independent scientific office has become.
- In our neighbor to the north, mayor Peter Cammarano, who was among those busted in the probe last week, is expected to resign today.
- And the probe was a topic on the campaign trail again yesterday, as Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie said that Gov. Corzine can’t be held responsible for the conduct of the charged public officials. He did note, however, that the arrests happened on the governor’s “watch.”
In other news:
- A plan is on the way to transform Reservoir # 3 in the Heights into a public park, while preserving its historic structures.
- The precautionary advisory to boil water has been lifted for United Water customers on five streets in the Heights.
- A Brazilian police investigation has determined that the death of Jersey City boxer Arturo Gatti was a suicide and a court has ordered the release of his wife, who was once suspected of killing him. Meanwhile, there was a well-attended mass for Gatti last night in Jersey City.
In statewide news:
- Chris Christie says that he was not aware of a tax fraud case prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office during his tenure that has led to a federal lawsuit.
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Jon Whiten is the founding editor of the Jersey City Independent; he now works for a public-policy nonprofit in Trenton.
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