Newark Mayor in the 60s, Hugh Addonizio.
There was Frank Hague. The Mayor of Jersey City from 1917 to 1947. Those who wanted favors from Hague would put cash in a special drawer in his desk that he would push open toward them. Despite being the subject of several investigations, Hague was never even charged for any corruption and is said to have retired a multi-millionaire.
Then there were Sen. Harrison Williams, Rep. Frank Thompson and Camden Mayor Angelo Errichetti.
If you saw the movie American Hustle, you know about them.
A two-year federal investigation of international money-laundering, organ selling and bribery of public officials led to 46 arrests in 2009. Assemblyman Aniel Van Pelt was sentenced to 41 months for extortion and bribery. Among the others who pled or were found guilty: Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini (bribery), Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, (accepting a bribe), Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano III (accepting campaign contributions in exchange for development approvals), Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega Jr. (taking campaign contributions for development approvals).
Then there was the Hudson Eight.
They also were from Jersey City. The city police chief, city council president, city purchasing agent, county treasurer and Democratic chairman and a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioner — all charged with extorting money from people looking for city contracts.
Jersey Senate President John Lynch pleaded guilty to fraud and tax evasion charges in 2006 and admitted he took more than $25,000 from a company that he had helped win permit approvals while he was in the state Senate.
I remember Newark Mayor Hugh Addonizio from when he received a 10-year sentence after being convicted in 1970 of 64 counts of conspiracy and extortion.
But, come on Jersey. Where are the jailed governors?
In Illinois, four of our last seven have or are serving time.
Rod Blagojevich – Governor from 2002 through 2009, when he became the first Illinois governor in history to be impeached. Convicted of numerous corruption charges in 2011, including allegations that he tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat.
George Ryan – Governor from 1999 through 2003. After leaving office, was convicted of racketeering for actions as governor and secretary of state. In November 2007, began serving a 6 1/2 year sentence in federal prison.
Dan Walker – Governor from 1973-1977. Pleaded guilty to bank fraud and other charges in 1987 related to his business activities after leaving office. Spent about a year and a half in federal prison.
Otto Kerner – Governor from 1961-1968. Resigned to become judge, then was convicted of bribery related to his tenure as governor. Sentenced to three years in prison.
As for Chicago alderman. At one time the last Mayor Daley had appointed 15 of the councils 50 alderman because so many had been indicted or were behind bars.
Whether New Jersey or Illinois is the more corrupt state is the kind of thing that we could argue over beers for hours.
It now appears we have more in common than indicted and jailed public servants.
A state judge announced today that she will hear a major challenge to Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to take funds meant for public-workers’ pensions to solve a budget crisis, a development that adds even more pressure on lawmakers and the governor as they scramble to finish a new budget by June 30.
In an order issued today, Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson said she will hear a lawsuit brought by active and retired State Police troopers. Oral arguments will be held June 25, Jacobson said.
Through their unions, the troopers are challenging an executive order signed by Christie last month that takes $900 million designated for the pension system this fiscal year and uses it to plug an unexpected shortfall in the state budget that came to light in April.
The move is illegal under a pension overhaul Christie himself signed into law in his first term, the troopers argue, and it violates a section of the state constitution that says “the Legislature shall not pass any bill … impairing the obligation of contracts.”
The New Jersey state motto is Liberty and Prosperity. Illinois has the catchy State Sovereignty, National Union.
Both should be Ecce tibi in iudicio.
See you in court.
Fred Klonsky 
Glad they challenged this bad idea from Gov C. Thanks for the reminder about corruption. What is there about those two states that allows this year after year?
Do you have provision for consolidating your daily posts into one mailing per day?
I don’t have an aggregator. But you can set up an RSS feed and do it that way. Taking you off email delivery is really a pain for me, so if you go the RSS way, just mark me as junk.
Ah, New Jersey! I delivered the Star-Ledger for seven or eight years, finally having the biggest route in Union County. By the end of high school, I knew I had to find someplace else…
Too much simplicity back there then. And apparently not much different now…
Examples:
Segregated schools. I didn’t go to the 50th reunion of the Class of 1964 at St. Benedict’s in Newark. Back then, the street was “High Street.” Today it is Martin Luther King St. After 1967 (I was in Chicago by then) they had to re-brand the street and reorganize the school to update to the realities of the 20th Century. And they did it…
Corrupt politicians, white and black and…
Let’s not forget that Hugh Addonizio was followed by the “reform” mayor Kenneth Gibson, who was African American. Some “reform.” Gibson followed Addonizio into the criminal rackets that always characterized politics in that part of New Jersey.
As to Frank Hague… He was vicious enough never to get caught. My grandfather was a precinct captain for him in Jersey City (the family lived in Elizabeth). When we would take the train into New York, my Dad would not that his father (whom he did not like) had gotten a lot of votes for the New Deal from the “precincts” we were passing — those cemeteries just before you go under the Hudson River. My Dad didn’t agree with it, but repeated the usual Democratic Party mantra — for every dead person that votes in Hudson County, there are two cows voting in Burlington County (Southern New Jersey).
Of such composting were the New Deal and our victory for the “Four Freedoms” against fascism won.