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- The big news of yesterday was that planning aide Guy Catrillo and Health and Human Services deputy director Maher Khalil pleaded guilty to the federal corruption charges against them. In his plea, Khalil said he was passing the alleged $30,000 in bribes he took from a purported developer along to council president Mariano Vega* and former Housing Authority commissioner Edward Cheatam. Cheatam’s attorney maintains his client’s innocence; Vega* and Mayor Jerramiah Healy have thus far refused to comment. A few interesting notes on Catrillo’s plea: He say he handed over $10,000 the feds found when they arrested him back in July, and he admits to arranging a meeting between the purported developer and planning director Bob Cotter. It’s not clear that this meeting ever took place, but it is the first time Cotter’s name has entered the milieu. Khalil faces a maximum sentence of seven years and three months in prison, while Catrillo faces up to two years. Both will be sentenced in December. Meanwhile, Ward E councilman Steve Fulop says Khalil’s plea is a reminder that Vega* needs to resign.

- As we reported last night, the City Council passed a redeveloper pay to play ordinance by an 8-0-1 vote, with At-large councilwoman Willie Flood abstaining. The ordinance, which takes affect immediately, makes illegal donations from developers in the three months before they apply to become a designated redeveloper for a site and through the duration of the project.

- Bayonne Councilman Ted Connolly has filed a federal lawsuit against Hudson County Sheriff Juan Perez and an aide, Robert Knapp, alleging he was the victim of discrimination, retaliation and harassment when he returned to work after taking six months off for “serious illness.” The suit seeks $1 million in compensation for humiliation and emotional distress, lost back pay, and asks that Connolly be reinstated to his old job as the 911 coordinator for the county.

- The Friends of Liberty State Park are holding a protest in the park this Friday at 12:30 pm in response to the scheduled dedication event for the completed hill that is the proposed foundation for the “Empty Sky” 9/11 memorial.

Today’s Best Bets:

- Be sure to check out the opening reception for Hiroshi Kumagai’s “Garden of Binary Love” show at 58 Gallery (7 pm), with a live performance from Newark’s Una Pong at 9 pm sharp. Up at Harvard on the Boulevard, there’s a special (and free) Performing Arts Showcase that begins at 7 pm. And the weather might not be great, but it still might be worth a trip to the St. Joseph Parish Festival in the hilltop section of Journal Square this evening.

In statewide news:

- Federal authorities are declining to investigate Democrats’ accusations that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey was politicized by former chief Chris Christie.

- The Hall Institute’s 2009 Governor’s virtual debate will begin this week with opening statements from the candidates on Thursday. To date, Gov. Corzine, Republican challenger Chris Christie, and independents Chris Daggett, Joshua Leindorf and Kostas Petris have agreed to participate in the online exchange, which will take place on the Hall Institute website.

- A national report says New Jersey homeowners would save an average of $419 per year and more than 19,000 sustainable jobs would be created in the state over the next 10 years if the energy and climate legislation currently pending before the U.S. Senate included stronger energy efficiency measures.

- Environmental Protection Agency inspectors are back in Garfield homes and businesses collecting a second round of samples whose results from a prior round of testing showed that elevated levels of chromium were present there.

- The Boss is one of five individuals who will receive the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors of 2009. Joining him will be Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry and Robert De Niro.