Department of Homeland Security investigators have contacted New Jersey officials with questions about the fate of federal grant money awarded to Stevens Institute of Technology to help improve the nation's port security, ABC News has learned.

Two state officials described the federal inquiries about the possible misuse of nearly $3 million in Homeland Security grant money distributed to the Hoboken-based technical college, which has spent months under fire over allegations that it mismanaged its books. The state officials discussed the conversations on the condition they not be identified.

The non-profit university had in recent years become a darling of New Jersey's congressional delegation, which has directed millions of dollars in congressional earmarks and federal grants to the school. In 2008 alone, Stevens received $12.8 million in defense related earmarks requested by Sens. Robert Menendez (D), Frank Lautenberg (D) and other New Jersey lawmakers. Stevens also received $4.8 million in stimulus funds through grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. departments of transportation, health and human services, and education.

Department of Homeland Security investigators have contacted New Jersey officials with questions about the fate of federal grant money awarded to Stevens Institute of Technology to help improve the nation’s port security, ABC News has learned.

Two state officials described the federal inquiries about the possible misuse of nearly $3 million in Homeland Security grant money distributed to the Hoboken-based technical college, which has spent months under fire over allegations that it mismanaged its books. The state officials discussed the conversations on the condition they not be identified.

More bad news for the New Jersey politicians arrested in the July 23, 2009 Federal investigation.  The New Jersey Supreme Court rejected a request from a former state legislator to use campaign funds to pay for his criminal defense.

Newspapers reported that former Senator Wayne Bryant (D-Camden), who was convicted in 2008 of federal bribery and wire fraud wanted to use some of his $640,000 campaign contributions to pay his legal fees.  The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission refused Bryant's request.  The New Jersey Court of Appeals upheld the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

When Somerset County Freeholder Patricia Walsh attended a conference in Washington last year with other elected officials from counties across the nation, many were perplexed by the title on her name tag.

“People were saying to me, ‘What’s a freeholder?’” Walsh remembered yesterday. “So I scratched out ‘Freeholder’ and wrote ‘County Commissioner’ instead. Then, they knew what my role was.”

She may never have to do that again.

The state Assembly may soon vote on a bill that changes the title of the elected officials who oversee county government from “freeholder” to “county commissioner” — a move that would affect all of the state’s 21 counties. Many officials say the term is outdated, offensive and confusing.

Here is everything your need to know about the 2010 Hoboken St. Patrick's Day Parade.  The following information was provided by the City of Hoboken.

Enjoy the Parade!

The City of Hoboken is excited to welcome visitors to this year’s 24th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 6th, 2010. Kick-off is at 1 p.m. from the corner of 14th and Washington Streets and proceeds south on Washington Street until the viewing stand at City Hall.

The parade draws tens of thousands of people to our City every year. We are working with the business community and law enforcement to ensure that our residents and visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Thomas Vezzetti was the 33rd mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, and served as mayor from 1985 to 1988.

In the 1985 Hoboken mayoral election, Thomas Vezzetti narrowly defeated Steve Cappiello, who had been the mayor of Hoboken since 1973. Vezzetti got 6,990 votes and Cappiello got 6,647 votes in the 1985 election, which put Vezzetti in the mayor's office.  Vezzetti's slim 353 vote margin was enough to put him in the Mayor"s office.

ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — A new local ordinance will keep legal payouts in the public eye — and put the township at the forefront of one facet of open government.

The “public reporting of civil judgments and settlements ordinance” — the first of its kind in New Jersey — was passed unanimously by the Township Committee Monday night.

The law requires officials to “make every effort to publicly announce the amount and terms” of lawsuit settlements and judgments against the township that result in public money being spent.

The ordinance was suggested by state open government activist Martin O’Shea, who passed away in December. O’Shea had suggested the model ordinance to Andover last summer, but the committee tabled it at the time, citing a lack of funds to advertise it in local newspapers.

Under RICO, a person or group who commits any two of 35 crimes—27 federal crimes and 8 state crimes—within a 10-year period and, in the opinion of the US Attorney bringing the case, has committed those crimes with similar purpose or results can be charged with racketeering. Those found guilty of racketeering can be fined up to $25,000 and/or sentenced to 20 years in prison. In addition, the racketeer must forfeit all ill-gotten gains and interest in any business gained through a pattern of "racketeering activity." The act also contains a civil component that allows plaintiffs to sue for triple damages.

Following a wait of several months, the operational audit of the Hoboken Police Department has now been released to the city. The audit makes recommendations for significant staffing cuts of approximately one-third of the force.

The report said the staffing needs for Hoboken Police Department are one chief, three captains, 12 lieutenants and 60 or 70 officers/detectives depending on the methodology applied. This determination reflects a staff reduction from 158 to 112 or 102 depending on the methodology applied, the report said.

The New Jersey Foreclosure Fairness Act, P.L. 2009, c.296, was signed into law on January 17, 2010 and provides protection to renters living in residential properties.

Residential tenants in New Jersey cannot be evicted solely because the property where they live is in foreclosure or has been foreclosed.

In general, New Jersey law protects tenants against eviction from their homes so long as they:

• pay the rent,
• respect the peace and quiet of their neighbors,
• avoid willful or grossly negligent damage to the property, and
• obey the reasonable rules theyhave agreed to in writing.

Department of Homeland Security investigators have contacted New Jersey officials with questions about the fate of federal grant money awarded to Stevens Institute of Technology to help improve the nation's port security, ABC News has learned.

Two state officials described the federal inquiries about the possible misuse of nearly $3 million in Homeland Security grant money distributed to the Hoboken-based technical college, which has spent months under fire over allegations that it mismanaged its books. The state officials discussed the conversations on the condition they not be identified.

The non-profit university had in recent years become a darling of New Jersey's congressional delegation, which has directed millions of dollars in congressional earmarks and federal grants to the school. In 2008 alone, Stevens received $12.8 million in defense related earmarks requested by Sens. Robert Menendez (D), Frank Lautenberg (D) and other New Jersey lawmakers. Stevens also received $4.8 million in stimulus funds through grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. departments of transportation, health and human services, and education.

Department of Homeland Security investigators have contacted New Jersey officials with questions about the fate of federal grant money awarded to Stevens Institute of Technology to help improve the nation’s port security, ABC News has learned.

Two state officials described the federal inquiries about the possible misuse of nearly $3 million in Homeland Security grant money distributed to the Hoboken-based technical college, which has spent months under fire over allegations that it mismanaged its books. The state officials discussed the conversations on the condition they not be identified.

More bad news for the New Jersey politicians arrested in the July 23, 2009 Federal investigation.  The New Jersey Supreme Court rejected a request from a former state legislator to use campaign funds to pay for his criminal defense.

Newspapers reported that former Senator Wayne Bryant (D-Camden), who was convicted in 2008 of federal bribery and wire fraud wanted to use some of his $640,000 campaign contributions to pay his legal fees.  The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission refused Bryant's request.  The New Jersey Court of Appeals upheld the Election Law Enforcement Commission.

When Somerset County Freeholder Patricia Walsh attended a conference in Washington last year with other elected officials from counties across the nation, many were perplexed by the title on her name tag.

“People were saying to me, ‘What’s a freeholder?’” Walsh remembered yesterday. “So I scratched out ‘Freeholder’ and wrote ‘County Commissioner’ instead. Then, they knew what my role was.”

She may never have to do that again.

The state Assembly may soon vote on a bill that changes the title of the elected officials who oversee county government from “freeholder” to “county commissioner” — a move that would affect all of the state’s 21 counties. Many officials say the term is outdated, offensive and confusing.

Here is everything your need to know about the 2010 Hoboken St. Patrick's Day Parade.  The following information was provided by the City of Hoboken.

Enjoy the Parade!

The City of Hoboken is excited to welcome visitors to this year’s 24th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 6th, 2010. Kick-off is at 1 p.m. from the corner of 14th and Washington Streets and proceeds south on Washington Street until the viewing stand at City Hall.

The parade draws tens of thousands of people to our City every year. We are working with the business community and law enforcement to ensure that our residents and visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Thomas Vezzetti was the 33rd mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, and served as mayor from 1985 to 1988.

In the 1985 Hoboken mayoral election, Thomas Vezzetti narrowly defeated Steve Cappiello, who had been the mayor of Hoboken since 1973. Vezzetti got 6,990 votes and Cappiello got 6,647 votes in the 1985 election, which put Vezzetti in the mayor's office.  Vezzetti's slim 353 vote margin was enough to put him in the Mayor"s office.

ANDOVER TOWNSHIP — A new local ordinance will keep legal payouts in the public eye — and put the township at the forefront of one facet of open government.

The “public reporting of civil judgments and settlements ordinance” — the first of its kind in New Jersey — was passed unanimously by the Township Committee Monday night.

The law requires officials to “make every effort to publicly announce the amount and terms” of lawsuit settlements and judgments against the township that result in public money being spent.

The ordinance was suggested by state open government activist Martin O’Shea, who passed away in December. O’Shea had suggested the model ordinance to Andover last summer, but the committee tabled it at the time, citing a lack of funds to advertise it in local newspapers.

Under RICO, a person or group who commits any two of 35 crimes—27 federal crimes and 8 state crimes—within a 10-year period and, in the opinion of the US Attorney bringing the case, has committed those crimes with similar purpose or results can be charged with racketeering. Those found guilty of racketeering can be fined up to $25,000 and/or sentenced to 20 years in prison. In addition, the racketeer must forfeit all ill-gotten gains and interest in any business gained through a pattern of "racketeering activity." The act also contains a civil component that allows plaintiffs to sue for triple damages.

Following a wait of several months, the operational audit of the Hoboken Police Department has now been released to the city. The audit makes recommendations for significant staffing cuts of approximately one-third of the force.

The report said the staffing needs for Hoboken Police Department are one chief, three captains, 12 lieutenants and 60 or 70 officers/detectives depending on the methodology applied. This determination reflects a staff reduction from 158 to 112 or 102 depending on the methodology applied, the report said.

The New Jersey Foreclosure Fairness Act, P.L. 2009, c.296, was signed into law on January 17, 2010 and provides protection to renters living in residential properties.

Residential tenants in New Jersey cannot be evicted solely because the property where they live is in foreclosure or has been foreclosed.

In general, New Jersey law protects tenants against eviction from their homes so long as they:

• pay the rent,
• respect the peace and quiet of their neighbors,
• avoid willful or grossly negligent damage to the property, and
• obey the reasonable rules theyhave agreed to in writing.

They Just Don't Make'Em
Like They Use To....

Political Parody: Corzine Budget Speech

Political Satire: Corzine, I AM THE TAX MAN!