Manzos plead not guilty in federal court
According to various news reports, former state assemblyman Louis Manzo, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Jersey City, and his brother, Ronald Manzo, each pled not guilty in Newark federal court on Thursday.
Both Manzos have been charged with allegedly taking $27,500 in corrupt cash payments from undercover FBI informant Solomon Dwek to use in Louis Manzo’s campaign for Jersey City mayor.
The Manzos were two of the 44 people arrested on July 23 in the federal government’s political corruption/money laundering sting that led to the arrests of political officials and religious leaders.
The 45th person connected to the case, Jersey City Councilman Philip Kenny, also met with Dwek but was not arrested in the July sweep. He pled guilty earlier this month to taking bribes from Dwek.
Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, who was arrested and indicted in connection with the arrests, pled not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial sometime before the end of the year. Six people have pled guilty in connection with the investigation.
DeGise plans to run again for county exec
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise will run for reelection. He confirmed his plans to the Jersey City Reporter at his fundraiser earlier this month at the Harborside Atrium in Jersey City.
DeGise, who has served as county executive since he won a special election in Nov. 2002, said he wanted to run again because he enjoys the job and can accomplish many policies in a low-key political post. DeGise is a former Jersey City school teacher and a two-term city councilman.
He also had other reasons for running for his office, his current term expiring on Dec. 31, 2011.
“I am getting engaged and my health is better, and I think I can do the job for four more years,” DeGise said.
There had been rumors that he would face competition if he ran again for reelection from Union City Mayor Brian Stack and Hudson County Freeholder Bill O’Dea, both of whom were at his fundraiser.
Ratings a mixed bag for area hospitals
The state has just released its Hospital Performance Report 2009, which examines 2008 data from 72 hospitals across the state.
Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen got the highest scores among Hudson County hospitals, while Bayonne Medical Center scored the worst.
Hospitals were given scores in four categories: heart attack, pneumonia, surgical care improvement, and heart failure.
Jersey City Medical Center scored 97 in heart attack, surgical care improvement, and heart failure ratings, and 95 in pneumonia treatment. Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center was less consistent, scoring 96 in heart attack, 93 in pneumonia, 82 in surgical care improvement, and 97 in heart failure. Christ Hospital in Jersey City scored 81 in heart attack, 92 in pneumonia, 88 in surgical care improvement, and 92 in heart failure. Hoboken University Medical Center scored 92 in heart attack, 92 in pneumonia, 93 in surgical care improvement, and 95 in heart failure treatment. Meadowlands Hospital in Secaucus scored 96 for heart attack, 93 for pneumonia, 82 for surgical care improvement and 97 for heart failure. Bayonne scored in the 90s only in the heart attack category, with a 95. Meanwhile, Palisades scored 100 in heart attack and heart failure, and 98 in the other two categories
1,600 finance jobs to move to Jersey City
Gov. Jon S. Corzine was in Jersey City Tuesday to announce that The Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. will relocate operations and 1,600 jobs to Jersey City.
The financial firm signed a long-term lease for 415,000 square feet of space at the Newport Office Center.
Depository Trust would relocate employees in early 2013 from its Manhattan headquarters.
The firm provides settlement and information services for bonds, equities, securities and money-market instruments. The company will retain its Manhattan headquarters, along with 700 employees.