Corzine Crashes As Dem Stashes $80 Mil In Gov Funds

One hundred days into his term as New Jersey Governor, former Senator John Corzine is tanking in the polls with approval ratings in the low to mid thirties thanks to a proposed $1.9 Billion tax increase and the breaking of a campaign promise of property tax relief.

With a projected $4.5 billion budget gap next fiscal year, Corzine last month introduced a $31 billion spending plan that calls for $1.9 billion in tax increases, including boosting the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent.

And now he is being accused by some of playing the race card in reverse to shore up his image by setting up a former ally, retiring Newark, NJ Mayor, Sharp James. And he did it with news cameras rolling during a confrontation over a controversial $80 Million dollars. The retiring Democrat Mayor seems to be playing a dubious game of his own.

Newark received approximately $80 Million from a settlement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey over airport leases. So, the outgoing Mayor and his cronies opted to put the money in two private funds James and his pals would control after he leaves office. How's that for a ticket to ride?

Culture of corruption? Welcome to Blue State America folks, where the Democrats are in control of everything, especially if it has a dollar sign in front of it.

TRENTON, April 26 — In a meeting that was as remarkable for its rawness as it was for being open to the news media, Gov. Jon S. Corzine jousted on Wednesday with Mayor Sharpe James and members of Newark's Municipal Council over their controversial plan to set aside $80 million in two private funds for redevelopment.

At issue were two nonprofit funds created by the Municipal Council on March 1 to pay for redevelopment and rehabilitation projects that city officials said would provide a ready pool of money and flexibility in spending it. Both would be run by an advisory board that would include Mr. James and several allies.

But the state's Department of Community Affairs ordered the city last week to freeze or rescind any appropriations to the funds, citing unanswered legal questions and concerns about the board that would oversee them. Critics say the board would provide Mr. James with a source of influence even after he steps down as mayor in June.

"You're looking at it from a racially and economic privileged position," said Councilman Ras Baraka, addressing Mr. Corzine and two top administration officials, Stuart Rabner, chief counsel, and Susan Bass Levin, the commissioner of community affairs.

Comments

[jamie]

It's silly to call this a Blue State problem. Been to Alabama lately, or Ohio? Political corruption is not a Red State vs. Blue State issue.

[lawhawk]

Sharpe James isn't just mayor, but a State Senator. He's pulled out of the mayor's race with Cory Booker claiming that he was giving up holding both offices. So it's not as though he's leaving the political scene, just taking a full time interest in the state senate position - where he can still score the big money and big prizes.