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Mr. Hands-Off Strikes Again

I’m tired of bringing this up, again and again. But, it’s still relevant, each and every time.

In 2014 Eric Jackson was elected Mayor of Trenton in very large measure because he promised to be the Anti-Tony-Mack. Whereas Mack was ethically and morally-challenged to the point of criminal prosecution and conviction, Jackson presented himself as Mr. Squeaky Clean, Mr. Ethics, Mr. “Zero Tolerance” as described in a Trenton Times opinion piece published during the spring election:

Cronyism and corruption. These are not words that should ever be associated with public service and yet, too often, they are.

Politicians elected by their fellow citizens to improve the quality of life for their constituents too often end up taking advantage of their office for personal gain.

Taxpayers who believe their hard-earned money is going toward improving schools, roads and public safety instead learn that it is being spent to line the pockets of the connected few.

It does not have to be this way…

Most important, the next mayor has to lead by example. Municipal government is only as strong, ethical and transparent as its leader.

The mayor must make it clear to every employee working for the city and its independent agencies that there is zero tolerance for corruption, personal enrichment or dishonesty. [Emphasis, as always, mine – KM]

Remember? Good Times! Good Times!

I will not take long to make my point today. I will simply say that if Mr. Jackson truly, sincerely meant what he wrote in 2014, he would recognize that the appointment of his sister to a well-paying position at the Trenton Housing Authority, a position for which she appears to have neither relevant experience nor training, just does not look or smell right. It’s a situation that sends off a strong perception of nepotism, a perception that Mr. Jackson would have been better off to avoid.

In today’s article by David Foster in the Trentonian, Mr. Jackson denies he had anything to do with the decision to hire his sister:

I’m a hands-off guy like that. I didn’t get involved in their process at all, didn’t recruit her, none of that.

Taking him at his own word, Mr. Jackson is just a “hands-off guy,” I guess.

Just as he was “hands-off” during the process that saw the son-in-law of his Chief of Staff reinstated as a police cadet – an action without precedent – after being expelled for cheating.

Just as he was “hands-off” during the process that led to the award of Trenton’s Information Technology contract to an inexperienced vendor working out a private residence that was the 3rd MOST expensive out of 12 companies that bid on the contract.

Just as he was “hands-off” in the aftermath of the $5 Million Dollar rip-off of the City by its former payroll service. To be fair, everyone in his Administration from City Comptroller Janet Schoenhaar on up has been “hands-off” of this one. “Hands-off” during the months when the IRS and State of New Jersey were sending up multiple red flags that something was wrong, and “hands-off” in the aftermath of the theft, when it appears that nothing is going on in City Hall to make sure that no similar crime happens again. No one has been held accountable. No administrative changes of policies and procedures have been introduced.  No results of a supposed audit have been released or even spoken of. Everyone is very, very “hands-off” on this one.

And still very “hands-off” when it comes to his own election finances. The last quarterly financial report required by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) was submitted by Mr. Jackson in October of 2014, for the period ending September 30 of that year. The Mayor is now about 18 months behind on his legally-mandated reporting.

Mr. Jackson is pretty “hands-off” on a lot of things, it looks like. Kind of begs the question: When, exactly, is he “hands-on?”

Going back – as I often do – to his March 2014 “Zero Tolerance” op-ed, I still agree with Mr. Jackson on this one point:

Most important, the next mayor has to lead by example. Municipal government is only as strong, ethical and transparent as its leader.

If that is Mr. Jackson’s self-described yardstick, then just how “strong, ethical and transparent” is Trenton’s municipal government?

Not damned much at all.

2 comments to Mr. Hands-Off Strikes Again

  • roger pemberton

    the connected few bshit.personal gain that what wrong.who every read this if the shoe fits u dont need to be in office. if politics dont pay enough get a job.

  • Max Headroom

    The next election cycle should be interesting.
    Does Jackson have a suit of Teflon? Is City council just that spineless? County and state oversight more akin to benign neglect?
    Many city residents are numb.Residents I speak too have little to no knowledge of the payroll scandal.Nor of many other hands off discrepancies,for lack of a better word.
    Mr.Moriarty as thoughtful and insightful as your writings are it has a voice in the wilderness feel… People are numb and have low expectations of their city so called leader’s.
    People’s belief in government or even good government are severely misplaced.