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The Eminent Domain
Of The James Gang


By Ted Lang
2-27-6 
 
I have, on many an occasion, lambasted the astonishing and egregious corruption readily evident in my current state of residence, New Jersey.  I have frequently opined that the "Garden State" would be much better described as the "Garden of Evil" State.  And in this Garden of Evil, there are many lesser government entities displaying unique and creative forays into the lucrative fertile territory of payoffs, bribes and political fixes that create fortunes for the corrupt elected politicians in the Garden of Evil.
 
The City of Newark is just such a bastion of evil and corruption.  Like the City of Washington D.C., one unimpeachable and unaccountable individual continues to reign unchallenged due to his racial advantage in opposing white honkies.  The result is a black leader in the image of a Reverend Jesse Jackson, who can extort and manipulate his way to untold wealth by threatening major corporations with the trump card of racial discrimination.
 
Against a similar backdrop of political racial "justice," demonstrated by the D.C. outrage of a Marion Barry, a similar outrage is also sanctioned by the majority of black folks in Newark, New Jersey.  Mayor Sharpe James, and his administration of extremely questionable morals and integrity, is firmly entrenched as "mayor for life" in the City of Newark.  Even a decent black challenger, evidencing refreshing moral commitment and integrity, offered no real challenge in recent elections to the entrenched and invulnerable political machine of Newark's mayor, Sharpe James.
 
On December 4, 2005, investigative reporter Ian T. Shearn, writing for New Jersey's leading newspaper, the Star-Ledger, in an article entitled, "In city's housing boom, a select few cash in," Shearn examines the real estate manipulations that signal the injustices that await all private property real estate owners in America.  Considering New Jersey's leadership in American political corruption, shades of things to come can be anticipated by the real estate scams demonstrated in the Garden of Evil State.
 
The "shot across the bow" was, of course, launched by the Kelo v City of New London decision launched by the black-cloaked communists of the "Supreme" Court.  The decision that gave priority decision-making powers regarding citizen-owned private property to local governments over the legal conversion rights of ordinary citizens, confirms conclusively the evil and treachery of any and all government.  The decision confirms that ALL government, including that of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution-destroying American government, is totally unworthy of any and all American citizen loyalty.  It is American government that has committed treason against our nation!
 
Shearn launches his investigative report offering: "Over the past five years, thousands of multifamily homes have popped up on weed-strewn lots in Newark, transforming neighborhoods and creating legions of new homeowners.  The housing boom has been fed by favorable economic conditions and an aggressive redevelopment program city officials devised in 2000.  Under the program, more than 3,000 surplus city lots have been sold to developers at cut-rate prices, helping fuel construction of more than 5,000 multifamily homes.  But even with real estate values soaring, the city is still discounting land, translating into big profits for the dozen or so developers who won most of the no-bid contracts."
 
Sound familiar?  Think of the huge no-bid contracts awarded to Halliburton via the corrupt criminal influence of Vice President Dick Cheney regarding Iraqi rebuilding contracts.  Think of the Cheney/Halliburton deal for constructing concentration camps in America to house insurgents and dissidents, the latter defined as anyone that speaks out against our corrupt tyrannical government and doesn't vote for the GOP.
 
But Democrats, not to be out done, in the most corrupt state of the union, demonstrate their creative theft and lawbreaking capabilities in the Democrat Party controlled Garden of Evil State.  Shearn continues in his outstanding article saying: "And among the developers are a roster of people with close ties to Mayor Sharpe James and City Hall, including some with little or no development experience.  They include:
·       
Jackie Mattison, the mayor's former chief of staff, who went to prison eight years ago on federal corruption charges.  According to documents filed with the city, Mattison co-owns the development company that has bought 116 lots at a steep discount.
·       
Manual Rosa, a longtime James supporter and campaign contributor whose real estate firm employs the mayor's son, Elliot.  Through a separate company, Rosa has bought and developed at least five dozen city parcels, netting millions of dollars in profits.  Rosa also has acted as liaison between City Hall and other developers, and is the exclusive sales agent for many new houses.
·       
Jacinto Rodrigues, a James campaign contributor who built 50 homes on five acres of city-owned land he bought for $1 [one dollar].  Rodrigues, one of the city's biggest developers, also is president of the bank financing a private real estate deal for the mayor.
·       
Emilio Farina, a convicted cocaine trafficker and former aide to Councilwoman Bessie Walker.  Farina is in the process of building 11 two and three-family houses on discounted city land.  He also is one of three partners involved in a deal to build 2,000 condominiums on land the city said it will take through eminent domain."
 
Shearn points out in a supportive article that the City of Newark acquired 1, 110 foreclosures after the 1967 riots in that city.  Since that time, the list of foreclosed properties grew to an astounding total of 4, 000 foreclosed properties.  Newark's Housing and Economic Development Department decided on a plan to offer developers land for $1 a square foot instead of auctioning it off to the highest bidder.
 
The "administration" of Sharpe James has been steeped in corruption.  This scam involves James' inner circle of political confidants, lead blockers and financial and political supporters.  The group of New Jersey "operators" easily takes on the air of another celebrity crime cabal associated with the "Garden of Evil" State: "The Sopranos."  James has made the members of his cabal a deal they simply couldn't refuse.  The 4,000 parcels of foreclosed properties held by the City of Newark was made exclusively available to only the members of James' inner circle of confidants and supporters.
 
Focusing now upon James cabal member, Emilio Farina, the drug lord convicted of both distribution and conspiracy in a multi-million dollar drug operation, he was sentenced to a whopping six years in prison, serving only six months of his sentence.  "Mules" whose only one-time crime was transporting drugs into the country are serving full sentences these days of up to 16 years in prison with no chance for parole.  Obviously, there are exceptions and special privileges for the politically connected.
 
Star-Ledger reporter Shearn offers: "Over the next decade, [after his release from prison] he worked as an aide for City Councilwomen Walker and, according to several acquaintances, found the power of positive thinking through self-help guru Tony Robbins.  He now holds a real estate license and is a licensed mortgage banker, according to an application he filed with the city."
 
Shearn continues: "In 1999, [Farina] established the first of 18 limited liability corporations to handle his real estate ventures.  Last year, one of those companies ­ the Newark Redevelopment Corp. ­ bought 12 lots in the East, North and Central Wards for $178,731, or one third of the assessed price."
 
Now here's the kicker: "[In November 2005], the city council approved a $550 million development project on Mulberry Street that would construct 2,000 condominiums near where the new arena for the New Jersey Devils is being built.  The city has said it will use its powers of eminent domain to seize up to eight more acres of land to accommodate the project, in which Farina is a principal."
 
On the same day that Shearn's investigative report was published, Morris County's Daily Record published the conflicting viewpoints on the topic of eminent domain in their Sunday "Opinion" section.  The controversial analysis, entitled "Whose land is it?" aired the views of Newark property owner George Mytrowitz and Morris County Freeholder and former Rockaway Township Mayor, John Inglesino.
 
Mytrowitz launches his piece offering: "Morris County Freeholder John Inglesino has demonstrated by his recent remarks in a Nov. 14 article that he is one of those public officials who is putting his business interests ahead of the interests and the desires of his constituents.  Eminent domain ­ the power of government to take private property ­ is being abused terribly in New Jersey.  Thousands of homeowners and business owners in nearly 70 communities in the state are suffering government condemnation proceedings and this plague may be coming to Morris County."
 
Mytrowitz owns an auto body and fender repair shop on Newark's McCarter Highway, a fourth generation family business dating back to 1913.  His property is currently targeted as spoils for James' inner circle redevelopment group.  Inglesino represents the Mulberry Street Urban Renewal Co., LLC, which is connected to Farina's Newark Redevelopment Corp. seeking to redevelop property in Newark that is near the proposed arena for the New Jersey Devils.  As was previously stated, Farina has a principal interest in the arena project.
 
Inglesino advances his position by citing Article 8, Section 3 of the state's Constitution, which he offers as permitting redevelopment of "blighted" property.  He writes: "'The state Legislature enacted the New Jersey Redevelopment and Housing Law, which provided criteria to be utilized in determining whether property is blighted or 'in need of development.'"  Apparently, Farina and the James Gang have targeted Mytrowitz's property even though it is still a working, profitable business.  His real estate is necessary to further enrich Farina and the Newark Redevelopment Corp.
 
Inglesino initiates his rebuttal offering: "George Mytrowitz, an Essex County resident and Newark business owner with no ties to Morris County, is upset that his property has been declared 'in need of redevelopment' by the Newark City Council.'"  Inglesino pontificates: "Redevelopment of our urban areas is essential for the long-term prosperity of our state.  Morris County taxpayers subsidize New Jersey's cities and the degree of that subsidy continues to rise.  Through the taxing powers of Trenton and state Supreme Court rulings, suburban taxpayer dollars are routed to subsidize urban areas.  The result is higher taxes for Morris County taxpayers ­ especially higher property taxes."
 
That's nonsense!  There would be no need to subsidize Newark with our taxes if the government of Newark had first revaluated the assessment values of their huge asset holdings in terms of the 4,000 foreclosed parcels, and offered them competitively on the open market to the highest bidders.  Follow the money and see who benefits!
 
The story of Newark, New Jersey, and its notorious James Gang, demonstrates the abuses inherent in eminent domain.  Special deals are arranged with cronies and selected developers, affording corrupt politicians the double whammy of up front payoffs and down-the-road kick backs.  In a separate article, Shearn quotes Roland Anglin, director of the New Jersey Policy Research Institute.  Anglin states: "'The houses are going up very quickly.  There seems to be shoddy work.  Ten years from now, these buildings are going to be ugly.'"
 
In the most corrupt state in the union, this is standard operating procedure.  The local kingpin politician and his cronies sell out the local community for huge developer bucks, then take their huge sack of cash and buy a castle in Florida or an island in the Pacific, leaving the town and city taxpayers holding an empty bag.
                                                                                                           
 © 2006 THEODORE E. LANG All rights reserved  
 
 
Ted Lang is a political analyst and freelance writer.
 
 

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