Solomon Dwek, the FBI informant who became the linchpin in the government’s biggest corruption sting in New Jersey history will be facing the music for his own misdeeds next month when he is sentenced at US District Court in Newark.
Back in 2006, Dwek ran a real estate ponzi scheme and was caught depositing a fraudulent $25 million check at a drive by bank window. The next day he returned depositing another fraudulent check for the same amount as he was wiring money out.
FBI informant Solomon Dwek at the 2010 trial of Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini
An excerpt from from the Star Ledger story:Read More...
Hoboken Patch days after publishing a column asking if Councilman Mike Russo did in fact take a bribe from an FBI informant in 2009 yanked the feature yesterday without warning.
The post written by Scott Siegel stems from missing campaign finance records in the “Russo for Hoboken” account and was titled, “Did he or didn’t he?” As in did Councilman Mike Russo in fact take a $5,000 bribe and deposit it into his “Russo for Hoboken” account?
MSV had linked to the post in yesterday’s story and later discovered it had been pulled. Questions immediately began swirling why the column was taken down.Read More...
As we approach the November 6th Presidential election and the voter registration deadline of October 16th to vote in this election, we need as many volunteers as possible to help register new residents at this Sunday’s Hoboken Fall Arts & Music Festival. Here are the details:
When: This Sunday, September 30, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. What: Voter Registration, Outreach and Education Where: Washington Street — look out for the Hoboken Votes! table Why: To make our voice heard as a community!
Can you volunteer 2 hours of your time this Sunday to help us register new Hoboken residents? If so, email me at councilmanbhalla@gmail.com or call at 201-647-6090 and let me know when you can join us!
If you cannot volunteer this Sunday, but want to register voters at your condominium/apartment building, neighborhood, or an event, please contact me and we’ll be there to give you everything you need to make sure everyone in your building and neighorhood is registered to vote!
Update: Thanks to everyone who has supported this effort to protect the right of Hoboken citizens to speak truth to power. For those who prefer to use Paypal, you may do so anonymously using a credit or debit card.
Contributions are confidential and are not tax deductible. No tax penalty is incurred for any contributions less than $13,000.
Again, thanks kindly to everyone who is extending generous support. The battle is being waged for the right to criticize those connected to power in Hoboken and as one pundit noted, this political attack on speech in the Mile Square comes with big elections ahead.Read More...
The midnight flier distributed in the second ward this week has all the earmarks of a distraction manufactured to keep Hoboken from focusing on an uncomfortable issue; the investigation into Mike Russo’s missing campaign information at the time FBI informant Solomon Dwek handed out candy to every Hudson County crook in sight.
The questions remain outstanding and Mike Russo has dropped out of sight conveniently missing the last council meeting and there’s an obvious “stand down” order not to talk about it at all. Scott Siegel, a good government Hoboken activist for years must be scratching his head why the political operatives have dropped out of sight on his Hoboken Patch page. Typically, they hijack whatever story he prints and change the subject to any number of political attacks. Not this time.Read More...
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The New Jersey Civil Service Commission issued a Final Administrative Action upholding the City of Hoboken’s decision to terminate Alfred Arezzo as Construction Code Official.
“We are continuing with our search for a permanent construction code official and invite applications from all qualified individuals,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer. “While the process can be lengthy and costly, the City will continue to vigorously defend itself to protect the interests of our community.”
Arezzo, who had served as City Construction Official, had been suspended following his refusal to attend mandatory sexual harassment training, interference with his subordinates’ attendance at the training and insubordinate behavior towards the City’s Business Administrator. Arezzo was terminated shortly after his suspension following his retaliatory destruction of City owned property, including the destruction of a laptop hard drive which contained information regarding public matters. Charged with insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee, misuse of public property and other sufficient cause, Arezzo’s termination was a result of the City’s continued efforts to ensure that all employees act in accordance with the high standards and expectations of both the City’s administration and its residents.
In upholding Arezzo’s termination, the Civil Service Commission noted his highly insubordinate behavior towards the City’s Business Administrator as well as the seriousness of destroying City-owned property. Echoing the City’s own concerns, the Commission concluded that “such an egregious act by a long term employee in a position of public trust cannot be tolerated and is worthy of removal.”
The Final Administrative Action is available on the City website: www.hobokennj.org/docs/corpcounsel/Civil-Service-Commission-Final-Administrative-Action-Arezzo-v-Hoboken.pdf
In addition, the Honorable William J. Martini, United States District Court Judge for the District of New Jersey, yesterday dismissed the federal case filed by former Police Lieutenant Angelo Andriani against the City of Hoboken, the Hoboken Police Department, Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Police Chief Anthony Falco, and Police Captain Edimiro Garcia. The Judge dismissed all claims of discrimination and retaliation asserted by Andriani.
The court order is available on the City website: www.hobokennj.org/docs/corpcounsel/Andriani-v-Hoboken-Order.pdf
Mr. Arezzo and Mr. Andriani are each involved in additional ongoing litigation with the City.
Three candidates running on the Kids First 2012 slate launched their campaign yesterday afternoon for the Hoboken school board elections in November.
The lineup of three candidates, Ruth McAllister (incumbent), Jean Marie Mitchell (a board member in 2010-11) and Tom Kluepfel attended the crowded fundraiser at the Turtle Club on Park Avenue yesterday.Read More...
