Editor’s Pick
JULY 24, 2009 1:08PM
NJ & corruption, perfect together (& now with kidneys!)
At first, news of the big FBI round-up of corrupt politico types didn't interest me a lot, except to see if I knew anyone on the list, and what local news angle could be uncovered.
Corruption in NJ is rather common place, even when there's over 40 people involved, one being the governor's commissioner of community affairs. Commissioner Joseph Doria Jr., also chair of the quite powerful and oft overlooked New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, is also a former mayor of Bayonne. Though he wasn't charged with anything, his home and office were raided and he resigned at Gov. Corzine's request. He resigned, too, from the NJMC.
It is big news, and extra shady, even for a state like Jersey, where the corrupt politicians tend to fall annually, sometimes in twos and threes, but never by the handfuls and sweeping from Brooklyn to the Jersey shore. Here we have three mayors and two Assemblymen. And a few rabbis!
"New Jersey's corruption problem is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the nation," said EdKahrer, who heads the FBI's white-collar and public-corruption investigation division.
Well doesn't that just put us on the map? Hey, no one can say NJ isn't interesting! We've got beaches, mountains, cities and Manhattan, all in driving distance. I'll take the corruption -- it makes us interesting, adds flavor few states can match. I mean, who's talking about Wisconsin or Idaho?
"New Jersey's corruption problem is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the nation," said EdKahrer, who heads the FBI's white-collar and public-corruption investigation division.
Well doesn't that just put us on the map? Hey, no one can say NJ isn't interesting! We've got beaches, mountains, cities and Manhattan, all in driving distance. I'll take the corruption -- it makes us interesting, adds flavor few states can match. I mean, who's talking about Wisconsin or Idaho?
Walk through the Meadowlands and you'll hear the dead whisper through the phragmites -- really! They can put all the bird sanctuaries there and critter look-outs they want. There's an amphitheater, butterfly gardens and a solar-powered observatory. A trip to the Meadowlands is a good time for families and poets, scientists and day trippers.
But it's the history that's the draw, the real interest, the continuing fascination. Those swamps are dense, and I can see why it still might be a good hiding place for a dead body ...
So this corruption sweep, at first glance, seemed to be just another day in Jersey. Most of the politicians were from Hudson County, which has been a hotbed of corruption since I was a little girl in Union City. Some get caught, some set-up, some just rumored to be notorious.
This Rabbi angle adds a new dimension, that's for sure. Not the money laundering, but the kidney trafficking. This is when the headlines caused me to sit up and pay close attention. C'mon. Kidneys allegedly marked up from $10,000 to $160,000? This is something I don't want Jersey associated with. Traffic drugs if you must, make illegal campaign contributions and laundry money in some other, more respectable way. But organ sales?! OK, this accused Rabbi is only charged ... it might be a mistake, some kind of misunderstanding.
And, though you could argue we should be free to sell our organs if we want ... well, aside from being illegal, it's just not right, this kind of black market being orchestrated by a holy man, a respected leader of some congregation who, according to news reports, enticed the poor. If he cared for the poor at all -- and as a holy man he should have -- he at least should've shared the wealth!
Plus, organ trafficking, aside from "ewww" factor, is so wrong on so many levels. A market like this prevents those on waiting lists -- those who perhaps can't pay $160 grand -- from getting a kidney.
The kidney angle is what's really got every New Jersey resident's attention. It has everyone's attention. It's already a Twitter trending topic: #kidneygate. Kidneygate! Everyone's already forgotten about the mayors, assemblymen and state commissioner .... it's all about the kidneys now.
What's bad from the NJ PR perspective, is even if this Rabbi is found innocent, people won't even notice.
This is not boding well for us. Soon people will be calling us the Kidney State instead of the Garden State!
I can only hope as the old Giant's Stadium is torn down, Jimmy Hoffa's body is found. That might be the only chance we have to divert attention from the damn kidneys!
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
O'Really?
Ablonde
Redstocking Grandma
MJwycha
Mark Biskeborn
mkdonato
Salon.com
Comments
who could want to live anywhere else?
great post, cin
Who do those chumps think they are patting themselves on the back about being corrupt?
They don't even know what real corruption is!
I'm laughing, but not laughing for the residents of NJ. You good people deserve better.
Thanks Bri -- it is indeed the best state in the world!
Blackflon, I guess corruption is part of our historical fabric
Thanks OE -- but I think you're wrong about Jimmy Hoffa ;)
Haha Frank, thanks right. We showed 'em for sure
Oh, we can take it Special. Thanks
Hilarious ibeg ... where's the rest?
I did forget all about Ill. Yek, totally did.
Ohhh, was that it Gordon? We're not anti-anything in Jersey.
Thanks Patrick. love this state too -- newark's one of my fave cities!
haha "hello" -- never thought of that but you're right!
Very true Rick, spread the wealth at the very least!
Like you, I'm a Jersey native, hailing originally from Newark, now living in Hoboken.
Oh the stories I could tell... :)
RATED!
Like you love your Jersey - I love my Wisconsin!
haha manchu -- that's probably true. damn. i just got a cat because i had mice last winter. i they're not connected and my cat can do her job. i didn't even think of that.