The Irony of the James Indictment

i don't understand (0.00 / 0)

what's the problem?  If his job at Essex county college was non-corrupt and he was compensated appropriately, why should he not keep his pay and benefits from tha?

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by: morrisdem @ Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 19:18:56 PM UTC

re: i don't understand (4.00 / 1)

It's difficult to separate the two. What if he used his power and influence as mayor, which he abused, to secure that job?

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by: Juan Melli @ Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 19:26:25 PM UTC

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i dont' buy it (3.00 / 1)

A lot of legislators teach at colleges and universities.  From Martin and Baroni at Seton Hall to various legislators and mayors that teach that undergraduate schools and community colleges.  Politicians that hold elected office have incredibly unique viewpoints and experience to offer to students.  If I were on the board of Essex County College, I would jump at the chance to have the newark mayor and a state senator teach at the school.

The connection is too attenuated. 

Further, there are constitutional issues.  If he worked for that money and benefits and recieved them through a legitimate contract, then his due process rights would be violated if forced to relinquish honestly-earned benefits. 

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by: morrisdem @ Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 19:36:15 PM UTC

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Dangerous precedent (4.00 / 1)

If someone performs a job, he/she is entitled to be paid the agreed-upon compensation for the period of time the work was performed, including any accrual of benefits.

Even if the person turns out to be a scoundrel, to do otherwise amounts to retroactive slave labor.

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by: Jeff Gardner @ Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 20:02:38 PM UTC

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In this specific instance, (4.00 / 1)

I am sicked because the college granted him unprecendented multiple 'leaves of absence' (I believe in this case the total leave of absence added to more than 20 years) so he could become a corrupt mayor and still earn benefit credit at the college. I would argue that when you take a public job, you accept an oath to serve the public (whether or not you take an actual oath) and when you violate the public's trust in any capacity, you forfeit that trust across all your positions.
In the end, I don't think it's too much to ask of our public employees not to commit felonies in their offical capacities or risk forfeiture of their pensions.
But lookinig forward, this case may be obsolete (at least for elected officials) as we have banned dual officeholding, (in theory we have I guess...)


"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

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by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 03:10:02 AM UTC

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Please (0.00 / 0)

Could this thread be any more confusing?

Were the "leaves" granted to James paid or unpaid, or something in between?

What is a benefit credit?

I'm asking if James had a retirement account, did it simply sit there accruing interest while he was on leave?  Or was some kind of deal struck that (taxpayers?) $$$$ would go into the account, even if he was on leave.  Or did he contribute personally to the account to accrue non-taxed retirement benefits.

Its probably more complicated than any of the above scenarios.  I just don't understand.

Is there a basis to investigate whether or not Essex CC violated state education law by granting James multiple leaves?  Is there a basis for looking into the manner in which his retirement plan was structured?

But heh - the money isn't going for cars, yachts or trips anymore - its going to lawyers.  Talk about trickle down economics.

Meanwhile, my version of XT's complaint - adjuncts are 'the mules of the world."

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by: SmartyJones @ Sat Jul 14, 2007 at 11:52:22 AM UTC

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