City officials gave permission to Hackensack University Medical Center to build a new cancer center. In return, the medical center agreed to handle the city's daytime emergency ambulance calls.
Seems OK, right?
Well, consider this: A key player in this deal is Joe Ferriero, chief of Bergen's Democratic Party and dispenser of patronage.
Ferriero, acting as a private attorney, represented the medical center in negotiations with Hackensack officials. But he insists he felt no conflict of interest. He says he was just another ordinary lawyer, not a powerful political wizard.
"If you want to criticize the deal, fine," he told me. "But don't say I have a conflict of interest."
Well, consider this: Two members of the supposedly non-partisan Hackensack City Council who were supposedly objective when they had the chance to assess Ferriero's hospital deal are also members of the Ferriero-controlled Bergen Democratic committee. Another had been a member of the committee until this year. And yet another has a job, courtesy of the Democratic-controlled county government.
And one more thing: A political action committee run by the medical center donated $10,000 in campaign funds to this supposedly non-partisan political team that took over the council in 2005.
Yep, this is one big conflict. Think of this as just a bunch of buddies, doing a deal.
Senator Hillary Clinton will visit New Jersey tomorrow and will attend two rallies - one in Hackensack and another in North Bergen. No tickets required, but you may want to show up early to make sure you get in. Details below.
5:30 p.m. EST
Hillary Clinton Hosts a "Solutions for America" Rally Bergen County Academies
200 Hackensack Avenue
Hackensack, NJ
7:00 p.m. EST
Hillary Clinton Hosts "Juntos con Hillary, a una Vida Mejor" Rally Schuetzen Park
3167 Kennedy Boulevard
North Bergen, NJ
Even when he's about to drive off a cliff. Joe Ferriero loyal lemming Lynne Hurwitz admits that the BCDO chairman is an embarassment to the Democratic party:
Those opposed to the planned suit will be able to register their vote when the county committee meets. Or, said Hackensack Democratic Chairwoman Lynne Hurwitz, they could find time to schedule a private, diplomatic meeting with Ferriero.
"I've never known him not to want to sit down and discuss things," Hurwitz said. "The desire to bring it out on the street only tells me that they want a raucous confrontation and to embarrass the party."
Get that? Everything Joe Ferriero wants to do should be discussed in private because it would be too embarrassing if anyone else found out. Without a hint of irony, Hurwitz finishes that thought by criticizing the democratic actions of Bergen County Democratic party protesters to a newspaper reporter.
Recently, State Senator Joseph Coniglio of Bergen County was informed that he is a target in an investigation by the United States Attorney's Office into the now-infamous "Christmas Tree" grants provided by the New Jersey State Legislature. "Christmas Tree" grants are legislative grants added on to the State budget by legislators during the final days and hours before the budget is adopted, to aid particular constituencies or organizations, often located in their legislative district or employing friends or relatives of the legislators. In Coniglio's case, a "Christmas Tree" grant of at least $1.6 million was allegedly provided to the Hackensack University Medical Center shortly after the Center hired the Senator as a plumbing contractor at a salary of $5,000 per month. There are two important aspects of the "Christmas Tree Scandal" that the mainstream media has been overlooking.
I don't even know where to begin. I think I've erased about ten different sentences before getting started. The Democratic Committee of Bergen County overwhelmingly voted NO to Dear Leader Joey Joe's effort to amend the By-Laws of the County Organization. In the end Joe Ferriero walked through the doors of Hackensack Middle School smiling dejectedly. Why was he smiling? I don't know, he's a megalomaniac. I think even Boss Joe could not possibly believe that this had actually happened. I could not believe this had happened. Boss Ferriero summoned his legions in full force and failed to have his way. The "small man with small feet" (he was described as such; he is small, I don't know about his feet, but she seemed to trust her sources)was clearly not at the top of his game tonight. Remember, this is the first time in my life that I have ever attended a County Committee Reunion. I still don't know if it was a Convention or a Meeting. Someone with more knowledge on the subject should comment on the signficance of that. Anyways, all the characters were there. Charles "Ken" Zisa, Michael Wildes and Cid Wilson were there. Petitions were being signed. Wildes threw everyone a curveball by having TWO petitions. One for Senate candidacy and the other for Assembly. Michael even approached me and commented on my posts on bluejersey, so now I'm really full of myself and the Maker isn't even flowing. What follows is some of the literature that Committee members were treated to before they voted and a play by play account of my impressions as I learn more and more about what it is that we call democracy in Bergen County.
Sometimes I get angry. The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) published a report titled: The Cost of Illegal Immigration to New Jerseyites, by Jack Martin, Director of Special Projects
This will be an evolving and lengthy diary. I can't help myself. I should probably tell all of you that I was born in Pereira, Colombia. My family crossed the Mexican border to escape the puppet state that is Colombia. I love Englewood because it is as diverse a municipality as you will find in all of Bergen County.
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 26,203 people, 9,273 households, and 6,481 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,056.3/km² (5,322.0/mi²). There were 9,614 housing units at an average density of 754.5/km² (1,952.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.49% White, 38.98% African American, 0.27% Native American, 5.21% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.50% from other races, and 4.50% from two or more races. 21.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
7.17% of Englewood residents identified themselves as being of Colombian American ancestry in the 2000 Census, the ninth highest percentage of the population of any municipality in the United States.
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That is not including the massive Colombian-American colony found in the other D37 municipalities, namely Hackensack, Bergenfield and Bogota.
I'm not sure where this post will go. Inevitably, this will all conclude with more thoughts on the Hispanic leadership in Bergen County. And some of the policies that many of the organizations in New Jersey that claim to represent us support that are a betrayal to our community. But before I get there, I will indulge myself with some personal reading/references/musings. I hope to refute absolutely every single conclusion in FAIR's report.
And yes, I will have to comment on LADA (The Latino American Democratic Association of Bergen County)and why LASO-NJ must succeed and move beyond our seemingly inauspicious birth.
(Shaping up to be an important primary. - promoted by Xpatriated Texan)
I will assume that for most readers of bluejersey very little need (needs to) be said about Ken Zisa. What follows is a basic introduction to Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes and Cid D. Wilson of Leonia.
To speak of Wildes I must talk about Englewood's historical mayoral election this past November. I keep using the word historical a lot. But this is just the nature of the monumentally epic District 37. To his credit, I can say that Michael Wildes is not shy about his ambitions. He has his eyes on the New Jersey Legislature. These are all merely stepping stones to his march (I guess) to Washington. Just take a look at the following website:
I guess one must respect Michael for fantasizing to be more than just the Mayor of Englewood. After all, he is no longer 'boy wonder' and must be painfully conscious of the looming and dreaded 'has been' status. He has goals and a vision for his future. We must all have goals and a vision for our future. For further reading I will include some memorable bits that Englewoodians enjoyed during the Wildes v. Stern matchup.
To be fair, I must include a link to Dr. Stern's website.
As far as Mr. Wilson is concerned, I will have to confess that as a Latin American Democrat, I do not know what to make of Mr. Wilson and his decision to add his name to that of Kenny and Michael. I will provide some links with basic biographical information on Mr. Wilson. I do not know anything about his politics. But I will say that he has a most impressive resume. And were his name not attached to that of Zisa and Wildes, I would have to be very impressed by a Dominican-American Latin American success story. But the fact that he has lent his name to complete the Ferriero-crat Triumvirate tears me to pieces.
