Wednesday, October 4th, 2006
Former Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) , Curtis Bashaw, wants to build a casino in Atlantic City. We first reported that to you in June. The apparent conflict of interest stinks of shadiness.
Today, the Courier-Post highlighted the ethical issue that Bashaw finds himself in.
The former director of the state agency that doles out casino taxes to redevelopment projects now wants to build his own gambling hall — well before the two-year “cooling off” period dictated by state ethics rules has lapsed.
The waiting period is there to prevent state employees from cashing in on their work at taxpayer expense.
Bashaw was in a position to develop land in and around Atlantic City. If he were permitted to turn right around and build a casino, one might question why the CRDA did not develop the land that such a casino was to be built on. That is why Bashaw is required by law to wait two years before entangling himself in the casino industry.
Bashaw did not wait. Just a mere nine months after leaving his post, it was reported he was working on a deal. Even now, it has been but a year. I’m asking, “Why didn’t the CRDA develop this land?” Could it be that Bashaw sat on this land for his own private interests?
The public has a right to know.
Posted in New Jersey, Politics | 1 Comment »
Sunday, September 18th, 2005
Outgoing Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) executive director, Curtis Bashaw, gets his projects approved far more quickly than everyone else. The Asbury Park Press (APP) reports today that Bashaw’s projects have flown through Cape May’s planning boards while everyone else’s projects take their time.
Bashaw’s Driftwood condominium project was completed in a mere nine months.
“He did it in nine months,” Johnston said. “That is unheard of. For most people in Cape May, it takes three years to get past the planning board.”
The APP correctly highlights the millions of dollars Cape May has received during Bashaw’s 19-month tenure at CRDA.
the state agency has approved millions of dollars for CRDA-funded projects in the city of Cape May.
The APP is running a second Bashaw story today. In addition to the favortism Bashaw receives from the Cape May planning board, Bashaw has some interesting partners in his Sandpiper project. The Sandpiper is a hotel in Cape May that Bashaw’s investment group is rennovating into condominiums. Jamie Fox, former chief of staff to governor McGreevey, who was deposited in a patronage job with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is one of Bashaw’s partners.
As is Sandy Keziah. Keziah’s firm was hired by the CRDA to conduct a survey about converting hotels to condominiums for $270,000. Keziah was already an investor in the project by the time the survey was done. How objective is that?
And while Bashaw is resigning from CRDA at the end of the month, he will remain chairman of the Jersey Shore Tourism Corporation. This CRDA-funded group has no government oversight. Will Bashaw continue to be able to funnel cash to those who control his projects?
Where is Mr. Corzine? The would-be governor has promised to rid New Jersey of this type of patronage. It would sure be nice of him to swat this arrangement down.
Then there is eCache’s favorite Republican chairman, David Von Savage. If you are not familiar with my troubles with Mr. Von Savage, have a read through this post from last year. eCache has previously outlined the problems Bashaw’s reign has had. It appears that he has truly cashed in his influence for personal gain. This is yet another McGreevey-appointee whose work is mired in corruption.
Posted in New Jersey | No Comments »
Sunday, September 11th, 2005
featured in Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers #24 Former Casino Reinvestment Developmet Authority (CRDA) executive director Curtis Bashaw quit as chairman and director of the Jersey Shore Alliance.
It looks as though political pressure finally was applied. As we pointed out in this piece last month, the patronage that this job held was too much to ask taxpayers. It appears others agreed.Stephen Nagiewicz, the new head of the Jersey Shore Alliance says that Bashaw “was aware of the ethics restrictions placed on certain New Jersey officials when they leave state governmen,” as reported by the
Courier Post on Saturday. Nagiewicz said:
you can’t work some place and approve funding for an organization and then step in unless you have gotten approval from a lot of people. I think he was just looking at the interest of the (nonprofit) organization. I think that he was probably smart enough to check with the state ethics panel. When it comes to being fined for something like that, you certainly have to sit up and take notice.
So, only when the state Executive Commission on Ethical Standards indicated he could be fined that Bashaw saw the problem this position caused. Not once during Bashaw’s tenure at CRDA did he think that the non-profit he established with $600,000 of money he controlled that he decided he would head was problematic. This is the type of leadership the state has had at the helm for too long.
This is the knd of outrage the Jon Corzine-Carla Katz dealings inspire.
Posted in New Jersey | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 6th, 2005
Casino Redevelopment Authority executive director, Curtis Bashaw will resign at the end of the month.
Hallelujah!
Posted in New Jersey | No Comments »
Monday, August 1st, 2005
featured in Carnival of the New Jersey Bloggers #12
Yesterday I told you about the link of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) executive director Curtis Bashaw and Sun National Bank. Today, Gannett delves into the links between Sun and the McGreevey administration.
Bashaw, prior to being appointed to the CRDA by former governor James McGreevey, was on the advisory board of none other than Sun National Bank. He still owns stock in the bank. Bashaw also sits on Economic Development Authority (EDA) that approves loans from the federal government. Congress Hall, Bashaw’s prized rennovated hotel in Cape May received federal funds. While he took on more Sun debt to finance the project, the EDA needed to approve the balance of debt, now that the feds were no longer going to be first in line for payment. The EDA approved the re-structuring of debt, even though Bashaw did recuse himself.
Bashaw does not recuse himself, however, now in his dealings with Sun as the executive director of the CRDA.
Bashaw said he hasn’t recused himself from CRDA issues with Sun National Bank.
But he is overseeing a massive project which Vineland Construction is running. The links are too close and the appearance of impropriety is too great. It is such that Tom Bracken, chief executive officer of Sun National Bank, tried to diffuse what is on every reader’s mind:
But there is no quid pro quo at all involved with this.
But Sun’s links to the corrupt McGreevey administration make it difficult to accept at face value.
And just to bring this full circle, it appears that Sun’s own PAC finances David Von Savage, the Cape May County Republican Party chairman. Mr. Von Savage as the one who was responsible for the advertisement on PoliticsNJ.com which showed Osama bin Laden holding up a Kerry for President placard.
This entire story reeks of McGreevey’s dirty politics. Bashaw advised Sun. Sun drops money all over the state, including areas that support McGreevey. McGreevey and Bashaw are friends. McGreevey appoints Bashaw to head the CRDA right after CRDA provides a sweetheart deal to Sun. Sun steps up and provides Bashaw with the money he needs to complete his rennovation of Congress Hall.
The ties are too tight. Where is the would-be governor speaking out about the corruption, favoritism and fraud?
Posted in New Jersey | 2 Comments »
