Newark can't resist the mayor's parties

The Star Ledger ^ | Sunday, February 27, 2005 | JEFFERY C. MAYS AND IAN T. SHEARN

[KeyesPlease]

Every year on his birthday, Newark Mayor Sharpe James holds a political fund-raiser that brings in thousands of dollars -- much of it from municipal employees.

Last Thursday, in the midst of a snowstorm, the mayor's annual gala brought out more than 1,000 people who paid $500 each to party in a cavernous ballroom wrapped in red, white and blue at the Robert Treat Hotel.

The mayor's wife, mother and three sons were there. So was acting Gov. Richard Codey, city council members, local politicians, as well as scores of developers and others who do business in Newark.

[KeyesPlease]

I don't know how this guy does it. I'm one of those that believes the old cliche "Where there's smoke there's fire." I wonder if Chris Christie has anything cooking.

In 2001 James earned $248,000 in public salary. $186,982 as mayor, $26,177 in a longevity bonus from the city, and $35,000 as a state senator. He is one of the highest paid public officials in the country.

I am a lifelong Republican, but I am going to go for this guy again:

http://www.corybooker.com/main.cfm

[Calpernia]

New Jersey - Corruption and Scandal BUMP LIST

[BroncosFan]

I disagree about Booker because he has long-term potential and he's best stopped now before he rises too high. He's got the potential to be a MSM dreamboat black, a la Osama Obama if he were to win the mayoralty. The stories about a Newark renaissance would flow fast and furious. Barf. Newark's dead anyway, so Sharpie might as well strangle Booker in the infancy of his career.

[Coleus]

The legislature gave themselves a raise to $49,000 + $15K in benefits.