PRIDE Corruption: Violation of Election Laws...

Update:  We are now in June and PRIDE still has not disclosed any of its campaign contributors.  One month from now, PRIDE will be handing out NO BID contracts to its campaign contributors.  PRIDE will be making up new patronage jobs for its campaign contributors.  Joe Leto is currently voting on contracts as a BOE member (likely going to his campaign contributors being they are chosen by a Luna without any competitive process).  The public has the right to know who contributed to PRIDE and what they are getting in return.  It's the law.

As of May 12th , Lodi PRIDE mailed out 5 town wide flyers (estimated at $5,000 each).  PRIDE’s signs likely surpassed $10,000.  PRIDE had two full page ads in the Community News (thousands of dollars).  PRIDE inundated mailboxes with boastful letters (thousands of dollars).  PRIDE spent thousands of dollars on palm cards and handouts.  PRIDE admitted paying from its campaign account  to have Lodi teacher Joe Romeo display a PRIDE campaign poster in the Lodi High School cafetaria during a school event. 

Yet, PRIDE’s last ELEC report filed on April 30^th states the campaign  received a total of $14,520.  They claim the candidates loaned the campaign $7,800 and some unnamed contributor(s) gave $6,720. PRIDE reports it only spent $6,126. Clearly, PRIDE is concealing where its dirty money is coming from and where it is going. PRIDE is in clear violation of New Jersey Election Law.

PRIDE is among the worst pay-to-play abusers in the state.  Lodi taxpayers overpay hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for “professional services” when NO BID contracts are awarded to PRIDE campaign contributors.  PRIDE has a clear motive to conceal contributions from those currently ripping off the town.

PRIDE’s very own “puppet master” Tony Luna receives payments from the Main St. developer.  PRIDE has a clear motive to conceal money coming from any businesses or employees associated with JMP.

PRIDE is hooked up with the strip joints.  PRIDE has a clear motive to conceal money coming in from the real life Sopranos.

PRIDE is not a group of regular citizens.  They don’t fund their own campaigns.  Therefore, when they hide their money sources and expenditures, it is a serious problem.


Post Date May 12, 2019

“Professional Services”

Lodi is overpaying hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for “professional services” due to campaign contributors receiving NO BID contracts and then billing Lodi excessively.

 

Hundreds of thousands of dollars can be saved each year for professional services simply by:

1)      Passing a pay-to-play ordinance to prohibit any campaign contributors from receiving NO BID contracts.

2)      Using a set pay schedule for part-time professionals, disallowing them to overbill with hourly rates.

3)      Use competitive bidding in cases where hourly rates are completely necessary.

4)      Find competent professionals to work full-time for less money than incompetent part-time ones.

Legal Costs: 

a)      Borough Attorney’s NO BID Contract:

Lodi is paying a part-time borough attorney a $160,000 retainer and expecting very little in return.  Lodi paid the political Florio firm over $50,000 last year to perform the duties that most assume the borough attorney would be performing.  Lodi has also paid other outside firms like Archer and Greiner.

Solution:  There are many hungry lawyers with municipal experience.  Lodi can find a full time borough attorney, offer them health benefits, and still cut legal costs in half.  The full time Attorney General of New Jersey is paid less than the part-time borough attorney of Lodi.  Many good lawyers would jump at the opportunity.

b)      Special Tax Counsel’s NO BID Contract:

The Lodi politicians had to create a $65,000 job for Marcel Wurms after the State removed him from the Garfield schools.  There is no way that Lodi can justify paying Marcel Wurms’ $65,000 for part-time limited work. 

Solution:  Cut the pay in half and seek resumes for the work.

Engineering Costs:

Two NO BID Contracts for Engineering:

The Lodi politicians received two large campaign contributions last election cycle so the Lodi taxpayers are now paying two engineering firms.  Last year, Lodi paid Neglia and Maser $217,785.42 and the year before $219,703.02.

Solution:  Cut last year’s cost in half and seek proposals for the work.  Lodi can have a full time engineer for half of what they paid last year.  

There is a world out there beyond campaign contributors.

“Treasury Services”:

Lodi is paying a part-time CFO $107,500.  This includes a NO BID contract for “treasury services.”

Solution:  Lodi can continue using a part-time CFO but with a part-time salary.  The part-time CFO of Lodi is paid less than $30,000 in each of the other two towns where he is employed in that capacity.

The list can go on for the rest for the rest of the campaign contributors that received NO BID contracts...