Mariano Vega

Upset at what he saw as a limited executive order signed by Gov. Corzine yesterday, Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop said that the Governor has not spoken out against corruption in the state’s second largest city.  

The order suspended development projects that need state approval in towns with mayors who have been charged with public corruption.  It was clearly aimed to pressure Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez, a fellow Democrat who was arrested on corruption charges last month, to resign.  It also applies to Carlstadt, where Mayor Will Roseman, a Republican, was charged by the county prosecutor’s office with keeping his ex-wife on the public health care books.

“Maybe it’s politically not expedient for me, but it’s the truth: you’re either tough on corruption or you’re not tough on corruption,” said Fulop, a Democrat who is the city’s only elected official not aligned with Mayor Jerramiah Healy.  “You can’t decide based on the size of the city and what the political ramifications for his own election.”

Jersey City has 23 times the population of Ridgefield and was the epicenter of last month’s corruption busts.  City Council President Mariano Vega, who until last week chaired a closed-door committee that dealt with giving developers tax abatements, was arrested for allegedly taking bribes, but has refused to resign.  Seven other city employees, including Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, were also arrested in the sting, as well as many other local political consultants and former candidates who were not publicly employed. 

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Jersey City Councilman Peter Brennan was elected president pro-tem of the council on Wednesday, but Council President Mariano Vega – who was arrested last week for allegedly taking bribes – will preside over the next meeting. 

Brennan was diagnosed with prostate cancer about two months ago, and he heads to the hospital for surgery on August 6.  Brennan’s prognosis is good, but he plans to take two or three weeks off to recover from the procedure, meaning that he will miss the council’s August 12 meeting -- the only one scheduled for that month. 

Vega will then be back in his usual role running the meeting.

But there is some confusion about the role of the president pro-tem, a position that was just created on Wednesday, and which was written before last week’s corruption busts rocked Jersey City. 

As long as Vega still attends the meetings, he is still in charge.  When Vega is absent – as he may often while deals with his corruption case – the law makes Brennan the acting council president.

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If nothing else, Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega is a man of tremendous self-confidence.  A no-confidence vote aimed at Vega, who was arrested last week on federal corruption charges, was defeated 7-1.  Vega voted against resolution.  Only reformer Steven Fulop voted yes.  Since Vega had a personal financial stake in the vote -- the Council President earns an additional $2,000-a-year - should he have abstained?  It wouldn't have affected the final vote.

Among those voting to show confidence in Vega: newly-elected Councilwoman Nidia Rivera Lopez (D-Orlando).
 

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JERSEY CITY --  The City Council just voted at-large Councilman Peter Brennan the body's president pro-tem when Council President Mariano Vega fights corruption charges.

The council created the position of "President Pro-Tem" today, which has been under consideration since their first reorganization on July 1.  

Seven council members voted aye on Bernnan, but Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop abstained.  His objection was that the council wavedthe normal 20 day wait period between the passage of the legislation and the mayor signing it.  Fulop said that it was hypocritical for the council to act like there's no sense of urgency on other matters relating to the corruption bust, but that there is for this one.  

Vega has proclaimed his innocence and vowed not to resign.  The council rejected Fulop's resolution of no confidence in Vega just before voting to elevate Brennan president pro-tem.

Brennan challenged Vega for the council presidency earlier this month, but could not muster enough support to take it over.

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The Jersey City Council just rejected Councilman Steve Fulop’s resolution of no-confidence on City Council President Mariano Vega, who was arrested on corruption charges last week.

Fulop was the only aye vote.  The other seven members present, including Vega himself, voted no.  One councilwoman, Viola Richardson, did not attend because she is on vacation.

"I just want to say that, while I'm not surprised, I don't think it's in the interest of the city to pretend that this didn't happen last week," said Fulop.  "The standards of innocence until proven guilty doesn’t apply to public life that is based on the public trust.”  

Before voting, Councilman Peter Brennan said t he thinks Vega and the mayor "have to sit down and talk this thing out" regarding "the best interest of the people of Jersey City."

A member of the audience yelled "Don't we know what's best?" 

Brennan then indicated that he was originally going to vote yes, but that the activists persuaded him to vote no.

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JERSEY CITY – The city council is going about business as usual with a regularly scheduled meeting that convened at 10:30am, about half an hour after its scheduled start.  

But a quick glance at the chamber reveals that thisis a particularly well-attended meeting, with at least 200 people watching, and dozens of reporters and cameramen -- many from New York City television news outlets that don't normally cover the workings of Jersey City government. 

The reason for the interest is obvious.  The city last week saw the worst of its political culture exposed, once again, to the nation after an FBI corruption bust netted a cast of Jersey City politicians, unelected officials and insiders.  Adding a dark aspect to the controversy was the death yesterday of one of those politicos who were charged -- political consultant Jack Shaw -- whose body was found in his apartment next to so-far unidentified cases of pills.

Councilman Steve Fulop plans to introduce a resolution of no confidence in Council President Mariano Vega, who was arrested last week and charged with taking bribes.   With Vega in attendance, it adds another element of drama. 

There are about 200 people in the gallery, a few holding signs with slogans like “crooks and thieves must go” and “ethics, not bribes.”

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JERSEY CITY -- Four days after his perp walk was splashed across newsprint and tri-state area television screens, Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega showed up to this morning’s City Council caucus meeting and took his place at the head of the table.  

Vega started the meeting with a statement.

‘The events of this past Thursday were as shocking to me as they were to everyone else,” he said. “I am not guilty of the allegations.  In our system of justice we are presumed innocent until proven guilty.  I do not intend to resign as council president, nor as a councilman." 

Vega said the council is developing an ordinance – to be voted on at its meeting on Wednesday – to create of president pro-temp.  Whoever gets that title will take over Vega’s role while he deals with his criminal case.  He also relinquished his chairmanship of the Tax Enhancement Committee.  

“Public service is the profession I have chosen, and I am proud of my service ot he people of my beloved Jersey City.  I am thankful that I have the support of my wife, children and most importantly, I have the support of the facts.  I look forward to putting this all behind us as quickly as possible," he said.

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Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy – whose town had far more public officials busted today than anywhere else– said all of those arrested have been suspended without pay.

“Today’s arrests of several Jersey City public officials are shocking and dismaying. We are saddened by the negative light this has cast on our city and want to assure the public we have always conducted honest and open government,” said Healy in a statement.  “We have had only one criterion when making policy decisions and that is – what is best for the city? We are immediately suspending without pay those city employees who were charged today pending the outcome of this case.”

Councilman Steve Fulop went a step further, calling on Council President Mariano Vega and Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini – both of whom were arrested for allegedly taking bribes -- to resign.  

“This is truly a dark day for Jersey City. Yet again, we are disgraced by the conduct of our city’s leadership and the far-reaching embarrassment their actions bring to the city. While the individuals named in today’s indictments deserve their day in court, the sheer scale and widespread nature of the allegations is an outrage to the people of our city,” said Fulop.  “I am calling on Mayor Jerramiah Healy to suspend all city employees involved in this investigation, including Deputy Mayor Beldini, immediately and without pay.  Further, I call on City Council President Mariano Vega, who is named in a complaint and arrested this morning, to resign his office immediately. Councilman Vega’s office has been compromised and he can no longer adequately represent the people of Jersey City underneath a cloud of suspicion and corruption.”

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JERSEY CITY – Mariano Vega has held on to the city Jersey City council presidency for another term.

Councilman-at-large Peter Brennan had waged a behind-the-scenes campaign for the spot, and despite Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s declared support for Vega, he had the support of almost half the council.

At about 12:50pm, Councilwoman Willie Flood – who was the deciding vote -- told PolitickerNJ.com that she had still not made up her mind.  But she apparently later said that she had given Mayor Jerremiah Healy "my word," and would support Vega.

By the time the reorganization council meeting convened this afternoon, the race was over.  The council, including Brennan, voted unanimously for Vega.  Read More >

The race for Jersey City council president is going down to the wire.

Standing on stage at New Jersey City University just before being sworn in to another term, Councilman-at-Large Peter Brennan said that he’s still making a go for the position currently held by Mariano Vega, who hopes to hold onto it.  

The decision will be made at the first meeting of the new city council at 1pm today.  While some expect the matter to be settled before it comes up for a formal vote, as of right now the council is split, according to Brennan.  Brennan counts four votes for himself, four votes for Vega and one undecided: at-large Councilwoman Willie Flood.

“It’s been friendly.  Everybody’s working together,” said Brennan.

Vega has the support of Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who is being sworn in to his second full term today.  

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