the rix mix

Waterfront Commission officials accused of corruption at N.J., N.Y. ports

by Ted Sherman - Star-Ledger -
The bi-state agency formed to combat corruption within the New York and New Jersey ports became riddled with abuse -- misusing federal Homeland Security funding, hiring unqualified cops, and allowing convicted felons to get jobs.

In a scathing 67-page report, the New York Inspector General said the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor had failed in its duties. Gov. Jon Corzine has already fired the New Jersey Commissioner, former State

"This was a total agency breakdown," Inspector General Joseph Fisch said. "Instead of ridding the waterfront of corruption, this agency itself was corrupt."

Established in 1953, after public hearings sparked by a newspaper investigation exposed pervasive corruption involving mobsters and dock workers, later portrayed in the film "On the Waterfront," the quasi-independent commission oversees waterfront hiring and has a police force to conduct investigations. The commission has an annual budget of more than $11 million and a staff of 100 employees.

But the commission had long ago stopped doing its job, according to the report, citing favors to insiders, corrupt dealings, fraud and abuse. In one example, it noted the commission bought a patrol boat paid for by a $170,000 Homeland Security grant, which was supposed to be "capable of early detection of a waterborne attack."

Its role was to "deploy officers...at high risk target locations such as the NYC Passenger Ship Terminal, Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne." Instead, it was used to escort guests and VIPs during Fleet Week and other events.

On & on the report goes. It would be instructive to read a list of the guests & VIPs on those harbor cruises, what refreshments they were served.

Coincidentally, the author of "On the Waterfront," Budd Schulberg, died last week at a ripe old age. For all the greatness of that gritty, realistic Brando film, it was most unrealistic when suggesting the power of a criminal organization could be broken by a courageous individual beating the shit out of the local union rackets boss & knocking him in Hudson River (one of the longest, best choreographed, most brutal fistfights on film). There is no Mafia in "On the Waterfront." But on the real waterfront, an evil Johnny Friendly, a wiseguy & likely a capo in a New York crime family, would climb out of the river, lay low for awhile, have Brando's character whacked, & carry on with his business.

Government is packed with agencies formed to be useful in response to a problem, but which become sources of patronage jobs for bothe parties, depending upon which holds the power. NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg, as an independent, skillfully plays both sides. Our two candidates for governor this year are a politician who didn't do enough when he could versus a politician who won't do enough when he can.

Labels: in the news, New Jersey politics, obituary