Back in the day…1997

Taxes 1997

As I was filing paperwork over the weekend I found this. Ten years ago. This is the time period (at least tax-wise) that people remember and reminisce about…and it was a “Republican” council.  Gee, imagine that.  Back when the citizens had confidence in their elected officials to do what would be best for Hasbrouck Heights and not what the Democratic County officials want for their own pockets.

HH Flashback

This is Part II of this Hasbrouck Heights classic from the 70’s (Part I was taken off YouTube for some reason).  Did you go to school with any of these guys? In Part I the “killer” Joe,  went over the edge when the paperboy kept coming around to collect everytime he needed extra money.

One of the girls that grew up in the house (mine now) told me about this a few months ago. The house looks totally different now as we have done extensive work to the exterior and interior.  We took the pool out when we moved in back in ‘93 (it was falling apart).  In Part I my kids got a kick out of seeing the dead paperboy on the front lawn (part of a flashback in Part II). 

A little forewarning, a bit gruesome at the end.

Enjoy…

A little re-reading…Coniglio and Ferriero

http://northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk5JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MTAxNTg5

Hands in the Cookie Jar…

http://sidinthecity.blogspot.com/2007/09/hands-in-cookie-jar-again.html

A Go-go bar followup

http://hhangel.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/poor-mr-go-go-bar-attorney/

There were a number of letters in last Sunday’s (9/2) Bergen Record in regard to the Ferriero/Oury, “Gotta-check-for-me” lifestyle of politics that they are fighting to maintain for themselves and their flunkys (Willy Ortiz included in that definition).  One of the letters is from Carol Skiba and another from Loretta Weinberg who was supposed to have “buried the hatchet” with Ferriero earlier this year as per the request of Corizine…

Ferriero and his ego just imploding his own party! How terrific is that for the Republicans? Ya’ gotta love it.

Regarding Columnist Charles Stile’s (“Lawyer asks: what’s wrong with pay-to-play,” Political Stile, Page A-1, Aug. 28):

Of course Dennis Oury supports pay-to-play. In 2006, he drew salaries on six “part-time” government jobs that paid him in excess of $250,000. Some of these positions were borough attorney posts that netted him fees far higher than the stated “salary.” This did not count any private work that derived from his public sector “connections.”

Oury has taken multitasking to a new level. People have their day jobs and their responsibilities at home. How could Oury be in six places at once?

Oury said “the average guy doesn’t care” about pay-to-play. I wonder if he stated this publicly in front of his “regular guy” employers in places such as Bergenfield, Paramus and the Bergen County Improvement Authority that pay-to-play doesn’t matter.

Speaking for this average guy, I know that this arrangement ultimately costs me more on my property tax bill.

Walter J. Derrig

Mahwah, Aug. 28

Attorney Dennis Oury, mouthpiece for the Bergen County Democratic Organization, was refreshingly candid in his arrogant defense of the pay-to-play culture now controlling Bergen County government (“Lawyer asks: what’s wrong with pay-to-play,” Political Stile, Page A-1, Aug. 28). According to Oury, if polling hasn’t shown any public concern over the practice, then it is a non-issue.

Oury also argues that no candidate can get elected without taking big campaign contributions from lawyers, engineers and other professionals looking to get in on the gravy train. As a former government “do-gooder,” I must disagree.

Ramsey residents elected my reform ticket by a landslide in 2002, and my running mates and I voluntarily limited contributions from any professional hoping to get work from the borough. After taking office, we threw out an entrenched borough attorney and saved taxpayers $500,000 in legal fees over four years.

Outrage will come once the public learns how much pay-to-play costs and once the stink of backroom politics gets fully aired.

Richard Muti

Ramsey, Aug. 29

The writer, former mayor of Ramsey, led the borough to become the first Bergen County municipality to adopt an anti-pay-to-play ordinance.

Regarding “Lawyer asks: what’s wrong with pay-to-play” (Political Stile, Page A-1, Aug. 28):

Using the Constitution to justify what gives the strong appearance of influence-peddling for appointments and/or political corruption is truly remarkable. However, it is not surprising that it emanates from the Bergen County Democratic Organization’s attorney, Dennis Oury.

Isn’t the challenge to rules against pay-to-play really about Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero’s fears that his power will be diminished or eliminated? It appears to be about absolute control, greed and power — and definitely not about the welfare of the taxpayers.

As more and more municipalities demand that their governing bodies institute stricter pay-to-play ordinances, it is clear there is an acute awareness of just what pay-to-play represents and the resultant impact it has on the public treasury and individual wallets.

Elected officials should value public trust, have integrity when they hold office, and steer clear of becoming entangled in the appearance of influence peddling. Those not only participating in, but financially benefiting from, this antiquated pay-to-play practice need to come clean.

Carol J. Skiba

Hasbrouck Heights, Aug. 29

The writer, a Democrat, is a member of the Hasbrouck Heights Borough Council.

We were quite amazed to read “Lawyer asks: What’s wrong with pay-to-play?”

As sponsors of the landmark pay-to-play legislation and as members of the Bergen County Democratic legislative delegation — all of whom voted for it — we are particularly concerned about the Bergen County Democratic Organization taking a stand on this issue without the input of our leadership and rank and file. It is bad government, bad politics and bad timing just before an election.

Dennis Oury is entitled to do anything he wishes as a private citizen. However, as the Bergen organization’s lawyer and chairman of its bylaws committee, he has no right to take action on our behalf without a full discussion.

We know that pay-to-play adds to the increased cost of running government and our constituents know that, too. For example, more than 2,000 Teaneck residents signed a petition to put an ordinance banning pay-to-play on the ballot this November. The Teaneck Township Council is now deciding whether to follow the leadership of their constituents.

The article said, “Pay-to-play is a myth, manufactured by the press and government do-gooders who never ran a race for dogcatcher, let alone a costly street fight for a county freeholder seat.” As three people who have run races in primaries and general elections, and as card-carrying members of the “government do-gooders,” we wonder what experience Oury has in any of these areas?

Loretta Weinberg, Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon Johnson

Teaneck, Aug. 29

The writers represent New Jersey’s 37th District in the state Senate and Assembly.

Regarding “Lawyer asks: What’s wrong with pay-to-play?” (Political Stile, Page A-1, Aug. 28):

Bergen County Democratic Organization attorney Dennis Oury claims that competence, not pay-to-play corruption, is what should concern the people of New Jersey. But pay-to-player Oury is fooling no one with his shameless attempt to put lipstick on his pay-to-play pig. He plans to go to court to overturn reform? Even in New Jersey, self-serving sophistry isn’t likely to pass for constitutional law.

Only those who drink the Kool-Aid in Oury’s reality distortion field could possibly believe his talking point that pay-to-play corruption leads elected officials to hire people and firms who are “the best that they can get” in the public interest.

On the contrary, pay-to-play enables people and firms to hire elected officials who are the best they can buy in their own special interest.

The Record reveals Oury as desperate and hysterical over the pay-to-play reform that sunsets his lucrative political business plan. This is good news for the people of New Jersey. Oury’s noises could be the rooster crow of sunrise coming for our sorely abused state.

Robert Stern

Englewood, Aug. 30

Happy Labor Day Weekend to All!

Get out and enjoy the beautiful weather! I am heading out today to weed out my vegetable garden. Pretty symbolic, huh?