Manzo thinks Rone decision may apply to Healy
By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com ReporterFormer Assemblyman Lou Manzo, a potential Jersey City mayoral hopeful for next year, thinks he might have a short cut to kicking Mayor Jerramiah Healy out of office.
Manzo plans to hire an attorney through his public advocacy office to review whether a judge’s decision that Newark Councilwoman Dana Rone should forfeit her office after her obsruction of justice conviction parallels that of Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who was convicted of disorderly conduct over a 2006 incident in Bradley Beach.
“My advocacy office is actually going to review it and see if it does apply. And if it does, we’re going to take a civil action on it,” said Manzo.
New Jersey law states that public officials convicted of a crime in which they have abused their powers of office should forfeit their positions.
Healy has unsuccessfully appealed his conviction twice. And today, the Jersey Journal reported that Healy lost an attempt to press charges of aggravated assault and official misconduct charges against the Bradley Beach police officer who arrested him.
Manzo, however, said that Healy may have kept appealing because he realized that the law could make his hold on the mayor’s seat vulnerable.
Healy has contended that his case is different from Rone’s. Whereas she appeared on the scene of a Rutgers University traffic stop involving her nephew and used her power as a councilwoman to call in Newark Police, Healy said he was acting as a private citizen “outside of his official capacity.”
Manzo countered that a witness at Healy’s trial last year said that he yelled “I'm the mayor of Jersey City," while police officers had him on the ground.
“I think the witnesses bare it out as saying he’s the mayor of Jersey City,” said Manzo.
Healy could not be reached for comment.
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Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
Today’s Must Reads:
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Manzo is a sore loser
Lou Manzo has run three times for mayor of Jersey City, and was rejected all three times by the voters.
Manzo is using this as a way of keeping his name in the press for next year. Manzo can't win the mayor's seat so Looney Lou has to try steal it.
Voters have forgotten about him again, just like his State Senate run in June 07!
Who is Lou Manzo????
And why is he trying to sound relevant? The trial testimony is available online. Other than the cop, all the other witnesses - some friends of Healy, some perfect strangers - all agree Healy never asserted himself as Mayor, not even when he was maced after being handcuffed and in the prone position on the ground.
Those shore fake-cops should get a life and get over their small penis complex. Handcuffing an old man because he pointed his finger at some teenagers, and THEN macing him? C'mon.
Misplaced anger by Natty B.
Whether you think voters forgot about Manzo or not, these are valid points and make for a compelling legal argument.
What should also be noted is how Manzo, who isn’t even a current officeholder, is the only one in Hudson speaking up. The silence by members of the city council, state legislators and the prosecutor is deafening.
Where is the outrage? Does anyone in the county even care about maintaining even a minimum level of ethical accountability for their representatives?
So Manzo is running for Mayor for the 14th time?
When will he get it? The people of Jersey City just won't vote him in.
So Manzo is running for Mayor for the 14th time?
When will he get it? The people of Jersey City just won't vote him in.
Ethics?
Somebody wrote about "ethical accountability" in Hudson County. Seriously if the voters of Jersey City cared about ethics Lou Manzo would have been elected mayor 17 elections ago. It's tough to be a guy like Lou in a city that votes for guys who get drunk and pass out in front of their house naked.
Skip the Spin
Lou's motives aside,what is the real difference between what Healy did and what rone did.Rone was not even drunk and did not fight with the officers.Healy tried to throw his weight around just like Rone.He clearly stated "I am the Mayor of Jersey City"and "I know the Police Chief"
The only difference is the hudson county prosecuter is a HCDO puppet.
Make me sick
You people are more worried about the fact that Manzo is running again, instead of the fact that the runner-up committed the same crime as Rone did.
Thats exactly what's wrong in Jersey City.
And never say Manzo is a no body, because if you lived in Jersey City's Ward A & B you know you can ask Manzo for help before you can ask Healy.
Some of you people need to stop looking at voting records and look at constituent services.
right you are, politimonkey
"What should also be noted is how Manzo, who isn’t even a current officeholder, is the only one in Hudson speaking up."
There's a reason Manzo isn't a current officeholder - he lost.
There's a reason he's speaking up - he wants to be an officeholder
Lou is the Harold Stassen of JC politics, the perennial runner, the perennial loser. The Manzo family fortune must be running out for him to resort to this desperate tactic.
There's a reason he's called "Looney Lou".
No Healy Fan
I don't like Healy but I think its a bit different, had he called the JC police and tried to intervine it would be the same - sounds like he identified himself so they didnt give him the beat down, a natural reaction most would do if they were somebody. Rone drove out to the scene, called the Newark PD and involved herself in a sitaution she was not part of. I think the JC Council needs to do a censure or something on Healy - make him donate salary or do some community service.
Manzo is the definition of insane
Looney Lou Manzo has run 4 times for mayor and lost all of them but plans to run again next year. Manzo can't explain Manzo, how about instead of trying to explain the differences in this situation, someone explain why Looney Lou keeps running for mayor despite getting rejected over and over again by the voters in the city he wants to be the mayor in. Manzo just doesn't get it, Jersey City doesn't want him!
Lou Manzo's picture is in the dictionary next to the definition of Insane: Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.
I agree with VinCognito
I think Rone could ultimately prevail upon further action whether that action is a motion before Judge Costello for reconsideration or an appeal to the Appellate Division. That is, I believe that Judge Costello’s ruling is in error as she failed to defer to the fact finder – Essex County Prosecutor Dow and the AG.
However Rones appeal turns out and whatever action is taken in Jersey City (Action in lieu of Pregative Writ for a Mandamous Order directing the Hudson County Prosecutor to seek forfeiture of Healy’s position as mayor) I think both public officials Rone and Healy need to admit what they did is wrong.
That is really what is fueling this issue. Neither one will admit that name dropping with the intent to influence a favorable outcome in either setting was totally inappropriate. Both need to make public apologies regardless of the legal outcomes or as VinCognito suggested:
“censure or something on Healy [and Rone] - make him [and her] donate salary or do some community service.
Maybe this is what Judge Costello should have done instead of substituting her judgement for that of Dows. Since the Forfeiture statute is a remedial statute Costello might have got away with envoking her limited equity powers to order a public apology. I doubt either the Newark or Jersey City City Counsels have any powers to do as VinCognito suggested. But that type of action could go a long way towards restoring some sort of respect for our public officials.
I could be wrong
Article says he was convicted of obstruction of justice - now did it have to happen in JC like in Newark?
Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy has suffered yet another defeat in the series of appeals he has filed stemming from his 2007 Bradley Beach Municipal Court convictions on charges of obstruction of justice and resisting arrest.
http://app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/NEWS/80805028
Manzo is just angry
Manzo is just angry he can never say he's the mayor.