Last night

by: carolh

Sun Jun 08, 2008 at 12:31:01 PM EDT

The film was Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers.  I was moved to tears watching former employees of Halliburton, KBR and Titan - one after another detail how they wasted BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to provide shoddy services, parasite-riddled, unchlorinated water, hour long wait lines for soldiers just to eat a meal, (making our soldiers sitting ducks for enemy fire since the contractors refuse to keep the mess halls open 24 hours) as well as Cost-Plus deals where $80,000 trucks that got a flat or needed a new oil filter were ditched simply because the Taxpayers were footing the bill.

The film was NJ's corrupt system of Pay-To-Play writ large.  True, this is happening over in Iraq, but the message is clear: rewarding cronies and campaign donors with lucrative contracts is at the very heart of the entire film - and what is Pay-To-Play but that very same thing?

I realized that MY CONGRESSMAN, Scott Garrett voted AGAINST the GI bill and votes for EVERYTHING that Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush want him to and that until this year - MY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN did not feel like wasting any effort to unseat Garrett - he was only interested in spending 3 million dollars to cement his hold on the machinery of County government for his own financial gain and power.  I am so disgusted that our BCDO Chairman has not done anything to stop the culture of corruption at the highest levels of our Federal Government - corruption which is literally KILLING innocent people around the world and harming our own citizens.  And I realized with horror exactly why our Chairman does not care about Congress and the rewarding of cronies and campaign donors which has given rise to a travesty of global proportions. Because the Pay-To-Play creeps  - head creeps being Ferriero and Norcross - DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

When you watch this film and you see the incredibly harmful effects of giving away the store to cronies and political donors - it really hits the message home.  The scale is bigger than here in NJ, the effects more deadly, more expensive, more pronounced, but there is NO DENYING that the root cause of all of the profiteering going on in amounts that take a while to absorb because of all the zeroes - is at heart THE SAME CAUSE.  

Greed.  Greed and pure lust for power and a way to feed the cycle to keep it going.

The charts of influence shown in the film reminded me of the smaller Pay to Play charts I have been making lately.  

I sat there watching folks whose consciences finally got to them - telling us what was REALLY happening in Iraq.  How contractors were even involved in the interrogation of innocent prisoners.  And how there is ZERO accountability.

Eventually, greed always benefits the greedy at the expense of everyone else.  The documentary showed how bad things can get when you follow the lack of moral and ethical compass that political corruption engenders - to its logical conclusion on a global scale:

Misery, death, poverty, starvation, torture, environmental devastation, and profits for the horsemen of destruction - the greedy bastards who started it all.

Pay to Play is where it all starts.  Which is why we MUST END it here in NJ and everywhere we can.

It has already cost us our souls as a state and as a nation.  We have nothing left to lose.

The Rebirth of Democracy

by: carolh

Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 06:04:15 PM EST

Just got back from the Celebration in Bergenfield, where WWII veteran, and brand new Mayor Tim Driscoll took the reins at his very first Reorganization meeting of the Governing Body of Bergenfield for 2008.  Real Bergen Democrats Barry Doll and Bruce Carlson joined him on the dias.  What a beautiful sight for ethics reform in NJ.

Everyone was there - by that I mean the "Merry Band of Reformers" Real Bergen Democrats, and their supporters including,  Loretta Weinberg, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Gordon Johnson, Carol Skiba, Paul Eisenmann, Nick Lento as well as all the press.

It was a long meeting, but the best part and most entertaining was watching Councilmen Mulligan and Lodato squirmily adjust to their new roles as the obstinate bullies who have been taken down a peg.  Mulligan couldn't bring himself to vote YES to a different Borough attorney than Oury.  You could see the calculations going on in that shiny head of his, as to how many DOLLARS he would lose for re-election if he voted YES to a Mayor Driscoll's choice, and you could see him calculate how many VOTES he would lose by ticking off the voters with a NO vote.  So what do bullies do, when cornered?  They vote to ABSTAIN. But they always give a speech while doing so.  It reminded me of watching Scooby Doo as a child.  I pictured him saying - "Drat! Foiled again! I would've got away with voting Dennis Oury in again, too - if it weren't for those meddling kids, I mean Real Bergen Democrats, and their ethics reform minded friends in the Assembly and Senate - Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle! "  But my daydream disappeared in a poof as Mulligan waxed on about how he thinks Dennis Oury is the bestest Borough Attorney in the whole wide world.  I had to resist the urge to cough disrupively into my hand and say "Liar" or break into cackles of hysterical laughter at the absurdity of the moment.  Because Councilwoman Rabbit was absent (scared away perhaps) Lodato knew the writing was on the wall - he did not have enough votes to Vote NO. And with a long speech that seemd to be a public apology for his vote (kissing up to Oury)  he stunned us with a YES vote.  

The Room erupted into thunderous and enthusiastic applause when enough yes votes were taken to send the ubiqitous Mr. Oury packing.  We were cheated of the sight of Oury himself packing his briefcase and making sure the door didn't hit his backside on the way out,  but we got to see Renfield, or whatever the diminutive associate's name was who was filling in for Oury, slink away to the applause of nearly everyone in the room - except Mulligan and Lodato. 

I smiled. It was a very good day in my hometown of Bergenfield.

Mike Kelly Column on Oury losing Borough Attorney job in Bergenfield
http://www.northjersey.com/politics/Thank_you_thank_you_Bergenfield.html?c=y&page=1

Serdar Tumgoren Column on Oury losing Borough Attorney job in Paramus: http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/Politically_connected_lawyer_is_fired_again.html?c=y&page=2

The Ubiquitous Mr. Oury

by: carolh

Sun Nov 25, 2007 at 01:41:51 PM EST

Mr. Dennis Oury is amazing.  Not only is he Joe Ferriero's right hand, and the BCDO's Consigliere, he's absolutley EVERYWHERE. 

No, that's not completely true.  He can only be found where local governments are bestowing contracts shortly after the election winners won with a little help from ole' Dennis. 

"How conVENient" as the Church Lady would say.

Here is an excellent article by investigative political reporter Oshrat Carmiel of The Record.

If you're a taxpayer in Bergen County and you're not mad yet, you're gonna be.......

LD37 Legislators uncover NJ "Shadow Governments" & Initiate "Clean Up New Jersey"

by: carolh

Tue Oct 09, 2007 at 02:33:49 PM EDT

At an 11 am press conference today, the LD37 Legislators, Senator Loretta Weinberg & Assemblymembers Valerie Huttle and Gordon Johnson explained their findings after months of painstaking research of NJ corruption, and announced their plans to reform NJ ethics laws.  Their approach is based firmly on the hard facts obtained that show clearly that the current laws are full of loopholes that allow literally MILLIONS of dollars to flow from the taxpayers to a few individuals.  What they uncovered, they said was only "the tip of the iceberg". 

They want to clean house and end the "Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Government":

1) "Shadow Governments" - like the Passaic Valley Sewer Authority and the Bergen County Improvement Authority. These public entities have absolutely no oversight and you need to be a detective to connect where the money goes.  Also, the Governor has no veto power over their meeting minutes - which means he has no ability to stop an action taken by the body. 

2) Part Time legislature - which can present conflict of interest issues.

3) Loopholes in State "Pay to Play" laws.  Currently, there is not enough trransparency about where the money goes when PACs are involved.  Also, Pay-to-Play laws don't stop redevelopers from seeking eminent domain to cash in. 

4) Unfairness in political party operations.  Selection of party officials and the review process used to fill legislative vacancies is currently not transparent.  If you need a reminder, see my diaries on the BCDO.

5) Campaign financing.  It currently allows Pay-to-Play to occur and removes the people from the process. Money gets funneled up down and all around the state.

6) Lack of Transparency in hiring lobbyists.  Currently in places like the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, folks like Joe Ferriero (you knew he'd come up - didn't you?)  who not only is a paid employee of the commission - (he makes $45,000 per year WITH pension and benefits) on top of running his own private law firm, earned an additional $719,000 in legal fees in 2006 ALONE.  Nope, I didn't add an extra zero.  He made over half a million in addition to his salary and benefits.  If you count since 2001 - he has made $4.5 MILLION dollars in legal billings alone.  That's taxpayer money, folks.  YOUR Money.  With NO oversight.

7) Loopholes in local government ethics laws.  In non partisan elections, such as in Teaneck, local government officials don't need to submit financial disclosure statements until a year after they are sworn in. That's a long time. Talk about locking the barn door too late.

NJ Legislators have already brought some bills to the Legislature. Here is a rundown of each bill, by name:

S677/A1730  by Weinberg/Johnson/Voss
This would give the Governor veto power over the minutes of any commission as a check so that he can prevent the body from taking action or hiring a no show lobbyist or "consultant".

SCR122/ACR259 by Doria/Greenstein and Gusciora/Manzo/Johnson respectively
These bills would provide for a full time legislature. The difference in the two bills has to do with how the salaries are set - by either the legislature itself, or an independent commission. 

S214/A4164 by Weinberg/Karcher/Buono/Johnson/Huttle
Would close loopholes in the current "Pay-To-Play" laws.

S1599/A4235 by Weinberg/Karcher/Johnson/Huttle
This would force even those running in non-partisan elections to file their financial records withoin 30 days of being sworn in instead of a year AFTER. 

Senator Weinberg, when announcing these initiatives, collectively called "Clean Up New Jersey", stated that public service should once again be a "public mission & not a moneymaking machine for any one or any one group of people."

Assemblywoman Huttle stated that "The buck has to stop somewhere" while speaking about the use of a state comptroller who would perform an annual audit and act as  check against the kind of abuse of the public trust in matters of financial responsibility. 

As part of the initiative, Assemblywoman Huttle spoke of a new process whereby taxpayers could get online access to see exactly how many lobbyists are employed by a public entity. 

New bills will be announced on October 16 jointly with the Citizen's Campaign.  Further measures include limiting contibutions from those doing business with public entities.  and also to limit contributions by developers in discussions with public entities.  Keeping money in the district in which it is raised is one way they hope to limit the influence of PACS as well as limiting the # of PACS one individual can manage.

Gordon Johnson said that Clean Elections financing is part of the whole effort and puts "Democracy back in the people's hands".  It gets the average voter much more involved in the whole process.  While Clean Elections still needs a little tweaking paper-workwise, the LD37 team said that they hoped the rest of the state would use Clean Elections as it clearly worked.  They pointed out that Dems in clearly R districts earned their Clean Elections funds.

And now, all is clear.  I get it.  I totally understand why Joe Ferriero and Dennis Oury spent 4 million of BCDO money on the race for the County Executive in Bergen County.  You see, the County gets to appoint the folks to these "shadow governments"  with the ability to spend your money like drunken sailors WITHOUT having to ask you or even EXPLAIN it to you.  You have to control the County appointments in order to control these money making machines.  Joe Ferriero doesn't care about Hillary, or even Scott Garrett, which is why he spent so little to win the 5th seat.  It would not have affected his secret ATM the way that losing the County Executive seat would have.  Here is the explanation of what has been nagging me for so long.  It isn't about politics, or even government, it is solely about greed and personal gain for a few people. 

Now, this works the same ALL OVER THE STATE apparently, so if you are in South Jersey too, take heed.  Get your legislators on the phone and tell them you want to "Clean Up New Jersey" and that you want them to pass these initiatives or you will NOT vote for them this November.  The power is in the hands of the Counties, and to keep the money flowing, folks like Joe Ferriero will do whatever they can, to keep control of the Party Organizations and the County government in their hands for the reasons, your LD37 team outlined today.  And, they will do ANYTHING to control state legislative seats that could potentially pass laws to stop their gravy train.  The reason the Senate seats are the most valuable is because of Senatorial Courtesy which can prevent an honest judicial appointee from investigating what the folks in the shadows want to keep secret.   

If NJ folks are still wondering why living here costs so much after this explanation, they aren't paying attention.  Wake them up. 

P.S. This took a lot of homework, but no Clean Elections money was used in this act of selfless pure public service, and according to elec, it would have been allowed ANYWAY, Ms. Nibot.

Corzine Won't Support "Outstanding Senator"

by: dfa_lewis

Wed Mar 07, 2007 at 10:33:53 PM EST

Perhaps the most disappointing news comes at the very end of the article:

Governor Corzine said Tuesday he would sit this one out.

"It's a different situation this time," he said. "I have tended to choose not to get into party fights. I think Loretta Weinberg is an outstanding senator."

The Englewood Report

by: carolh

Sun Mar 04, 2007 at 04:17:51 PM EST

http://www.theenglew...

Especially see the story "Who is Joe Ferriero?"

It may have been Howard Dean who inspired me to get involved in Presidential Primary politics.  But it was what has been happening in Englewood over the past few years that compelled me to become more involved in local politics.

While I was rounding up volunteers to walk Tenafly for John Kerry, and the BCDO had given us flyers to hand out for the County positions, I ran into a problem I just never saw coming.

Several volunteers I had called who lived in Englewood asked me if the literature we would be handing out contained information on the County Candidates.  I said yes and they politely declined to help us.  When I asked why, I was informed of how in Englewood, many CC members were gotten rid of by Ferriero by trying that now familiar "put your CC enemies on line 4" trick, that would be used on me not 2 years later.

There were other folks from Leonia that had such a terrible opinion of Ferriero from a Pay-To-Play aspect as well.  The more I heard about these tactics, the more I learned about Joe Ferriero.

Being a Howard Dean fan who would ask EVERYONE for their votes, I was extremely disturbed that tactics used by the head of our Bergen County Democratic organization had actually caused upstanding Democrats to leave the Party. 

When we LOSE people from the party due to ethics - that is NOT a good sign.  I took that sign in consideration when I was asked to support Loretta Weinberg and Valerie Huttle for the Senate and Assembly in 2005.  Based on how Ferriero's tactics had damaged the Democratic Party in Englewood, I wholeheartedly supported Weinberg and Huttle in their special elections.

Now in the middle of the room during two actual BCDO special elections, when I saw how Senator Weinberg and Assemblywoman Huttle were treated by the BCDO, and how I was treated for simply voting for them, I knew I had picked the right course and had backed the right team.  When I then saw Senator Weinberg and team go on to garner 75% of the votes in the general election, I knew I had backed the choice of the voters in the 37th district - including Republicans and Independents.

When I then saw how UNHAPPY Ferriero was that we had done the will of the voters in the 37th district, I knew then that Joe just had to go.  If he was not there to elect popular Democrats to office in a general election, what was he there for?

There were only several answers to that question and none of them good.

There are some folks here that will back up Ferriero right or wrong because he is the head of the Democratic Party here in Bergen County. However, I believe THAT view is shortsighted when it disregards the future effects of the attrition ALREADY BEGUN on the Democratic party in Bergen County. 

It is my party, my responsibility to the voters of my district to make sure the Democratic party here is not run like a Sopranos episode.  As an Italian American myself, (I love a good cannoli probably more than he does) I am still very sensitive to that stereotype and offended by the way Ferriero runs the BCDO. 

Just because the Mob is ORGANIZED and good at keeping their boys in-line doesn't make them choir boys.  The same can be said for the BCDO.

It is precisely Ferriero's antics in Englewood that display vividly exactly what is wrong with Bergen County politics.  I urge you all to read and bookmark the Englewood Report.  It couldn't be more timely.

Introducing Democracy for Gloucester County

by: Josh Aronovitch

Sat Feb 24, 2007 at 12:32:46 PM EST

Among other issues and projects, we'll be working on banning pay-to-play.  I've been coordinating with the Citizen's Campaign to develop an effective pay to play ban for my home town of Washington Township.  If the town council doesn't want to join us in ending legalized bribery, we only need 1311 signatures to get it on the ballot in November.

We will also be looking into an important local issue, the County's plan to move the courthouse from Woodbury to somewhere else.  Washington township and 3 other towns have expressed interest, but many are worried that this would devastate the economy of Woodbury, and provide little to no benefit to the town that got the new courthouse.  We will be exploring the pros and cons, and deciding if we should, and if so how we would, oppose the plan.

Longer term, we will be actively engaging our neighbors on issues and informing them of what is going on.  Our goal is to make the grassroots more organized and more effective than the machine.  Please join us, if not in Gloucester County, by working with (or starting) a DFA chapter in your own county.

To join, go to Democracy for Gloucester County

The 37th has a great team

by: carolh

Wed Jan 31, 2007 at 02:51:13 PM EST

He spent over $70,000 on ONE party he basically threw for himself at the most expensive club in the newest Atlantic City casino and spent millions on the County Executive race that he needed to keep our County Employees held hostage to his whims, and spent NOTHING on the race for the Congress in the 5th district. We are dealing with guys who would be considered local warlords if we were in Afganistan.  I for one refuse to appease Mr. Ferriero.  I want to keep my honest legislators where they belong.

I hope you will join me at the Hackensack Middle school tonite. Ferriero's goons will be there, intimidating our County Committee folks, but the votes should be secret, and even though Mr. Ferriero has twisted arms to get signatures on the propaganda he sent out this week, the consciences of individual committee members I hope should be enough to shoot down this ill conceived attack on our very democracy. 

Think about this folks. Part of your property taxes go to pay for professional services.  In a Ferriero town, you can bet you are paying much more for a Borough attorney or engineer than you would be in a non-Ferriero controlled town.  How else can money get funneled back to the BCDO and Ferriero's machine? 

This huge problem affects so many more things in your local government than you realize.  If we stop the pay-to play nonsense, then maybe our County employees can breathe easier and not be beholden to one man who can destroy their careers in a heartbeat.  Our civil servants in Bergen county are hostage to Boss Ferriero.  Lets free them.  Come to the Hackensack Middle School and send a message to the local warlord.  WE will choose our own government.  Not you, sir. 

My Attempt at Campaign Finance Reform

by: Bertin Lefkovic

Tue Jan 23, 2007 at 08:28:54 AM EST

Ban all contributions to both candidates and party organizations from any source other than individuals.  Corporations, labor unions, and organizations can bundle contributions from individuals to particular candidates and party organizations, but any reports of coerced contributions will result in both civil and criminal penalties.

Individual contributions are limited to residency requirements.  Only residents of a particuar municipality can contribute to municipal candidates or party organizations.  Only residents of a particular county can contribute to county candidates and party organizations.  Only residents of a particular legislative district can contribute to State Senate and State Assembly candidates for that district.  Only NJ residents can contribute to gubernatorial candidates.

The only exception to these rules are members of a candidate's immediate and extended (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws - for the purpose of this exception, family relations through civil union are considered the same as those through marriage) family who might live outside of the candidate's municipality, county, legislative district or NJ.

The limit on all individual contributions is $100.

News Round-up and Open Thread for Tuesday, October 24

by: Sharon GR

Tue Oct 24, 2006 at 09:19:44 AM EDT

• Environmental protection commissioner Lisa Jackson yesterday revealed plans to do a complete overhaul of Our Fair State's $60 million cleanup program. Changes will include prioritizing the sites for cleanup, starting a licensing program for environmental consultants, and adopting programs with incentives for cleaning up sites quickly. The department is trying to fix the system after the high-profile closing of a daycare in Gloucester County which was located on contaminated soil.
• Children and Families Commissioner Kevin Ryan reported to the Assembly Human Services Committee yesterday that new child welfare workers are getting their training but re-training existing workers is taking longer. Also, the number of kids in foster care who receive physical and psychological examinations has increased, but an overhaul of the health care system for foster children is needed and will be proposed.
• As expected, the State Senate unanimously approved Associate Justice James Zazzali as Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court yesterday, and Judge Helen Hoens was approved to fill the associate position.
• State Senator Ellen Karcher's bill to curb political contributions from redevelopment contractors and professionals has received bipartisan support. Even with such support the bill may not pass, because of other ethics reform legislation being proposed.
• State Senator Stephen Sweeney has been under fire from labor groups about his proposal to cut the benefits and pay of unionized state workers. Sweeney met with the president of the AFL-CIO earlier this month and has been defending his proposals.
• The Legislative ethics panel met yesterday, selecting Raymond Bramucci as chairman. The panel put off a decision to investigate Wayne Bryant and his "job" at UMDNJ, citing two ongoing criminal investigations by the US and State Attorneys' General offices.
• Rutgers announced yesterday the formation of the Rutgers Energy Institute, which will bring together all energy-focused projects under one banner. The Institute's long-term goal is to help break American dependence on fossil fuels, particularly those from foreign sources.
• Speaking of alternative power sources, more residents of Our Fair State favor the use of offshore wind power than oppose them, and even more are in favor if the turbines are further away. Woo-hoo!
• Viola Thomas-Hughes is feeling little support in her run against Frank LoBiondo. Until last week, she had received no financial support, from Dem organizations in Gloucester and Cumberland counties. In the last week Cape May Democrats and Cumberland County Dem organization have donated, with the Gloucester County Dems promising some as well. Visit her site if you can help, too.
• New Jersey is a tough place for military recruiters; only Connecticut and Rhode Island have lower recruiting percentages. Officials and researchers blame the lack of interaction between military folks and civilians in Our Fair State, while some recruiters directly blame the Iraq war.

Open Thread: What's on your mind today, Blue Jersey?

Casinos Gave to Author of Smoking Ban Casino Exemption

by: Juan Melli

Sun Apr 02, 2006 at 09:39:35 AM EDT

"This clearly sets up the appearance of a conflict that the state was obviously trying to avoid," said Larry Noble, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Responsiveness in Politics, based in Washington, D.C.

But David Rebovich, a Rider University political scientist, said Adler's latest proposal to ban smoking in the casinos has no chance of becoming law because there is no support for the measure in the Legislature.

I supported this bill despite the exemption, because I try not to let perfect be the enemy of good. But the appearance that Adler and Sires caved to casino interests dirties the bill up quite a bit and is incredibly disappointing. While they haven't done anything illegal, Adler and Sires should follow the spirit of the law and return the casino money.

News Roundup

by: Juan Melli

Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 01:34:46 PM EST

Legislature finally approves pay-to-play bill

by: Juan Melli

Thu Dec 08, 2005 at 08:47:24 PM EST

Unfortunately, some Democrats in the legislature have taken the lead in opposing any significant pay-to-play ban. As the party in power, they rely on the pay-to-play cycle to keep them there.

On June 27, Sen. Peter Inverso (R-Hamilton) tried to put S-1987 , a bill which would permit local pay-to-play bans to remain in place, up for a vote, but it failed 20-17. Today, however, the Senate unanimously approved the bill which passed in the Assembly on Monday. Codey is a co-sponsor of the bill, so there's no doubt he will sign it into law.

This bill is a small step in the right direction, but we need comprehensive pay-to-play reform at all levels. Democrats in the legislature should stop making excuses and get it done.

Forrester busted in pay-to-play deal

by: Juan Melli

Tue Oct 18, 2005 at 12:48:58 PM EDT

While running for governor, New Jersey Republican Douglas Forrester has received $3.4 million in business from a Burlington County agency tied to the GOP machine that helped make him the party's gubernatorial candidate.

Moreover, the government contracts awarded to Forrester's company were brokered through the son of a powerful South Jersey Republican, State Sen. William L. Gormley, who also played a key role in Forrester's nomination.

Forrester's company, BeneCard Services Inc., was chosen by the Burlington County Special Services School District to manage its prescription-benefits program in 2004 and again in 2005. Since 2003, Forrester has contributed nearly $60,000 to county Republican coffers.

The school district selected BeneCard even though other companies offered lower costs for each year, and it renewed the contract this summer despite a 37 percent price increase by BeneCard.