Disgraced City Council President Mariano Vega steps down until he says he's "completely exonerated"

Which means Mariano Vega is taking a permanent leave of the President's office because folks, he's never going to be completely exonerated.

Here is Vega's statement:
For the betterment of the City of Jersey City, the Municipal Council and under the current circumstances, I am temporarily stepping down, effective Friday October 9, 2009 as of 4:00 p.m., as City Council President until such time as I am completely exonerated.

He remains on the city council in an at-large seat.....for now.

Funny this would happen the same day Ward B councilman Philip Kenny marched his sorry ass over to Newark to plead guilty as charged on graft charges brought earlier when Vega and half the city government were arrested. Mr. Kenny you need to go too, and fast.

Keep up those protests folks, do not stop, it's keeping the heat on and now the rats are jumping ship and or looking for a soft place to land. Don't give it to them. Johnny told you he'd be after Vega night and day until he left. We're one step closer to bring that promise true today

Charity begins at home--Mayor Healy will give the crooked money he received to charity

Good stuff eh Jersey City? Mayor Jerramiah Healy says he's done absolutely nothing wrong. Forget the fact his Deputy Mayor was arrested for graft which puts the corruption right in his office. Forget he was there in person when pay to pay schemes were discussed. Now he says any dirty money that might just be in his possession will be donated to charity.

Isn't that something? I've done nothing wrong but this $17,600 in dirty money here, I'm giving that to charity. Anybody think the dirty money would be going to charity if the arrests of July 23rd hadn't happened? Nope, that money would be funding more family days down in Bradley Beach is our guess.

Resign.

Former Jersey City mayoral candidate Dan Levin wants to clean up the mess at city hall; The Jersey City Desk is backing Dan Levin's plan

Since Mayor Healy has been named in the corruption scandal and he came in first in May's election for mayor, and Lou Manzo who came in second is caught up in the same mess one may wonder where reform hope lies. How about with a guy who finished down the list, Dan Levin? A mea culpa, Johnny did not vote for or support Mr Levin in the mayoral race, he had questions about why a man who wanted to run Jersey City would set up his business in Hoboken BUT, that being said, Mr. Levin like any other Jersey City resident wants clean and fair elected representation. He's not asking to become mayor, he's asking to clean up city hall and Johnny in no way shape or form is going to nitpick with that.

Levin issued a press release today calling for Mayor Jerramiah Healy, City Council President Mariano Vega and Councilwoman Nidia Lopez to resign. Levin's group One Jersey City has suggested several changes to benefit the residents of Jersey City who would like to restore integrity and credibility to city hall. Among the changes One Jersey City is pushing:

* Adoption of the Redevelopment Pay to Play Reform ordinance written by Civic JC
* Application of the State of New Jersey’s Ethics Code in Jersey City
* The halting of all permits and approvals for new construction, development, and redevelopment until proper safeguards are in place
* The resignation of Mayor Healy, Councilman Vega, and Councilwoman Lopez
* The selection of interim mayoral and council replacement appointees from outside the existing political system

Mr Levin and One Jersey City, you have the Jersey City Desk's full support and if you would like to send us information on meetings or strategy this site is all yours. This city need a champion right now, and your reform ideas look like they make you that champion.

How can we help?

Maybe it's time to incorporate this whole corruption reputation into special license plates

Maybe the state could make a few extra bucks by coming out with a line of special license plates that make comment on New Jersey's reputation for graft. Simply having Garden State on the plates is old and boring. Do you have any suggestions as to slogans we could use? Some of these 44 asshats who were arrested are going to jail and since they'll be making license plates in prison anyway, let's choose which ones they'll be making...