Governor Corzine Issues Freeze on State Approvals for Projects in Municipalities with Mayors Facing Corruption Charges
Governor Jon S. Corzine signed an Executive Order on August 3 requiring the immediate suspension of any pending applications for State approval of development projects in a municipality where the sitting mayor is charged with public corruption.
"We will not tolerate any impropriety, or even the appearance of impropriety, regarding the conduct of elected officials in New Jersey," Governor Corzine said. "If officials under this cloud refuse to do the responsible thing and resign, then we must take action to protect responsible government and the best interests of taxpayers."
The Executive Order requires all state departments and authorities to immediately review development projects in areas where sitting mayors have been charged with public corruption, and to suspend action on pending applications. The Executive Order also requires state departments to undertake a comprehensive review to "ensure the absence of improper influence" and "full compliance with the law" regarding pending applications.
The Executive Order does not name any particular town but comes in the wake of the arrest of 44 people, including three mayors, on corruption charges. These recent events have led the Governor to issue this Executive Order to protect the public’s trust in their local officials.
"Maintaining the highest ethical standards has been, and remains, a top priority of this administration," Governor Corzine said. "I remain committed to exercising the fullest extent of my authority to ensure the highest ethical standards, at all levels of government."
"We will not tolerate any impropriety, or even the appearance of impropriety, regarding the conduct of elected officials in New Jersey," Governor Corzine said. "If officials under this cloud refuse to do the responsible thing and resign, then we must take action to protect responsible government and the best interests of taxpayers."
The Executive Order requires all state departments and authorities to immediately review development projects in areas where sitting mayors have been charged with public corruption, and to suspend action on pending applications. The Executive Order also requires state departments to undertake a comprehensive review to "ensure the absence of improper influence" and "full compliance with the law" regarding pending applications.
The Executive Order does not name any particular town but comes in the wake of the arrest of 44 people, including three mayors, on corruption charges. These recent events have led the Governor to issue this Executive Order to protect the public’s trust in their local officials.
"Maintaining the highest ethical standards has been, and remains, a top priority of this administration," Governor Corzine said. "I remain committed to exercising the fullest extent of my authority to ensure the highest ethical standards, at all levels of government."
