Drop it and move on: Journal on the Line

The Jersey Journal By The Jersey Journal The Jersey Journal
on June 27, 2011 at 6:12 AM
cresci.JPGView full sizePeter Cresci

In regards to The Jersey Journal headline "'Settled' legal dispute flares anew in Bayonne" -- if Peter Cresci is being charged with second-degree theft, then why don't they charge Neil Carroll, mayor Smith's father-in-law, and Assemblyman and Public Safety Director Jason O'Donnell with the same? The reason being, Neil Carroll has robbed the city taxpayers with special interest that he has in the city's prescription plan, and Jason O'Donnell for robbing time for being everywhere he shouldn't be while working his City Hall position. This is personal. Let's move on guys and grow up.


Who hired him anyway?

This is in reference to Bayonne Public Safety Director Jason O'Donnell, who filed criminal charges against Peter Cresci, who was fired in 2009 from the Bayonne Parking Authority. He also worked in several other positions as well as a private law practice. Who was his boss? Who did he report to? And, who hired this guy? Whoever hired this guy and whoever was in charge of this guy was not doing their job. It was OK all the way up until 2009. It was OK all the way up until now. Why didn't they charge him when he was working there? Somebody in Bayonne hired this guy. Somebody was responsible to oversee his operations. Whoever was responsible for Mr. Cresci himself should be investigated. That wouldn't happen to be the mayor, would it? I really want to know who's responsible for this guy.


Girls deserve a medal

God bless those beautiful girls for caring for the sick children! What a wonderful world we would have if there were more like them. They deserve a medal! (The mother deserves a prison term, a very long one).


Need a better memorial

Now that the damage to the 9/11 memorial has been done in Hoboken, maybe it's time they really consider putting up something permanent and better. I mean, the surrounding towns have done a much better job and they need to put something up that speaks to the people.


Stack doesn't know

As a longtime proud member of the American Federation of Government Employees Union, I challenge the statement that Sen. Brian Stack's vote in favor of an increase in the amount state employees contribute to their health plan will somehow stabilize our extremely high property taxes. Economic studies from other states that have tried this have shown that the opposite is what happens. What would likely happen here in New Jersey is that our local hospitals in our state will be overwhelmed by the children and other family members who can't afford the massive increase in their individual co-pay. Mayor Zimmer of Hoboken hit it on the head recently when she criticized Sen. Stack for being AWOL in reference to the continued troubles involving Hoboken University Hospital. What makes anybody think that this tiger will change his stripes?


New way to gouge us

I have observed a behavior change for cops in my area. In a nutshell, they are giving tickets in massive quantities. I just got one in May for exiting Route 495 onto Kennedy Boulevard heading for Union City. When I went to court, I explained to the North Bergen prosecutor in regards to the unclear line for the exit and the difficulties of exiting here. He did not care one bit. I was fined $446 for "crossing the safety lines." I have no points on my license and I consider myself a good and law-abiding citizen.

But when I went to court, everything fell into place. There must have been 50 people with the same offense waiting to pay the same fine. I was stunned by the magnitude of this action by the North Bergen police. Quickly, the math can be done: $446 x 50 = $22,300/day. That is about $8 million a year. I myself have been very respectful and proud of the New Jersey judicial system and the police force in the state, but now I question the integrity of actions like this. It is not enough that the taxes in this state are outrageous, but now new ways are being developed to profit from the good and law abiding citizens. I don't find this fair. Also, I can't believe that no one is talking about this.