Jonathan Dienst, Joseph Valiquette and Alice McQuikllan, "Gambino Mafia Family Busted," http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/07/646154.aspx 2/7/2008
William K. Rashbaum, "Dozens Held as Mob Case Links Gambinos to 3 Decades of Crime," in The New York Times, February 8, 2008, at p. A1.
I do not have and will not accept a "Face Book" or "My Space" account. No other part of my anatomy has a "Book" or web page.
A charming new coffee shop has appeared in my neighborhood, providing barrio denizens with "Seattle's Best," which often comes from the home countries of residents. Perfect place to visit with a book or lap-top computer when you come to Manhattan. "Cafe Espresso of New York," 4930 Broadway corner of 207th Street, New York, N.Y. 10034 http://www.cafeespressoofny@verizon.net/
Is J.-Lo really an investor in this establishment? (Spacing may be affected in this essay.)
"The entire hierarchy of the Gambino organized crime family was rounded up Thursday morning in what law enforcement officials are calling the bigest mafia bust in more than 20 years, http://www.wnbc.com/ has learned."
One promiment underworld figure "skipped the light fantastic" (as Tennessee Williams would say), leading to speculation that there is a "leak" in law enforcement circles, evidently from New Jersey's law enforcement community. What a surprise? As a result, a suspected mob killer is on the loose in the tri-state area, probably -- if he's smart -- on his way to Montreal, Canada.
"Dozens of reputed members of the Gambino crime family were charged with murders, drug trafficking, robberies, extortion, and other crimes dating back to the 1970s, authorities said Thursday."
"Some 62 people were being sought or were in custody in the New York area."
Several prominent New Jersey "guys" were among those caught in this federal "pooper scooper." Among the Garden State counties represented in this operation -- in the form of defendants who like the suburbs -- were Hudson and Essex counties (allegedly) and "somewhere in south Jersey." Geez. Mobsters explain that, in the suburbs, "there's less crime and good schools." "Cheech," an "alleged" enforcer for local loan sharks, once explained to me that he had to "think of his kids with all the crooks around." I sympathized with him as we discussed his pending criminal cases. As Cheech liked to say: "Nothing's safe no more."
"... As of Thursday morning, the FBI had arrested 54 people in New York City and its northern suburbs, New Jersey and Long Island. Raids were also under way in Italy." (emphasis added)
The New Jersey "component" of this operation seems to have been omitted from the New York Times coverage. I wonder whether Jay Romano worked on this story from his "perch" in North Bergen, New Jersey. (See "Jay Romano and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")
"Beginning with early morning knocks on the doors around the New York City area" -- like Jersey City, New Jersey? -- "the case formed the basis for a roundup that authorities called the biggest such sweep in memory, one that was coordinated with arrests by Italian authorities in Siciliy."
It is interesting that New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram was given a marginal role in this operation and law enforcement in the Garden State has been kept at a not-so-safe distance. This is wise. Mafia figures have infiltrated the halls of government in Trenton and the judiciary, while N.J.'s legal profession has always been "influenced" by underworld figures. For years, West New York's police department was regarded as a branch of organized crime, with cops involved in gambling machine maintenance and giving a heads up to local drug dealers about to be busted, allegedly. Criminals were said to keep a "running tab" with local cops. Let's take a trip down memory lane:
Whenever things get difficult for the Jersey Syndicate, they make it a point to throw someone -- preferably a minority group member from their own Democratic party, like Sharpe James maybe -- to the feds. This serves as a distraction, played up for all its worth through their employees and friends in the media. "We have newspaper people on the payroll," New Jersey politicians say, as they chuckle over their latest thievery. The New York Times? The Star Ledger?
With the budget battle not happening this year, thanks to Corzine's unexpected return to Trenton, after an accident the Jersey Boys planned (or hoped?) would "take him out" permanently, there is little to serve as a smoke screen for long expected "unpleasant" publicity as all of the "Christmas Tree" theft and pension fund games begin to come to light.
New Jersey's Supreme Court decided (with two dissents!) that mental retardation precludes imposition of the death penalty, but not life in prison or a Superior Court judgeship. Politicians breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, mental impairment that is substantial enough -- or severe retardation -- should preclude any criminal liability, if not membership in the New Jersey bar. Two of these so-called justices are willing to see mentally impaired persons, unaware of what is happening to them (or why), be killed by the state.
All of the members of this disgraced Garden State tribunal are unaware of how uncivilized and stupid this entire discussion of the death penalty appears to the rest of the nations of the world, especially those in the developed world. Reactions among New Jersey judges to the recent abolition of the death penalty were muted. Many judges expressed disappointment. Ronald Smothers, "New Jersey Court Says Showing of Mental Retardation Can Block Execution," in The New York Times, June 19, 2007, at p. B4.
Heads will roll in Trenton, many heads will roll and soon. As with any criminal enterprise, everybody in Trenton is secretly informing against their "friends" (not to mention state Supreme Court justices conspiring to get charges filed against their brethren), while pretending to stand-up under the federal pressure. Lots of leaks these days in Trenton. When you hear a New Jersey politician say, "You can trust me!" Run for the hills.
The power of political bosses "running things" is threatening the independence of the judiciary in New Jersey. That's what the U.S. Supreme Court should be worried about. You never know what's really going on in a New Jersey court room, whether the judge got a call from a political boss to screw you over on something in order to "teach a lesson," regardless of the merits of your client's case or your own. (See my forthcoming essay "Emil A. Del Baglivo and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")
The bad cops are Codey and Roberts, together with other backstage "operators." The good cops trying to bring the budget mess and culture of thievery under some control are Corzine and (surprisingly) Menendez, who is at least trying to remain or "appear" neutral. "On the one hand," Senator Menendez said, "but on the other hand ..."
You can't blame him. Menendez wants to see how all of this "struggle" will play out before determining where he stands, after taking a poll and consulting with his political contributors. The best hope for New Jersey's Democrats is an honest, young politician -- like Cory Booker, from Newark. Tostones, Bob? How's the struggle against the numbers racket going in Union City? "Let's get tough on crime!" Right, Bob?"
"To gain Mr. Booker's backing last fall, the Devils' principal owner, Jeffrey Vanderbeek, agreed to provide close to 5,000 free tickets each season for local children and $250,000 each year for sports and recreation. He also promised that Newark residents would get first dibs on permanent arena jobs."Andrew Jacobs, "Owners Push New Arena, But Residents Fear Change," in The New York Times, at p. B1.
Jobs and supplemental spending from the building of a new stadium means that the James-Booker mayoralties will combine to bring millions of dollars into Newark. What these men have figured out is that, minorities fighting over crumbs, means that things do not change in a progressive way.
African-Americans have a special moral claim and entitlement that no other ethnic group should claim. This is due to the legacy of slavery based on race. I believe this is an inescapable and irrefutable moral conclusion. Whatever discrimination persons from other ethnic groups have faced simply "pales" by comparison with racism in America. I know that this will make me unpopular with persons from my own ethnic group, but it happens to be true. Hacking into my computer to destroy my writings or threatening me will not change that truth. Probably more threatening letters or worse are on their way to me. (See "A Letter From the DRB, in New Jersey!")
New Jersey should make an emergency request to borrow New York's Attorney General, Mr. Andrew Cuomo. Mr. Cuomo has grown in his current position, actually prosecuting political corruption during his first months in office. This is unheard of zeal in New Jersey, where there are certainly fine county prosecutors neglected by the political structure, even as corruption usually results in a judgeship -- or a spot on the Supreme Court -- for perpetrators. Ethics?
African-Americans have figured out that, as usual, they are getting screwed by the Trenton Syndicate. Sharpe James is an altar boy compared to most New Jersey politicians. Mr. James is no longer actively involved in politics.
James was fined $44,000 for "campaign finance irregularities." In a state where many political contributions are in the form of cash in a brown paper bag, Mr. James decided to declare legally the money he received and to reimburse the moneys deemed "improperly" charged to the city. He also paid the $44,000 fine. Selective leaks to the feds coming out of Trenton, probably, leave the U.S. attorney with no option in the matter. Mr. James should ask himself: "Who is feeding information, accurate or not, to the feds, and why do they want to distract people from the millions -- and even BILLIONS -- disappearing from the pension fund, to say nothing of 'Christmas Tree' items?"
Why Mr. James, I wonder? Why do the Trenton Boys, especially other prominent Essex County politicians -- who shall remain nameless -- feel that they need a distraction right about now? Take a wild guess.
Another dismissal of a questionable administrator at UMDNJ -- where $100-400 MILLION vanished without so much as a "by your leave" -- will result in NO ONE -- NOT ANYBODY -- going to prison because thieves all claim to be white persons. On the other hand, Wayne R. Bryant and Sharpe James may have to look forward to years of legal hassels. Both men -- yes, even Mr. Bryant -- are child-like compared to the big time crooks in the "family-like" organization running much of the Garden State. This explains the putrid aroma of corruption escaping from the corridors of power and New Jersey's Supreme Court chambers. (For an enlightened view of racial matters, see "Sybil R. Moses and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" and "Jaynee LaVecchia and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")
It is not established, at this time, whether "Justice" LaVecchia's name has popped up on some of those federal wire taps of the "alleged" Gambino family membership. (See "Mafia Involvement in New Jersey Law and Politics" and "Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.") I am currently researching, meticulously, a forthcoming essay entitled "New Jersey Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey" and see "Deborah T. Poritz and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey." (Attacks on these blogs, hackers and viruses as well as other harassment must be expected from protected criminals near Bayonne, New Jersey.)
"In 2002, struggling to close a huge budget gap" -- which was probably caused by all the money they stole the previous year -- "the New Jersey Legislature hurriedly passed a bill offering thousands of New Jersey employees generous early retirement packages. Unions applauded because layoffs had been averted. Gov. James E. McGreevey claimed the state would save millions by cutting its payroll."
McGreevey was also often accused of "shenanigans," but never (so far!) actually indicted: "... savings have proved negligible compared with the long term cost of the plan. By its own accounting, the state of New Jersey would have to set aside $617 MILLION today to finance those sweetened pensions" -- many such tasty pensions probably went to old buddies of the Jersey Boys who know how to show their appreciation -- "[this will] double the amount [New Jersey] says it will have saved by trimming the work-force and reducing salaries." In other words, they lost twice the money that they claim to have "saved" with their shenanigans. (Hackers recently inserted errors in this last sentence, which I have now corrected.)
How much is coming back to the politicians and judges (many of whom are corrupt, especially among "ethics officials") under the table? I bet it's really tasty and sweet all right. Anybody will retire if they can get one of those "sweet" pensions. So what if you kick back a few grand? It's the suckers' (taxpayers') money anyway. Trenton politicians respond with a horrifying smile and a slurred greeting: "How the hell are ya?"
I don't see how these New Jersey politicians are any different from the mobsters arrested Thursday. In fact, politicians in the Garden State steal more money than these mob guys. The difference is that the politicians wear blue suits from Sears.
More than HALF-A-BILLION quacamoles lost to the taxpayers or forked over by the people as a result of incompetence or worse. (Inserting errors in this text proves my point, by the way, morons.) However, New Jersey's politicians are eager to discuss the proposed law to ban smoking in cars when there are children in a vehicle. It is really your wallet that is being "smoked" by these Jersey Boys (of all genders) with a loud laugh and some Champagne:
"Hey, have a cigar! How about a fruit basket?" Sanctioning a state Supreme Court justice because he gave somebody a business card is a distraction from the politically tainted decision-making of the most disgraced high court in the United States -- New Jersey's Supremes. How do you live with yourself, Stuart Rabner? How do you look in the mirror in the morning, then judge other people when you and your tribunal are covered in the feces of corruption? (See "New Jersey's Feces-Covered Supreme Court.")
A new "error" was inserted and corrected in this essay since last night. February 10, 2008 at 5:44 P.M.
Richard J. Codey -- upon unveiling his portrait as Governor -- said his friends "expected that his picture would hang in a post office." Freudian slip, Richard? Worse, much worse seems to be involved in New Jersey than little-old Freudian slips. No wonder they want to obstruct my communications. They don't want you reading this stuff." (See again: "A Letter From the DRB, in New Jersey!")
These and other pension enhancements" -- that means, "shenanigans" -- "combined with years of skipping payments into the system, have undermined the state's ability to meet its pension obligations without raising taxes, borrowing money or shifting taxes from other state programs, experts and lawmakers warn."Wait till your dad finds out that his pension check may not be coming soon. Won't he be surprised? Will it be O.K. that his pension money was stolen if safety laws say that he can't smoke in the car with the grandkids? I doubt it.
"Oh, happy Father's Day! By the way, dad, your pension is gone. Mazeltov!"
New Jersey's politicians must think people are stupid. As for Stuart Rabner, there is much concern in the African-American community, also among poor people and other minority group members -- whether their so-called representatives in Trenton express it or not -- that Mr. Rabner will continue the "don't ask, don't tell" policies of the current court when it comes to political corruption, cronyism, favoritism, thievery and secrecy that can be denied publicly, all of which has characterized the Poritz-Zazzali Court's dismally failed policies and unsound decisions.
New Jersey's Supreme Court and legal system have become laughing stocks and sources of disgust for decent people everywhere. (I anticipate that "errors" will be inserted in this essay, again, soon. I experienced difficulties in getting back into this blog at 9:41 P.M. These crimes are committed, I believe, by persons responsible for enforcing civil rights laws.)
Where are those reports, Terry? Who gets to read them? What other matters are handled secretly? How many others are tortured or raped in the Garden State? Who else gets raped "for their own good"? How much did you and Diana steal from me? Let us direct these questions to New Jersey's 36 year-old attorney general, Ms. Anne Milgram, when she next "snuggles in conference" with Mr. Rabner.
