7/26/2009:

Most residents want Cammarano out – now!

If you take a look at the reader poll on the left sidebar here on Hoboken411 – you’ll see that nearly 70% of Hoboken residents urge Mayor Peter Cammarano to resign immediately.

The minority of readers feel that the court of law should determine the outcome of this terrible instance of possible corruption on the part of our (barely) elected Mayor before drawing judgment. At the same time, other readers feel the “court of public opinion” doesn’t factor into this equation, and the fact that there is some evidence that indicates both poor choice of words and actions is not appropriate for the better good of the community.

Put yourself in his shoes

Not that I’d assume any one of the Hoboken411 readers has done anything immoral, unethical or illegal – but it’s most likely that nearly everyone is far from perfect. Whether you’ve stolen office supplies, cheated on expense reports or taxes, lied to a significant other – and just about anything else – we all have our faults. While we pray, hope and EXPECT the officials elected to serve the public are “squeaky clean,” you still have to understand that they, just like you, are human.

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Now I’m going to ask you to be Peter Cammarano for a minute. You’re a political newbie. In Hudson County. Wet behind the ears. You have higher aspiration. You’ve spent time amongst what some people call the most corrupt county in the COUNTRY. Perhaps he’s easily influenced. Who knows. Until you’ve been a politician behind the scenes here, and keep the same company, and be the same person – you cannot possibly know exactly what it’s like. Sure – that’s not what you’d do – and probably exactly why you’re NOT in politics.

Let’s assume for the sake of argument – that he DID knowingly accept the bribes, and perhaps put it on his “to do list” to give preferential treatment to a developer, etc.

What would you do once you got busted? The last thing you’d do as a human who wants to preserve his or her well-being and freedom is admit guilt and get the book thrown at you. That is against human self-preservation. You try to survive, regardless of what the societal implications are. You wouldn’t give two craps about people protesting, and a growing base of folks AGAINST you. You always think of number one.

It’s like haggling at a flea market or garage sale. You would be considered weak and an “easy lay” if you just let people walk over you and so on.

It’s my guess that Cammarano knows he’s going down in some way, shape or form. But like a good poker player, you don’t just fold – and neither would you. Whether he attempts to find loopholes in the judicial system, or the fashion in which he was busted – or claims “entrapment,” or introduces new, previously unseen evidence to the case – is still to be determined.

But for someone to just “give up” in a criminal case – is just not normal. Morally – yes, if he committed a crime, it would be a lot easier for everyone if he just spilled his guts and accepted his punishment. But thanks to the U.S. Constitution – he has every right to fight tooth and nail.

Most of us have read the charges against Peter – and I personally find it quite “damning” evidence. The money, the cocky and over-confident political attitude – but I have to say to myself – that is ALL I know about this case. Until I hear his testimony, his side of the story – I can only make a partial judgment.

What are your predictions?

I feel this is going to be a ballet of lawyers, and a long drawn out process. I personally feel that there will be many more “heads rolling” in Hudson County. Maybe even several dozen more.

I’m guessing after it’s all said and done – Peter will eventually get convicted, and serve between 2-4 years in a minimum security “Club Fed.” However, who else will be brought down, remains to be seen.

  • What do you think will be the end outcome?
  • When?
  • Any other “casualties?”

Please protest at City Hall!

Lastly, to wrap it up – 2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason has some words about the protests in front of Cammarano’s private residence:

“While I feel it would be in the best interest of Hoboken Residents for Peter Cammarano to resign, I do not believe it is necessary to protest outside of the Mayor’s home. I share in their shock and anger, but we must remember that Mayor Cammarano has a wife and young daughter who are innocent of any wrong doing. As for Mayor Cammarano, even though the Mayor is innocent until proven guilty, these charges go right to the heart of city government issues: over spending and over development. As someone who has fought to address these issues for many years, I believe it is time for Mayor Cammarano to put the people of Hoboken first and resign immediately.”

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