"Shyster Ray" Lesniak (D) Accused of "Juicing" a Deal.

Peggy Ackermann, "Lawmaker Accused of Trying to Aid Developer," in The Record, June 4, 2010, at p. A-6. ("I wanna wet my beak!")
Leslie Brody, "4,500 Would-Be Graduates Haven't Passed Exit Exams," in The Record, June 4, 2010, at p. A-4. (4,500 N.J. high school seniors cannot pass exit exams, but then neither can teachers' union officials protesting merit pay.)

"A housing advocate on Thursday said state Sen. Raymond Lesniak [D] is trying to divert money meant to build homes for the poor to a pet project on his street in Elizabeth."

"An angry Lesniak defended the project and called the advocate, Kevin Walsh, associate director of the Fair Share Housing Center, 'a stupid imbecile.' ..."

That's worse than a regular imbecile. How much is coming back to Papa Lesniak, if anything? 50%?

"The vitriol came on a day the Senate Economic Growth Committee, which Lesniak heads, voted 7-0 to move his controversial affordable housing bill to the full Senate. Housing advocates and Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Lori Grifa were prepared to speak on the bill, but many were stunned when the panel refused to take their testimony."

I can only hope that Mr. Lesniak will call me a "stupid imbecile." I suspect that this will be one of his nicer descriptions of me. Likewise, I am sure, Mr. Lesniak:

"Before the vote, Walsh said Lesniak, D-Union, wants to REROUTE $20 MILLION from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Oakwood Plaza Apartments in Elizabeth."

$300 MILLION were "rerouted" from the HIP deal, but no one knows where they were "routed" to. Yes, I am ending my sentence with a preposition. ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State" and "Jaynee LaVecchia and Conduct Unbecoming to the Judiciary in New Jersey.")

"The bill would cut $20 MILLION a year from the fund used to rehabilitate and build houses in cities, Walsh said. He said another Lesniak bill would allow Oakwood to draw $5 MILLION a year over four years for renovations."

"Renovations?" You're kidding, right? The building is not worth $5 MILLION.

" ... 'It's totally hypocritical to be taking $20 MILLION for a project that the senator supports, that's in his neighborhood, while ensuring that other projects statewide don't happen,' Walsh said." (emphasis added)

No, it's not hypocritical. It's New Jersey politics. Cronyism, usually accompanied by corruption, and often "dipping" into the public treasury. (Again: "Law and Ethics in the Soprano State" and "New Jersey's Xanadu Mess" then "Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics.")

Lesniak's response was an ad hominem broadside:

" ... 'I don't comment on anything that person says, ever. He's a mean-spirited, evil human being.' ..."

Funny enough, that's what people say about Lesniak. Who knew? A little something for the kids, Senator, and I get your vote?

Lesniak is a member of the bar in New Jersey and, allegedly, a member of the New Jersey Legal Ethics Committee. People laugh when they say this -- legal ethics in New Jersey? For Lesniak to be on the "ethics committee" is like a color blind person judging the impressionists.

" ... 'And Kevin Walsh is a stupid imbecile.' ..."

Many people believe that Mr. Lesniak was referring to Bob Menendez with this descriptive term -- or himself. This may also include Richard J. Codey. There is no shortage of "stupid imbeciles" in New Jersey's legal profession and politics.

I find such a description applied to Mr. Menendez difficult to refute. ("More Problems for Menendez -- Tapes!")

It is also unclear whether Mr. Lesniak could pass the high school exit exam which 50% of prospective students in New Jersey cannot pass, even if they get diplomas. Mr. Menendez has prepared a "cheat sheet" in the event that he is required to take the test. Alternatively, Mr. Menendez would like to sit next to Stuart Rabner when he takes the test.