UNION CITY AND BEYOND — Apparently, New Jersey’s reputation as the land of corrupt politicians isn’t going to go away any time soon.
This past weekend, Union City dedicated its cultural center to past Mayor William Musto. On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal weighed in, noting that Musto was jailed on federal charges.
The story says:
[Union City’s] new cultural center has been named after one of its most beloved mayors—who went to federal prison on corruption charges.
The city’s William V. Musto cultural center was opened Saturday; it includes a senior center, a cultural center, police museum and historical area. Mr. Musto, who died in 2006, went to prison in 1982 for sending federal money intended for schools to the mob and contractors. Voters re-elected him the day after he was sentenced.
Mark Albiez, chief of staff for Mayor Brian Stack, said the city was responding to requests from the community over the past few years to do something to recognize the longtime mayor, whom he called a “champion of the people.”
Mr. Musto, who served for years in the state Assembly and state Senate, was known as the “dean of the Legislature” and welcomed the new Cuban immigrants to a city in transformation, Mr. Albiez said.
“We understand that there was an issue at the end of Bill Musto’s career,” Mr. Albiez said. “No one’s denying that. But at the same time, it would be unfair to not recognize his contributions to the community.”
The conviction, however, isn’t noted on Mr. Musto’s plaque.