Former assemblyman alleges improprieties during U.S. attorney’s sting investigation
Former state assemblyman Louis Manzo at a press conference in Jersey City on Monday blasted the federal government’s July 2009 corruption probe, claiming it was tainted by misconduct by prosecutors involved in the case.
Manzo was arrested on July 23 as the part of the sting, which netted public officials and religious leaders on bribery and money laundering charges. Manzo and his brother Ronald were both charged with allegedly accepting $27,500 in corrupt cash payments from government informant Solomon Dwek in exchange for Manzo’s official assistance on development matters once he became mayor.
Manzo at the press conference took to task assistant U.S. Attorneys prosecuting his case and others.
He said they ran afoul of federal law with actions such as donating to the campaign to former U.S. Attorney, now Gov. Chris Christie. Many of them were hired for jobs in Christie’s administration, he said.
“It is shameful that this once great symbol of law and order has denigrated into the characteristics of a political ward club,” Manzo said.
Also, Manzo called for an investigation of the attorneys by the federal government. Manzo said he filed a motion of misconduct regarding the attorneys with U.S. District Judge Jose Linares and will be in court next Monday for a hearing on the matter.
Lupo the dog passes away
Lupo the dog, a mascot for Giovanni D’Italia’s Shoe Repair on Garden Street in Hoboken, passed away on Friday. In the last few months, Giovanni D’Italia has placed ads in the Reporter thanking customers for their support as the 10-year-old dog battled tumors. Lupo remained in the window of the store, happily greeting customers as he had for many years. Some believed that the well-wishers’ daily greetings kept him going.
D’Italia bought the dog 10 years ago as an eight-week-old puppy from a branch of the New York Kennel Club in New Jersey. The dog was a familiar site in midtown Hoboken, sitting in the window on the corner among his toys and balls. The rest of the time, he lived upstairs.
NJ residents born in Puerto Rico need new birth certificate
Beginning July 1, New Jersey residents born in Puerto Rico will have to obtain a new certified copy of their birth certificate under a new law passed by the government of Puerto Rico. The law will invalidate all existing certified copies of birth certificates issued in Puerto Rico. As a result, individuals who do not obtain a new certified copy will be unable to apply for a Passport or other federal or state programs.
The new law was based on collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to address the fraudulent use of Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates to unlawfully obtain U.S. passports, Social Security benefits, and other federal services.
Residents born in Puerto Rico need to contact the Office of Vital Statistics in Puerto Rico to obtain a new, certified copy of their birth certificate by calling (787) 767-9120 or visiting www.salud.gov.pr.
For additional information, individuals can also contact www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates for directions on how to obtain a copy of their certified birth certificate.
Second mistrial for Hal Turner
According to published reports, a federal trial against radio shock jock Harold Turner, who lives in North Bergen, was declared a mistrial after jurors were deadlocked.
Turner, 47, had allegedly written on his online blog that three Chicago-based federal appeals court judges “deserve to die” after they upheld a local ban on the ownership of handguns.
Turner faced a single charge on the threats, which he has stated are protected under the First Amendment.
Last year the first trial ended in a mistrial due a deadlocked jury.
“Despite sending about eight separate notes to the judge asking questions about the law and about evidence exhibits, Jurors once again announced they were deadlocked at 3 p.m. today,” Turner’s family wrote on www.family-of-hal-turner.blogspot.com.
According to the website, the judge sent a modified version of the “Allen Charge,” which instructs jurors of the importance of reaching a decision, but it still “utterly failed to break the deadlock.”
“According to two jurors who sat on the case, the final vote was 10 to two in favor of acquittal,” said his family on their website.
According to the family’s website, the trial has sent Turner into bankruptcy, causing his case to be assigned a federal public defender, rather than his two attorneys. Michael Orozco, Turner’s now-former attorney, did not respond to a phone call in time for publication.
A third trial is tentatively scheduled for April 12.
New venue for Chamber of Commerce meetings
Beginning in March, the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly meetings at Homewood Suites in East Rutherford. The venue change was done to accommodate the increasing number of participants who are now attending Chamber meetings.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 18 at 8:15 a.m. Homewood Suites is located at 125 New Jersey Route 17 South, East Rutherford.
Help fight MS
There are about 13,000 people in New Jersey living with multiple sclerosis, according to Bonnie Bardinas of the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Members and staffers of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce will come together next month to raise money for a cure.
On Sunday, April 18. Team Meadowlands, cosponsored by the chamber and a company called Concerta, will be among hundreds of others participating in the four-mile Walk MS, which will begin in Jersey City’s Liberty State Park at 200 Morris Pesin Drive.
To sponsor or walk with Team Meadowlands, please contact the chamber at (201) 939-0707 or visit www.meadowlands.org. Proceeds raised will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
CEUS plans event to mark the life and work of Archbishop
CEUS invites everyone to attend an evening of prayer, food, music, and reflections representing the history and the culture of the people of El Salvador on March 27. CEUS and a coalition of other groups are organizing a special event to remember and celebrate the life and work of Salvadoran Archbishop Msr. Oscar Romero on the 30th anniversary of his assassination.
The event will take place at St. Peter’s College, 2641 Kennedy Boulevard in McIntyre Lounge from 5 to 9 p.m., with religious reflection and artistic presentation organized by the CEUS cultural committee. Donations to benefit redevelopment programs in El Salvador will be accepted at the door. For more information, contact Blanca Molina at (201) 617-2466 or blancamolina@yahoo.com.