Hands Caught in the Cookie Jar
This should be the watershed, the benchmark action that convinces every state of the 50 that eminent domain laws need to be revisited and rewritten in light of the Kelo decision. Michelle Malkin brings to light a horrible incidence of local corruption from the pages of the Star-Ledger.
On May 21, Albert G. Mauti Jr. and his cousin Joseph hosted a fundraiser for Assemblyman Joseph Cryan at the Westmount Country Club in Passaic County. The two developers and family members picked up the $10,400 dinner tab, donated another $8,000 and raised more than $70,000 that night for the powerful Union County Democrat, according to state election records.
Three days later, the governing body in Cryan's hometown of Union Township -- all Democrats -- introduced an ordinance paving the way for the Mautis to build 90 or so townhouses on six acres of abandoned industrial land along the Conrail line in town.
There is just one problem: Union Township doesn't own the land.
Of course, the argument could be made that they're just doing a public service, taking old rotted land and putting it to good use by exercising eminent domain. I'm sure that's the argument the leftist Democrats are making as they get assailed by reporters. There's just one more little wrinkle...
It is owned by Carol Segal, a 65-year-old retired electrical engineer. Over the past 10 years, the Union Township resident says, he has spent about $1.5 million to acquire the property, and he, too, wants to build townhouses there.
Segal said he met with Cryan, who is head of the township's Democratic Party, and other local officials "scores of times" over the past five years to discuss the project. He claims the talks turned adversarial after he rejected proposals to work with various developers they proposed.
On May 24, the five-member township committee voted unanimously to authorize the municipality to seize Segal's land through eminent domain and name its own developer.
"They want to steal my land," Segal said. "What right do they have when I intend to do the exact same thing they want to do with my property?"
Cryan, 44, a rising star in state Democratic politics, denied any connection between the fundraiser and the committee's vote. He described the Mautis as "good friends," but said he played no role in shaping the township's redevelopment plan.
"My involvement is zero," Cryan said.
Cryan said he met with Segal no more than five times, and it was always at his legislative office. All discussions were initiated by Segal, and at no time did he recommend developers, Cryan said. Cryan said his message to Segal was, "I can't help you. I don't make those decisions; the governing body does."
In the immortal words of the late great Bill Hicks, could someone fetch a wheelbarrow for Cryan's huge balls? There's no involvement and no connection. Just happened to get lots of money from this guy and now we're illegally stealing land from one developer to give to another using our socialist dictatorial powers. Just a coincidence. Oh my God.
Please get Ripley's on the phone to document those giant cojones. Please someone call the police and have these men arrested and brought up on bribery and corruption charges. Please. This should be as all over the msm news as Delay's alleged improprieties if not moreso.
Make sure your state rep and state senators see a copy of this article and remind them this is why you're scared that unless they act, what you own is constantly at risk by corrupt, decadent and utterly criminal figures.
This should be the watershed, the benchmark action that convinces every state of the 50 that eminent domain laws need to be revisited and rewritten in light of the Kelo decision. Michelle Malkin brings to light a horrible incidence of local corruption from the pages of the Star-Ledger.
On May 21, Albert G. Mauti Jr. and his cousin Joseph hosted a fundraiser for Assemblyman Joseph Cryan at the Westmount Country Club in Passaic County. The two developers and family members picked up the $10,400 dinner tab, donated another $8,000 and raised more than $70,000 that night for the powerful Union County Democrat, according to state election records.
Three days later, the governing body in Cryan's hometown of Union Township -- all Democrats -- introduced an ordinance paving the way for the Mautis to build 90 or so townhouses on six acres of abandoned industrial land along the Conrail line in town.
There is just one problem: Union Township doesn't own the land.
Of course, the argument could be made that they're just doing a public service, taking old rotted land and putting it to good use by exercising eminent domain. I'm sure that's the argument the leftist Democrats are making as they get assailed by reporters. There's just one more little wrinkle...
It is owned by Carol Segal, a 65-year-old retired electrical engineer. Over the past 10 years, the Union Township resident says, he has spent about $1.5 million to acquire the property, and he, too, wants to build townhouses there.
Segal said he met with Cryan, who is head of the township's Democratic Party, and other local officials "scores of times" over the past five years to discuss the project. He claims the talks turned adversarial after he rejected proposals to work with various developers they proposed.
On May 24, the five-member township committee voted unanimously to authorize the municipality to seize Segal's land through eminent domain and name its own developer.
"They want to steal my land," Segal said. "What right do they have when I intend to do the exact same thing they want to do with my property?"
Cryan, 44, a rising star in state Democratic politics, denied any connection between the fundraiser and the committee's vote. He described the Mautis as "good friends," but said he played no role in shaping the township's redevelopment plan.
"My involvement is zero," Cryan said.
Cryan said he met with Segal no more than five times, and it was always at his legislative office. All discussions were initiated by Segal, and at no time did he recommend developers, Cryan said. Cryan said his message to Segal was, "I can't help you. I don't make those decisions; the governing body does."
In the immortal words of the late great Bill Hicks, could someone fetch a wheelbarrow for Cryan's huge balls? There's no involvement and no connection. Just happened to get lots of money from this guy and now we're illegally stealing land from one developer to give to another using our socialist dictatorial powers. Just a coincidence. Oh my God.
Please get Ripley's on the phone to document those giant cojones. Please someone call the police and have these men arrested and brought up on bribery and corruption charges. Please. This should be as all over the msm news as Delay's alleged improprieties if not moreso.
Make sure your state rep and state senators see a copy of this article and remind them this is why you're scared that unless they act, what you own is constantly at risk by corrupt, decadent and utterly criminal figures.
posted by Rob Beck | 6:09 PM
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