HOBOKEN – Who says people don’t pay attention to books anymore?
After discussions were prompted by the release of “The Jersey Sting” over the last two weeks about Councilman Michael Russo’s meeting with FBI informant Solomon Dwek (see earlier news items posted at www.hudsonreporter.com), it turns out that Hoboken Public Safety Director Angel Alicea also met with Dwek in 2009. According to a city press statement released on Friday evening, Alicea told Mayor Dawn Zimmer he met with the same informant who brought down now imprisoned former Mayor Peter Cammarano in 2009 two times. Alicea, who was on Cammarano’s council slate during the time of the meeting with Dwek, announced his resignation on Friday.
“He and I mutually agreed today that in light of Hoboken’s recent history and the fact that he had failed to disclose this information either publicly or to me, he could no longer serve effectively in his position as public safety director,” Zimmer said in a statement. “He therefore submitted and I have accepted his resignation. On behalf of the city, I thank him for his service to Hoboken.”
Alicea earned an annual salary of $27,000. The public safety director provides some administrative oversight for the police and fire departments.
Alicea had been appointed by Cammarano and stayed on the job when Zimmer took over.
“This is a difficult decision, but the best interests of Hoboken are my most important consideration,” Alicea said in a statement. “It has been an honor to serve the city of Hoboken as Public Safety Director.”
Zimmer continued: “I have written to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman to request that his office make public all tapes, recordings, transcripts and other documents related to the Bid Rig investigation involving Hoboken public officials, their close associates, and family members. We have also submitted a corresponding Freedom of Information Act request to the Department of Justice.” — Ray Smith