How many N.J. judges are in the mafia?

Bob Ingle & Sandy McClure, The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption (New York: St. Martin's 2008).

"If the mafia were a religion, the first song in the hymnal would be 'What a friend we have in New Jersey.' ..." (p. 219.)

"Little Joe Salema" was Florio's man who ran things in Camden County, before Norcross became the political Godfather. Salema "used Florio's clout to place loyalists in elected and appointed positions and to control county policy. Lawyers, consultants, and others who reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars in county contracts in turn contributed to Florio's congressional races." (pp. 209-210.)

Eventually, Salema did some time (Florida) for one of many scams. (Ibid.)

"... the Florio administration was knee-deep in the process of issuing bonds for various authorities. 'Huge state bond deals handed out under Governor Florio" -- and under subsequent administrations -- "have opened a pipeline that's pumped more than $1 MILLION from Wall Street financial firms and bond lawyers into the state Democratic Party's coffers." (p. 213.)

No wonder Nancy Pelosi loves Senator Bob.

"... One of the reasons that we're borrowing ourselves into oblivion is that bond issues are how the politicians pay off their investors -- that is, their contributors." (p. 213.)

"When legal advice has been needed, law firms with a history of Democratic giving have gotten the jobs."

Where's the OAE? DRB? AG? Conflict of interest? That so-called "giving" to Democrats in New Jersey -- or Republicans, in other states -- results in lawyers "getting." What they're getting is your money along with access or control of your elected officials.

"A role has been found for construction firms whose names appear prominently on lists of ... Democratic contributors." (p. 214.)

"Anthony 'Tony Pro' Provenzano, thought to be a member of the Genovese crime family, was a member of a Teamsters local in Union City, New Jersey." (p. 214.)

Right, Mr. Adubato? Florio man? Rafael Pi Roman belongs to Menendez, right?

Bob Menendez turf. Gambinos and Lucheses are also well represented in that municipality and county. Right, Jaynee La Vecchia? Kay Li Causi?

"After going to jail for jury tampering and manipulating a jury pension fund, [ex-Provenzano pal] Jimmy Hoffa was freed by President Nixon in 1971." (p. 220.)

You won't see Hoffa no more. Heh, heh, heh ... I bet Hoffa still gets a N.J. paycheck, though. And he still cashes it. (See "New Jersey is the Home of the Living Dead" and "Ethical Newspeak in Lucky Luciano's Havana.")

"Danny Provenzano, Tony's nephew, carried on the family tradition. Danny" -- an old friend of Senator Bob? -- "was sentenced to ten years in prison after pleading guilty in 2003 to racketeering. He was among eight named in a forty-one count indictment charging beatings, kidnapping, and murder threats to extract $1.5 MILLION from a dozen victims." (p. 221.)

All with the cooperation of Hudson County authorities, allegedly. Prosecutors are subject to political influence, judges are stupid or corrupt -- sometimes both on the same day. Debbie Poritz? You want to talk to me about ethics, Stuart Rabner? How many "errors" inserted so far?

North Bergen school administrators were among the defendants in a recent organized crime bust coming out of Bergen County, a follow-up investigation is said to be on the brink of issuing new indictments and arrests. School administrators teaching children are in the mob, allegedly. No wonder they like to block images at my group for saying these things. In April, 2009 another massive child molesting ring was broken up in New Jersey, despite likely political protection in Hudson County. Why was it the Bergen County prosecutor that made these arrests? Where is Anne Milgram?

John Gregorio's hidden interest in two local go-go bars and other (allegedly) nefarious activities were about to get the former Linden mayor indicted, when somebody "persuaded" former AG Peter "See-No-Evil" Harvey to "forget about it."

Is James R. ("The Zazz") Zazzali -- former Chief Justice of N.J.'s corrupt Supreme Court -- really a buddy caught on federal wiretaps "discussing options" in these matters? Or is that only a vicious rumor? Still into racial profiling, Zazz? How about Peter G. Verniero? Still approves of racial profiling?

Among the partners in Gregorio's deals were "Paul M. Weiner, [an aptly-named] Parsippany attorney and law partner of State Senator Raymond ("Shyster Ray") Lesniak -- a Democrat power broker from Union County, host of fund-raisers for Bill Clinton and longtime confidant of Jim McGreevey -- and Agnes Villani [also aptly-named] wife of Benny Villani, who has been banned for life from New York City's trash business because of alleged ties to the Genovese crime family."

Former Malboro honcho Matthew Scanapieco "pleaded guilty to tax evasion, [after paying himself $107,000 for sitting on the crime victims' compensation board,] and accepting $245,000 in BRIBES while mayor."

You sure that was enough, Mr. Mayor?

North Bergen and Union City will receive full essays soon concerning their mafia histories and current "affiliations." What's the under the table fee for a zoning variance these days? $3,000?