Monday Morning News Roundup
By Jon Whiten • Sep 21st, 2009 • Category: Blog
- Friday saw two more guilty pleas in the federal corruption probe. Former Housing Authority commissioner Edward Cheatam says he took $70,000 and funneled $15,000 to the re-election campaign of Mayor Jerramiah Healy. Former Hudson County elections investigator Dennis Jaslow says he took $15,500 in his role as a go-between for Solomon Dwek and a number of officials and candidates, including Joseph Castagna and then-Ward B candidate Michael Manzo. Both are scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 22. Cheatam faces a prison term of up to nine years, while Jaslow faces one of up to two and a half years. Healy continued to not comment on the “ongoing investigation,” which prompted the Journal to editorialize: “‘No Comment’ is Healy’s middle name.”
- The Reporter looks at the ongoing struggle over proposed reforms to curb the influence of campaign donations.
- A 29-year-old Fort Lee man was taken in custody yesterday after he entered the lobby of the Jersey City Medical Center and threatened to blow up the hospital with a bomb contained in a package he was carrying.
- Healy took part in a presser yesterday urging the House of Representatives to reject legislation that would allow Amtrak train passengers to travel with guns in checked luggage. The Senate passed, via an amendment, legislation that would force Amtrak to install a system to screen and check firearms so passengers could legally keep weapons in their checked bags within half a year. If the rail company were to not comply, it would lose $1.6 billion in federal funding.
- A 12-year-old Jersey City girl escaped from a 33-year-old Jersey City man who held her hostage for two hours on Colgate Street downtown and has been charged with kidnapping, criminal restraint, and sexual assault.
- Police are investigating a triple shooting in Pershing Field Park after a gunshot victim walked into the North Precinct police station Friday night with blood-soaked pants
- Zeppelin Hall gets the New York Times treatment. To note: classic oompah bands are being rolled out for Oktoberfest.
- The legal battle over the naming rights to “Newport Neighborhood Association” is set to resume in December.
In statewide news:
- More than 100 scientists have applied to be on the Science Advisory Board, a controversial panel being created by the state Department of Environmental Protection to provide expert opinions on several environmental questions. Faced with ongoing budget cuts and staff reductions, the DEP contends the advisory board is a natural fit for lean times. But critics claim the board will be a tool for pro-development and industry forces that want to roll back tough pollution standards and circumvent the DEP’s own scientific staff.
- Republican leaders are accusing Gov. Corzine of a conflict of interest stemming from his investment in a private hedge fund, but the governor says he did nothing wrong.
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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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