Gov. Corzine Suspends Development In N.J. Cities With Indicted Mayors

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday signed an executive order to suspend development proposals for any municipality that has a sitting mayor under indictment for public corruption.

The order affects the boroughs of Ridgefield and Carlstadt in northeastern New Jersey. Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez has been charged in a recent corruption probe that uncovered alleged bribes and money-laundering schemes among 44 public officials and civic leaders.

Carlstadt Mayor William Roseman is under indictment in a separate investigation.

In addition to the executive order, the governor this past weekend asked state Comptroller Matthew Boxer to examine Ridgefield's contracts, and state attorneys are now reviewing a potential state takeover of the borough, according to Corzine spokesman Robert Corrales.

Along with Suarez, the former mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus, Peter Cammarano and Dennis Elwell, respectively, were charged nearly two weeks ago with taking bribes for political favors. While Cammarano and Elwell last week resigned from their offices, Suarez has yet to step down from his post.

"We will not tolerate any impropriety, or even the appearance of impropriety, regarding the conduct of elected officials in New Jersey," Corzine said in a press release. "If officials under this cloud refuse to do the responsible thing and resign, then we must take action to protect responsible government and the best interests of taxpayers."

All state departments and authorities must now examine development projects in Ridgefield and Carlstadt and suspend decisions on pending applications. State departments will then review such applications for any improper influence and for full compliance of the law. Those reviews may include the attorney general, the state comptroller, or the state inspector general.

Federal officials claim that Suarez, Cammarano, and Elwell accepted cash from a "developer" - who was actually working on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - in return for the mayors' assistance in fast-tracking certain real-estate development projects. On July 23, federal officials indicated 44 public officials and leaders on corruption and money-laundering charges, including the three mayors, Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, D-Hudson, and former Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt, R-Ocean. Van Pelt resigned from the Legislature on Friday.

Ridgefield council president Nicholas Lonzisero said that Suarez's defiance has been detrimental to the borough and that the governor is welcome to come in and scrutinize projects and contracts the mayor has signed under his tenure.

"I think that essentially the mayor's holding Ridgefield hostage because it's going to cost taxpayers additional money and staff time to deal with the state's request," he said. "But I'm confident that the borough's officials and staff will handle everything in a professional manner to meet the state's needs."

Moody's Investors Service rates Ridgefield's $16.1 million of outstanding debt A3. Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's do not rate the borough.

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