Tuesday, March 20th, 2007
Governor Corzine did not think that we the citizens of New Jersey needed to know he gave union boss Carla Katz in excess of $600,000. He ran a campaign to become governor by promising:
Like you, I am a proud New Jersey citizen. And part of my motivation to run for Governor is that this state’s reputation is at risk - as a result of repeated episodes of corruption, favoritism and fraud.
I want to restore people’s trust in what should be the people’s government.
We can, and I will, lead this state on the path of honest, open, and effective government.
But when the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee investigated the gift, Corzine sung a different tune. In November 2006, it is revealed, Corzine amended his personal financial disclosure reports for 2002, 2003, and 2004 to reflect the gift that he told us was none of our business.
“I continue to believe that the correct position is that a loan by a member to his girlfriend is not a reportable event,” Elias [Corzine's lawyer] said in a phone interview. “Rather than fight over something that was a matter of the past and not of much consequence, we filed the amended disclosure.”
Now that we have learned that Corzine has given even more, we here at eCache look for more disclosure from the governor. Despite his claim, Corzine is under an obligation to come clean with his constituents. Gifts to a union boss is the public’s business. He agreed so when Congress investigated him. It’s too bed he has such disdain when his constiuents ask.
Dear reader, this is the corruption, favoritism, and fraud that he promised to rid the state of.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Friday, March 9th, 2007
Ask reasonable people if gifts between a governor and a labor leader that total in the millions of dollars is an indication of corruption, favortism, or fraud and the answer will be a resounding, “Yes!”
Yet, Governor Corzine refuses to come clean about the money he lavished on Carla Katz.
“Personal is personal. When people have personal relationships and make personal promises and commitments, I think that’s a private matter.”
“You can ask until you get tired of asking,” he said.
Hiding behind the “personal relationship” guise is disingenuous. Furthermore, it signifies that the leader of the Garden State, who is capable of purchasing influence with his multi-millions, is unwilling to be upfront with his constituents.
That now 16 months after Corzine was elected governor that we are just now learning about other extravagant gifts Corzine gave the union boss of 9,000 state workers.
Remember, dear reader, when Corzine declared that he was running for governor and it was highlighted that he and Carl Icahn had financial dealings (Icahn then owned the Sands Casino in Atlantic City), Corzine stated:
This one is a no-brainer. There’s no reason to have that conflict. If that is an issue — and I guess it would be — then it will be liquidated. It would be no hesitation whatsoever to divest.
Is there a difference between this issue and Carla Katz. Both were personal. Both were conflicts of interests.
Corzine has not met the expectation of reasonable people. Reasonable people do not expect their leaders to be weasels.
Step up, Governor. Come clean with how much influence you purchased with Ms Katz. New Jersey deserves to know.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 7th, 2007
On the heels that of Governor Corzine’s admission the other day that he provided more than the disclosed $600,000 he gave to Carla Katz, head of New Jersey’s largest state workers union, comes today’s bombshell that Katz purchased a $1.1 million condo in the same building that Corzine has a condo.
The newspaper said state and county records showed state worker union leader Carla Katz made the purchase through a newly formed corporation, Neruda Hoboken LLC, in which she is the sole corporate officer.
So what? Well, the very next paragraph highlights the issue for most of New Jersey:
It was not clear how Katz, who is paid nearly $103,000 as president of Communications Workers of America Local 1034, generated the money for the purchase.
Katz declined to answer questions about the transaction or her personal finances.
To review, the governor had previously stated during his 2000 senatorial campaign that his money was in a blind trust.
The governor of New Jersey dated Ms. Katz. According to the former Mrs. Corzine, this relationship commenced while the governor was still married. When the Corzine and Katz broke up, the governor forgave a loan of $470,000 and then paid the gift tax on that money, totalling more than $600,000. This money was supposedly in the blind trust.
Ms. Katz represents 9,000 state workers and negotiates with the state the contract for these workers.
Corzine then ran to represent New Jersey as its governor. He stated he wanted to rid the state of corruption, favortism, and fraud. The citizens of this state learned of the sizable gift via a newspaper article by the AP.
Now, more than a year after he took office, we find out that the multi-millionaire governor has provided even more money to the union boss. This union boss happens to be currently negotiating a new contract for her workers.
Are you comfortable with this?
Chris Christie should be on this case.
As I go to print on this, I see the esteemed Enlighten has a more detailed timeline of the corruption than I do. It is a must read.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | 2 Comments »
Saturday, December 9th, 2006
In the discussion area is a new topic for you, dear reader. Come chime in about the Corzine-Katz relationship and how you think it is influencing your property taxes.
You will need to register to leave a comment there. It’s free and we don’t bite.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 1st, 2006
Carla Katz is at work, screaming that her sugar daddy is threatening to cut those who pay her salary. Frankly, we haven’t heard the whispers of workforce reductions that have sent Ms. Katz into a tizzy, but we are all for them. Will Corzine actually cut spending?
eCache will keep an eye on this budget process.
In the same AP article, Assemblyman Bill Baroni, R-Mercer is said to be against layoffs. Newsflash, Mr. Baroni, the way we get spending under control is to actually cut spending. Mercer County has no patronage jobs, sir? I find that very hard to believe. Be responsible. Lead, don’t obfuscate.
Has partisanship become so entrenched that we assail good ideas just because those on the other side of the aisle took the lead? This is not what New Jersey taxpayers need. No wonder conservatives are so few at the statehouse.
Posted in New Jersey | No Comments »
