The Redistricting Debacle

So, is Professor Alan Rosenthal, the alleged "neutral" 11th vote on the redistricting committee, just another Democrat flack, or did he really try to accept the Republican version of the map?

Probably a bit of both. Rosenthal has decades of writings to examine, all of which point to his bias towards "continuity" in representation. Why this is, is a mystery. Surely even a cursory examination of New Jersey history show thousands of counter-examples. The longer a politician is in office, the more likely he is to be corrupt and, worse, help institutionalize the corruption that is now ingrained in NJ government.

Since New Jersey is dominated by the Democrats, who have bankrupted the state, ruined its credit rating and given its residents the highest per capita taxes in the nation, anyone who values "continuity" over other factors, must be to some extent a flack for the big fat government advocates in the Democrat Party.

But Rosenthal's bias was well-known. In fact it was almost certain that he would value that criteria above all the other factors that allegedly enter into the equation, such as contiguity, maintaining county lines, etc. It would seem that the Republicans on the task force misplayed their hand.

And the result has crippled any chance they might have had to extend the resurgence they had with the Christie election. Morris and Somerset Countys, prime Republican strongholds, have been gerrymandered out of contention. What influence they had has been split off into surrounding areas, also Republican. Middlesex County has been punished for its effrontery in going for Christie. Ocean County has been weakened as well. Up and coming younger Republicans like Sean Kean and Denise Coyle have been thrown to the wolves.

It's now clear to any observer that the GOP in New Jersey is its own worst enemy. So long as it is led by pols as corrupt as Donald DiFrancesco or nebbishes like Tom Kean, Jr. the Dems will keep kicking them in the teeth.

A Double Scoop of Pork

One of the most powerful Democrat politicians in the state in Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo. And one of the ways you measure power is by the number of special privileges a pol has that are unavailable to the rank and file.

"Joe D", it turns out, has been retired for several months, but to paraphrase Mark Twain, rumors of his retirement have been greatly exaggerated. Turns out that by an act of the legislature, DiVincenzo can retire, start collecting his pension (over $5600 a month) and yet still keep his job and collect his salary.

When asked about it, DiVincenzo pulled out the dictionary and asked "how can it be unethical if it is legal?" This is a slightly different variation on the standard legal defense of indicted NJ pols: "hey, how can it be illegal if everyone does it?"

Note that no one asked if it was "wrong."

Another Drunken Bum

HAMILTON (Atlantic County) — A police report claims the deputy mayor of Hamilton Township in Atlantic County was charged with drunken driving after a January incident where he pleaded with police for "professional courtesy," according to a report on PressofAC.com.

via Atlantic County deputy mayor pleaded for 'courtesy' during DWI arrest, police report says | NJ.com.

"Professional courtesy"? Why? They were just cops, not fellow professional political assholes.

We're #1!

New Jersey residents were the highest-taxed in the country in 2009, giving 12.2 percent of their income to state and local taxes.

Wednesday’s report covers former Gov. Jon Corzine’s last full year in office, and it was New Jersey’s third consecutive year with the dubious honor.

via N.J. residents were highest-taxed in U.S. in 2009, report shows | NJ.com.

Trenton Makes... Trouble

Angered by what he says is a failure of Trenton Mayor Tony Mack’s administration to give out information on the city’s budget deficit and the whereabouts of confirmed business administrator Sam Hutchinson, Council President George Muschal is prepared to use subpoena power to get answers.

Muschal said Tuesday that both acting business administrator Elaine Adams and the mayor's communications director Lauren Ira have failed to respond to repeated phone calls made by himself and other council members requesting information.

via Trenton council president vows subpoenas to get answers from Mayor Tony Mack's administration | NJ.com.

Don't worry, folks. The tens of millions of tax dollars from the rest of the state will make everything better.

No More Carping From Carpiano

The now-retired former head of the New Jersey Association of Counties has decided she doesn't need unemployment benefits to supplement the $99,000 per year public pension she receives, according to a report on NorthJersey.com.

Celeste Carpiano said she plans to withdraw her request for unemployment because "it's not necessary," the report said. Although Carpiano was not a state worker, she was part of the government health and pension plan as result of a 1956 law that allowed some lobbyists to join because their work was deemed valuable to the public. She also received a Lexus for use as part of her job and cashed out more than $53,000 in unused sick and vacation time when she retired Dec. 31.

via N.J. lobbyist dropping bid for unemployment benefits to boost $99K pension | NJ.com.

It's unselfish generosity like this that makes me proud to be from NJ...

A Deeper Hole

TRENTON — Mayor Tony Mack is proposing a tax hike beyond the increase already approved by city council in order to close Trenton’s budget deficit, and he is applying for a waiver from the state cap on municipal tax increases.

The city council previously approved a rate increase of 30 cents per $100 of assessed value to raise an extra $5 million. Mack now wants to boost the rate by 43 cents to $3.76, which would raise $8.5 million, he said in a press release last night. For a home valued at $100,000, that would represent an annual increase in the city portion of the owner’s tax bill of $430, to $3,760.

via Trenton Mayor Tony Mack proposes another tax hike to close budget gap | NJ.com.

Astonishing when you consider the ever-increasing body of evidence that shows you can’t tax your way out of debt. But then, Mack is a Democrat.

Intestinal Fortitude

BURLINGTON COUNTY — Two Burlington County officials who were elected to office as Democrats have decided to become Republicans, according to a report on PhillyBurbs.com.

Surrogate George Kotch of Burlington Township and Clerk Timothy Tyler say their values are now more aligned with with the Republican party. Only Kotch is expected to seek re-election.

via Two elected Democrats in Burlington County decide to become Republicans | NJ.com.

Rats leaving the ship.

Boardwalk Empire

ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City Councilman Marty Small said he told a campaign worker who was secretly recording conversations with him that his 2009 mayoral campaign was to be "open, honest and above board."

Small and 11 others are on trial on voter fraud and other charges relating to Atlantic City's 2009 mayoral primary in which Small was trounced by incumbent Lorenzo Langford.

The defendants are accused of tampering with or manipulating absentee ballots designed for voters too sick or frail to make it to the polls.

via At voter fraud trial, Atlantic City councilman says 2009 mayoral campaign was 'above board' | NJ.com.

Everything is relative. This is, after all, New Jersey.

Update: Small was acquitted by a jury of his peers who have evidently been beaten into submission.

Scum At The Water Works

Mayor Tony Mack ordered a change at the Trenton Water Works utility in mid-September that gave his half-brother Stanley Davis and another crew chief the ability to authorize emergency overtime for repair jobs, a power that led authorities to arrest and indict Davis two months later, according to a former administration official.

Davis, 49, was arrested in December and charged along with two other water utility workers with taking cash from an undercover detective for an unnecessary repair job and billing the city for emergency overtime under the new rules.

via Mayor Tony Mack ordered Trenton Water Works overtime change before brother's arrest | NJ.com.

No word yet on any mischief at the Electric Company, the B&O Railroad or Free Parking…

Junk Breeds Junk

TRENTON — New Jersey’s bond rating was downgraded Wednesday by Standard & Poor’s, a move that could add significantly to the state’s borrowing costs and focuses even more attention on public-employee pension and health care payments.

The agency dropped New Jersey to a rating that is among the lowest in the country. According to S&P, the only states with worse credit ratings are California and Illinois, widely considered to be in the steepest financial trouble.

via Drop in N.J. bond rating could add to state's borrowing costs, financial problems | NJ.com.

Junk politicians lead to junk bonds.