Scandal In Hoboken: A Crazy Case In My Hometown

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Home sweet Hoboken circa 2008.

My current hometown, Hoboken, N.J., has been dealing with the recession much like the rest of the country. I've watched small stores and major chains alike close up shop and disappear. A few months ago there were so many empty spaces on our unofficial main street, Washington, that the city's mayoral candidates set up their offices there.

The two leading mayoral candidates, Dawn Zimmer and Peter Cammarano, both promised to reduce the "crushing tax burden," and the talk of the town was how they would do that. The election was so tight it was decided by just 161 votes.

Maybe Cammarano would come through on his pledge to lower taxes, balance the budget, create a "glove-box guide" for small businesses and push to "hold developers accountable, ensuring that they are delivering what is promised."

This morning the headlines told a very different story: "Cammarano Arrested." Hoboken's freshly inaugurated mayor has been accused of taking $25,000 in bribes in return for promises to speed up the zoning approval for a proposed development. Mayor Cammarano was arrested along with the mayors of Seacaucus and Ridgefield, the Jersey City deptuy mayor, council president, two state assemblymen other public figures and five rabbis as part of a federal corruption and money laundering probe.

Here's a bit from the U.S. Attorney's office — "CW" means cooperating witness:

"The CW then stated that "I have some properties we're working on together, me, uh, [the Consultant] and [JC Official 1]. Just make sure I got you're support . . ." to which defendant Cammarano stated "[y]up. I'll be there." The CW finished his request by adding ". . . and expedite my stuff," prompting defendant Cammarano to repeat "I'll be there." The CW then thanked defendant Cammarano and informed him that "next week, I don't know if you want to meet Wednesday or Thursday, but whenever you want, I'll give you — I'll do another five
[thousand] for you." Defendant Cammarano joked, referring to the election to be held on Tuesday, "Maybe after, uh, we sleep in a little bit on Wednesday."

There were so many arrests today that law enforcement officials needed two buses to transport Cammarano and the others to the FBI's Newark field office.