Jury in Smith trial acquits him of all charges
The jury in the trial of former state Assemblyman and Jersey City Councilman L. Harvey Smith acquitted him on Thursday on six counts of bribery in federal court in Newark.
Smith was accused of taking $15,000 from government informant Solomon Dwek to help him get approvals for a bogus condo project. Smith was one of 46 politicians and government officials arrested in 2009 after the conclusion of a government sting operation in which Dwek, acting as a government informant, offered cash donations to various New Jersey political campaigns in exchange for favors. Smith maintained that he did not knowingly accept any bribes.
The jury spent two days deliberating. They looked at the six charges he faced – one count of extortion under color of official right, two counts of attempted extortion and two counts of bribery, and one count of money laundering.
Among those happy to hear the news was Jersey City school board member Angel Valentin, who has known him for many years.
“I have been praying for the man, and I think this a big victory for his family,” Valentin said.
Freeholder Rivera wants to run for office again
Hudson County Freeholder Eliu Rivera said in an interview Monday with the Jersey City Reporter that he wants to run for another term as freeholder. Rivera, who turned 67 on Dec. 8, celebrated his birthday two days later at a $75 per ticket fundraiser at the recently-opened Powerhouse Lounge in downtown Jersey City.
Rivera has served as Freeholder since 2006 and his current term ends in December of 2011. He is currently the Executive Director of PACO Agency, which provides serving such as housing to low-income residents, in particular the Hispanic community.
Rivera said he wants to run again because he is worried that his seat, which covers parts of Downtown, Journal Square and the Heights, will not stay in the Hispanic community.
“We already lost the sheriff’s office, we almost lost [Councilman] Mariano Vega’s seat, and I don’t want to see the freeholder’s seat lost,” Rivera said.
Rivera said the estimated $12,000 gathered from the birthday fundraiser goes to his Freeholder for Rivera account with money split between funding civic activities such as Little League baseball and his political campaigns. The fundraiser was attended by local officials such as fellow Freeholder Bill O’Dea, City Councilman Ray Velazquez, and Mayor Jerramiah Healy.
Local activists seeking supplies for homeless
The Jersey City Peace Movement, Action 21, Anakbayan (Filipino youth organization) and community activist Riaz Wahid are collecting blankets and sleeping bags to help the homeless survive through this winter. The collecting will take place until Christmas Eve.
The collected blankets & sleeping bags will be given out at the Journal Square PATH Station Fountain on Dec. 26 from noon to 2 p.m.
The used blankets/sleeping bags must be washed/cleaned and packed in a plastic bag. The drop-off locations will not accept if it is not packed in a plastic bag.
The drop-off locations are: MaMa Mia Frank’s Famous Pizzeria, 415 1/2 Monmouth St.; Topex Electronics, 818 Newark Ave.; Raphs Plaza, 709 Bergen Ave.; Shield of Faith Ministries, 314 Duncan Ave.; Action 21, 107 Hutton St. and Third Door Pentecostal Church, 156 Webster Ave.
Upcoming Kwanzaa celebrations
For those who commemorate Kwanzaa, several upcoming events will take place.
African Drums by Rudy Walker & Ossie Simmons featuring Ray Blue and Cross Continental Spirit on Saturday, January 1 at 8 p.m. in the Miller Branch Library – Cultural Arts Auditorium, 489 Bergen Ave. Adult/Guardians must accompany children. It is free admission and free library parking. For more information, call (201) 547-6907 or e-mail: casmbl@yahoo.com.
Other Kwanzaa celebrations include Dec. 28 – Urban League of Hudson County, 253 Martin Luther King Dr., 7 p.m. For more information, contact (201) 451-8888 ext. 187, and Dec. 29 – Unified Mothers & Men Initiatives, Mary McLeod Bethune Center, 140 Martin Luther King Dr., 6 – 9:30 p.m.
Art Eat-Up coming up
Pro Arts Jersey City is holding its third Art Eat-Up on Jan. 14 from 7-10 p.m. at Grace Van Vorst Church, 39 Erie St.
Art Eat Up is a food, drink and entertainment event with a twist: for a small donation, guests eat a delicious meal, enjoy good company, musical entertainment, receive a ballot, and vote for the most worthy art proposal presented that night.
Art Eat Up provides an opportunity for up to ten artists to showcase their artwork, while vying for the Art Eat Up grant. For $20, guests will enjoy a delicious meal, beverage and ballot. For $10, they receive beverage and ballot, and for $5 guests can simply cast a ballot.
Following a presentation by the artists of their proposals, diners cast their ballots and the art proposal receiving the most votes will be awarded the money raised that evening (minus expenses).
Finalized projects will be on display at the following Art Eat Up and on the website – http://home.earthlink.net/~proartsjerseycity/proartsjerseycity/index.html.
Any artist can submit a proposal to the Art Eat Up event which is due by January 1. Only the best 10 proposals will be presented at the event. The prospectus is available at http://home.earthlink.net/~proartsjerseycity/proartsjerseycity/index.html. Further information is available by writing to arteatup@gmail.com or calling (201) 736-7057.