Dwek’s 2009 undercover work with the FBI and the U.S. District Attorney brought down former Mayor Peter Cammarano, who is now behind bars serving a two year sentence for accepting a $25,000 donation from the disguised developer. Alicea was a council candidate on Cammarano’s 2009 slate, was hired as public safety director after he lost, and stayed on as director after Zimmer took over. His salary was $27,000.
The release of the book “The Jersey Sting” by Josh Margolin and Ted Sherman revived the discussion, when it was revealed that Councilman Michael Russo in 2009 met with Dwek. The shock carried over to last week’s council meeting, when members of the public both blasted and supported Russo (click HERE to see the coverage of the meeting).
However, some members of the public called out Alicea, after it was reported previously that he may have met with Dwek.
Late on Friday, Zimmer’s administration published a press release indicating that Alicea had resigned after disclosing to the mayor that he met with Dwek twice. Zimmer also called for the release of all “tapes, recordings, transcripts, and other documents” related to the investigation involving “Hoboken public officials, their close associates, and family members.”Zimmer submitted a corresponding Freedom of Information Act to the Department of Justice.
Operation Bid Rig is considered an ongoing investigation. -- Ray Smith
It is Jake Stuiver's word that Mason is relying on to avoid the stigma that she has so cavalierly attached to others. In the absence of Jake's account, mason would have no more credibility than Russo before the book and tapes came out or Alicea now.
Hoboken deserves better.
Hoboken Public Safety Director Angel Alicea has stepped down after finally admitting to the city's administration that in 2009 he met twice with Solomon Dwek, the informant who bribed dozens of public officials and candidates in the Operation Bid Rig III corruption sting.
In a statement Friday afternoon, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said Alicea "and I mutually agreed today that in light of Hoboken's recent history and the fact that he had failed to disclose this information either publicly or to me, he could no longer serve effectively in his position as Public Safety Director."
The admission should not have come as a surprise to Zimmer, since The Jersey Journal, in September 2009, reported twice that Alicea met with Dwek.
The Jersey Journal also reported in September 2009 that Alicea was the unnamed candidate who agreed to accept $5,000 from Dwek that former Hudson County Board of Elections investigator Dennis Jaslow referred said in a plea hearing.
"The release of the book “The Jersey Sting” by Josh Margolin and Ted Sherman REVIVED THE DISCUSSION."
This is the worst case of reading into something I have ever seen. Is Zimmer paying her bloggers enough to feel like you have to try to discredit every instance of neutral reporting so that people will only read exclusively pro-zimmer blogs? The Alicea issue obviously came to light last week because of everything that happened with the book's release calling out Russo. You believe it's a coincidence? Get real.
Any and all questions can be addressed to the two Pulitzer award winning authors.
Hoboken deserves better.
"The release of the book “The Jersey Sting” by Josh Margolin and Ted Sherman revived the discussion, when it was revealed that Councilman Michael Russo in 2009 met with Dwek. The shock carried over to last week’s council meeting, when members of the public both blasted and supported Russo (click HERE to see the coverage of the meeting).
However, some members of the public called out Alicea, after it was reported previously that he may have met with Dwek."
The book, supported by the videotapes, says Russo agreed to accept a bribe. The story falsely implies that the book only says Russomet with Dwek and equates that to Alicea. This is bad, misleading journalism and Ray Smith knows better than that. Sadly,it looks like he's being forced to sacrifice his journalistic integrity at the alter of his bosses'nefarious political agenda.
Dawn is the one who announced the resignation.