"To me, the height of disrespect is the city of Newark has put into the project $210 million - which is the baseline - and the Devils have not given us a box. They're dissing us at a level that's disrespectful." – Newark City Council President Mildred Crump, upset that she doesn’t get use of a free luxury box at the new arena.  (Star-Ledger, 09/27/07)

“Attorney Ira Karasick was on the state's list of ineligible lawyers last year when he represented Roselle Councilwoman Christine Dansereau in her court challenge of absentee ballots cast in the 5th Ward Democratic primary. Karasick, now Roselle's borough counsel, was this week placed on the list for the second year in a row. "(Rothman, Star-Ledger, 09/26/07)

“As an IRS agent, Bohdan Senyszyn, was supposed to audit New Jersey businesses to keep them honest.  Instead, the certified public accountant from Roxbury used his financial acumen to enrich himself by cheating the U.S. government out of $750,000, authorities said.  Senyszyn, 50, was set to stand trial next month, but instead pleaded guilty to tax evasion, filing fraudulent returns, structuring financial transactions and bank fraud."  (Whelan, Star-Ledger, 09/21/07)

“While working as a court clerk for three South Jersey communities, Karen Smith of Franklin Township skimmed thousands of dollars from local funds. In all, the 31-year-old made off with $8,675. She has pleaded guilty to a charge of official misconduct and agreed to repay the money she stole and another $7,600 doled out by one of the communities to conduct a "forensic" audit.” (McCarthy, Gloucester County Times)

"East Orange Municipal Court Judge Sybil Elias faces an ethics complaint after dismissing a traffic ticket given to Assistant Essex County Prosecutor Patrice M. Davis, according to a Star-Ledger report.  Elias dismissed the ticket and waved court costs against Davis, a Harvard Law School graduate whom she had met previously, despite the protests of the municipal prosecutor." (Roberts, Star-Ledger, 09/19/07)

"In Hamilton, Mercer Coun ty's largest municipality, the mayor's post and two council seats are being contested. As in most towns, taxes are the big issue. Mayor Glen Gilmore has yet to introduce this fiscal year's budget, even though it was promised to council last month. Nothing is more basic than the annual municipal budget -- taxpayers in Hamil ton have a right to know what's in their future tax bills before the election." -- Trenton Times Editorial, 09/17/07

Truck dealer Stephen Appolonia pleaded guity to paying a $2,000 bribe to Raymond O'Grady, a former Middletown Committeeman who ran the Monmouth County Motor Pool, to get county contracts.  Appolonia faces a prison sentence; O'Grady is serving a 43-month sentence. (Cullinane, Asbury Park Press, 09/14/07)

“Orange Mayor Mims Hackett arrested in an FBI bribery sting operation, has no intention of resigning from his mayor's post, his attorney said yesterday.  Amid mounting calls that the 65-year-old Hackett step down from his municipal office, Hackett will continue serving as mayor and even plans to run for re-election next May." (Dilworth, Star-Ledger, 09/13/07)

"The (Clayton) borough's public works supervisor was charged last week with stealing vinyl fencing that had been donated to the borough, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday.  Clifford Hart, 42... was formally charged with one count of third-degree theft. If convicted, Hart faces up to five years in a state prison Hart is accused of removing vinyl fencing and a gate from the borough public works yard on two occasions in October 2006, according to authorities. The fence was found partially installed at the property of an acquaintance of Hart's in Buena Borough, Atlantic County.  (Huelsman, Courier-Post, 08/12/07)

Another Pleasantville School Board member in trouble -- this time it's David Thomas, who is married to David Callaway's niece. Thomas was arraigned yesterday on charges that as an Atlantic City employee, he "abused his position when he allegedly cleared" debris off Callaway's front yard in March. Callaway, part of a corrupt Atlantic County political organization, was serving as Atlantic City's Director of Public Works. (Harper, Press of Atlantic City, 09/11/07)