Trump called 'the most dangerous nominee in our lifetime'

GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump doing a good imitation of a demagogue.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

The Bridgegate trial jurors presumably are deliberating in secret again, and the distraction of the World Series is past, so in five days voters will decide the fate of our nation.

The Record and other news media should be ashamed of themselves for devoting so much time to the hysteria of GOP racist Donald J. Trump, and for printing AP trash like the story on Page 1 today:

"Some Republican lawmakers ... are threatening to block [Hillary Clinton's] Supreme Court nominees, investigate her endlessly or even impeach her."

Over at The New York Times, OP-ED Columnist David Leonhardt calls Trump "the most dangerous nominee in our lifetime."

Recalling 1964 GOP White House hopeful Barry Goldwater, who "mused about using nuclear weapons in the Cold War," Leonhardt said:

"For Republicans today, Trump is scarier than Goldwater.... He is racist and sexist -- having refused to rent apartments to African-Americans, retweeted neo-Nazis, besmirched Muslims and Latinos and boastfully molested women.

"For years, Republicans have been frustrated by liberal sensitivity on race and gender. Comes now Trump, spewing bigotry."

And anti-women rhetoric against Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton, who is leading in the all-important state polls. 

Local news?

For another comprehensive Law & Order report, turn to The Record's Local section today.

Murder and mayhem are mixed liberally with election news from the 5th Congressional District, where The Record has endorsed Democrat Josh Gottheimer over Tea Party radical Rep. Scott Garrett, R-Wantage (A-10).

Staff Writer John Seasly continues his one-dimensional coverage of Hackenack (L-2).

Today, he reports City Attorney Alexander H. Carver III will "reluctantly" resign when the City Council picks his replacement, set for Dec. 1 (L-2).

Seasly hasn't covered a single Hackensack Board of Education meeting, even though school taxes represent 44% of residents' bills (another quarterly property tax bill is due on Nov. 10).

He hasn't reported the board is asking residents "to take an active role" in the selection of a new superintendent of schools or that a forum is scheduled for Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school.

And he hasn't bothered to report that more than 3 months ago, city officials halted work on a 14-story residential-retail project, the biggest so far in the renewal of downtown Hackensack.

Hackensack, city attorney in showdown over $3M Zisa deal

Alexander H. Carver III, a former Superior Court judge, was appointed Hackensack city attorney on Sept. 30, 2015 (Credit: Harwood Lloyd law firm).

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

This week, Hackensack's City Council is prepared to vote on a resolution terminating the services of City Attorney Alexander H. Carver III, a former judge who has had the job for only 13 months.

In a letter to the editor of The Record today, Mayor John Labrosse and Deputy Mayor Kathleen Canestrino complained Carver agreed to pay nearly $3 million to former Police Chief Ken Zisa "without informing the mayor and council" (O-3).

"We knew the matter was being discussed -- but not decided," they say in the letter.

"Why did the city settle the case without insisting Zisa drop his $30 million tort claim against taxpayers?

"Why did the city settle before the deadline the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office had set for deciding whether to file administrative charges against Zisa, even though we specifically asked Carver to wait for that decision?

"Why did Carver agree to pay Zisa more than $1.2 million in legal fees without first reviewing the detailed invoices himself or have another attorney review them?

"Why did the city cut a $600,000-plus check to Zisa without a vote of the council or an appropriation?

"We have lost faith in Carver. If he won't resign before [this] Tuesday's [regular council] meeting, we will have to terminate his services."

Carver is not a city employee and doesn't have a signed contract. He is being paid $175,000 a year -- equal to Governor Christie's salary.

Zisa is a member of a family political dynasty that ruled Hackensack for decades. The city once was referred to mockingly as "Zisaville."

Mayor John Labrosse, seated, and other members of the City Council, including Deputy Mayor Kathleen Canestrino, second from left.

Manager OK'd deal

As reported on Oct. 5 by Eye on The Record, Carver and David R. Troast, on his last day as city manager, agreed to a deal that would pay Zisa nearly $1,755,000 in back pay, vacation and sick days, and other job-related compensation.

Zisa, who was suspended in 2010 after 34 years in the Police Department, had been tried and convicted in 2012.

A Superior Court jury found him guilty of official misconduct and insurance fraud, and he was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

But he was placed under house arrest during appeals, and those charges were eventually dismissed.

Carver and Troast, who said he reviewed the "legal bills and invoices" submitted by Zisa's lawyer, also agreed to pay the former chief nearly $1,203,000 to cover fees through Sept. 30.

At a special meeting on Oct. 25, the City Council passed a resolution indicating officials hope to hire a new city attorney by Dec. 1.


Bridgegate trial

If you aren't already sick of The Record's wall-to-wall coverage of the Bridgegate trial, the Sunday edition should do the trick (A-1 and O-1).

The lead Page 1 story is by Paul Berger, the Port Authority reporter who need a navigation system to find the federal courthouse in Newark.

After six week of testimony from 34 witnesses, Berger declares, "several large questions remain unanswered."

Readers have their own questions, including why Berger and Dustin Racioppi, another court novice, was assigned to perhaps the most important federal criminal trial in decades.

On the Opinion front, the editors came up with a provocative headline for Carl Golden's take on the trial:

"AND THE VERDICT IS ..."

Golden is former press aide to Tom Kean and Christie Whitman, who were the worst New Jersey governors before GOP thug Chris Christie came along to claim the crown.

Below Golden's wordy column, Record Columnist Mike Kelly declares:

"Thanks to the Bridgegate trial, we now know that Christie's version of history is, at best, threadbare and highly questionable. At worst, it's a damnable lie" (O-1). 

Other stories

Page 1 has two other stories that could distract readers sick of all the repetitious Bridgegate trial stories and columns.

Retailing reporter Joan Verdon recalls Donald J. Trump's grandiose plans in 1989 for "the finest shopping center in New Jersey and beyond" at Routes 4 and 17 in Paramus (A-1).

Trump gave North Jersey residents "a preview of some of the talking points of his presidential campaign, including blustery claims about his building prowess and his ability to fix long-standing government problems, lawsuits and insults against the competition, and an allegation that the approval process might be stacked against him."

Trump hired Thomas Wells, a Paramus attorney. In July, Wells wrote a piece for The Huffington Post. Here are excerpts the reporter doesn't mention:

"After the initial interview, my client contact with Donald was actually not very much. One low point I do remember (actually will never forget) is a limousine ride to a meeting with the editorial board of a New Jersey newspaper in which my married client sought to regale me with the number and quality of eligible young women who in his words “want me.” I was just plain shocked and embarrassed, but I kept smiling. I wanted and needed this client happy. 

"While I was working for Donald, various press reports had Trump and his then-wife Ivanna living in a personal apartment in the Trump Tower of 8, 16 and even 20 or 30 rooms. Genuinely curious, I once asked him how many rooms the apartment actually had. I will never forget his response to me: “However many they will print.”

No trick-or-treat

Below the tortured Trump tale, local obituary writer Jay Levin reports no trick-or-treaters ever come to the door of the Kostka home, because "the house is inside a cemetery" (A-1).

Guy Kostka, superintendent of Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood, has lived on the grounds with his family since 1982.

Hackensack agrees to pay nearly $3M to former police chief

Former Hackensack Police Chief Charles "Ken" Zisa (BergenDispatch.com).

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Hackensack will pay former Police Chief Charles "Ken" Zisa nearly $3 million, hoping to end one of the most contentious periods in the city's history.

Zisa, who was suspended in 2010 after 34 years in the Police Department, will receive nearly $1,755,000 in back pay, vacation days, sick days and other compensation.

And the city also will pay nearly $1,203,000 to cover Zisa's legal fees through Sept. 30.

Criminal case

On Aug. 23, a state Superior Court judge dismissed the single remaining charge of official misconduct against Zisa.

That charge was related to a 2008 incident in which the chief was accused of  removing his then-girlfriend from the scene of a car accident before she could submit to a sobriety test.

Zisa later filed an insurance claim for $11,000 in damages, saying the girlfriend, Kathleen Tiernan, swerved to avoid an animal.

In a 2012 criminal trial, a Superior Court jury found Zisa guilty of five counts, but the judge at the time, Joseph Conte, dismissed three guilty verdicts, leaving only insurance fraud and official misconduct.

Zisa was sentenced to five years in prison, but remained under house arrest during his appeal.

In 2015, a state appeals court dismissed the insurance fraud charge.

Zisa tort claim

On his last day as city manager on Friday, David R. Troast and City Attorney Alexander H. Carver III agreed to make the nearly $3 million in payments to settle Zisa's claim for damages.

They did so without advising Mayor John Labrosse or other members of the City Council.

Zisa demanded $5 million in damages, claiming his constitutional rights were violated "by the unlawful conduct of the city of Hackensack."

He listed the damages as "lost wages, lost benefits, psychological and emotional, attorney's fees and punitive damages."

Payments to Zisa

Zisa received the first of three payments to cover back pay and other items related to his job on Friday -- nearly $660,000.

He is due to be paid two more installments of nearly $548,000 on Jan. 10, 2017, and Jan. 10, 2018.

The so-called Payment Agreement and Release notes the city will not pursue administrative charges against the former chief.

Zisa advised the city he wants to retire rather than return to duty as police chief after an absence of more than six years.

So, he was reinstated and placed on administrative leave with pay until his pension rights are restored. 

Counsel fees

The agreement notes the city manager has reviewed the legal bills and invoices submitted by Zisa defense attorney Patricia Prezioso, "has found them reasonable, and has directed payment in full."

The exact amount is listed as $1,202,867.52.

That's on top of the job-related payments of $1,754,790.40.

Suits against Zisa

More than 20 police officers filed suits against Zisa, who also once served as a Democratic state assemblyman.

The city was obligated to defend him and pay his legal fees.

City officials say those fees totaled $8 million in one four-year period when Zisa's cousin, Joseph C. Zisa Jr., was city attorney.

They said Joseph Zisa would retain as many as 10 lawyers to fight each case.

Dark days ahead if Ken Zisa returns as Hackensack chief

If you stay off Route 17 or Route 4, below, driving on Bergen County's two-lane roads can actually be a pleasant experience.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

A Record story that could have been written by former Police Chief Ken Zisa's defense attorney had many Hackensack residents soiling their underwear this morning.

Staff Writer Todd South reports on the Local front today Zisa intends to sue the city for nearly $35 million in damages, and is fighting to get his old job back.

But the reporter leaves the other side of the story to deep on the continuation page:

Zisa remains under indictment on an official misconduct charge, and Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli is seeking a new trial on that count (L-6).

And the police chief position no longer exists in Hackensack, which has a police director.

"He cannot be reinstated to a job that no longer exists," City Attorney Alexander H. Carver III said of Zisa.

Legal arguments

Zisa's defense attorney, Patricia Prezioso, has wide latitude when filing a lawsuit notice, but that is no excuse for The Record to basically adopt her arguments in paragraph after paragraph, and leave any rebuttal for deep into the story.

Zisa was convicted in 2012 on charges of official misconduct and insurance fraud, and sentenced to five years in prison. 

He was under "house arrest" for three years as he appealed the convictions, and managed to get the insurance fraud charge dismissed. 

Lawsuits galore

Zisa's conduct as police chief and as a onetime state assemblyman was cited in lawsuits filed against him and the city by more than 20 police officers.

City officials say Zisa cost the city at least $8 million in settlements and related legal costs.

Now, his motive in suing Hackensack and the county prosecutor for damages may be an attempt to recoup the hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees he paid Prezioso to defend him on criminal charges.

San Bernardino

Today's front page carries a story about another Rutgers University athletic team, showing just how cavalierly Editor Martin Gottlieb is acting just two days after one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history (A-1).

Meawhile, in New Jersey and the nation, the political stalemate over gun control doesn't appear to be easing (A-1).

Governor Christie must have had too much kosher wine to drink at the Republican Jewish Coalition Presidential Forum in Washington on Thursday.

"We need to come to grips with the idea that we are in the midst of the next world war," said Christie, who focused on his years as U.S. attorney, not his terrible record as governor of New Jersey (A-3). 

Yamagata

The one time I tried to eat at Yamagata in Fort Lee, I walked into a crowded, noisy restaurant, and was repelled (BL-16).

Then as now, I could retreat to a quiet, family run Japanese restaurant less than a mile away with a large menu of high-end sushi and cooked dishes that seems to have escaped Restaurant Reviewer Elisa Ung's notice.

Her 2.5-star review of Yamagata, which has new chefs and owners, includes a photo of a 20-piece shushi platter for $60.50.

But some of the pieces must be very small, because I counted and re-counted and can't find 20 items.

Hackensack is paying new attorney as much as Christie

During a spirited discussion of tax breaks for downtown apartment developers on Monday night, Hackensack Board of Education Attorney Richard Salkin was uncharacteristically deferential when he addressed City Council members; City Manager David R. Troast, left front; and Alexander H. Carver III, right front, the new city attorney, a job Salkin once held.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Alexander H. Carver III, who is Hackensack's new city attorney, is being paid a flat rate of $175,000 a year -- or $10,000 more than his salary when he left the Superior Court bench in 2013.

He also is making as much as Governor Christie, who picked the last Hackensack city attorney, Thomas Scrivo, to be his chief counsel in Trenton.

In addition to the maximum of $175,000 a year, Carver and his firm, Harwood Lloyd, will be paid legal fees associated with litigation, according to The Record.

Three-quarters of The Record's story today is filled with Carver's exploits as a Superior Court judge "who pulled no punches," but doesn't mention the city will pay him and his firm at a rate of $150 an hour (L-1).

When Scrivo was city attorney in 2014, Hackensack removed two city managers and a public relations consultant, running up legal bills topping $200,000 in six months.

During the Zisa years, Hackensack routinely paid its city attorney more than $250,000 a year, one official said.

COW

Do you hear mooing?

Most of the discussion and debate on the appointment of Carver, as well as tax abatements for downtown apartment developers, occurred on Monday during the Committee of the Whole meeting, which started at 6:30 p.m.

When City Council members convened for the regular meeting at 8 p.m., they ran through more than two dozen resolutions read off in rapid-fire fashion by the city clerk before they were open to public discussion and then a council vote.

Members of the public, such as City Council candidate Richard Cerbo, were limited to 5 minutes each, but could have spoken longer at the COW session.

City tax breaks

On Monday, the Hackensack City Council approved the introduction of two resolutions designating the redevelopers of 150-170 Main St. and 210 Main St.

Other resolutions were introduced to grant the apartment and retail developers tax abatements of 30 years and 25 years, respectively.

Cerbo, son of a former mayor, addressed the council, saying "10 years [of tax breaks] is plenty."

But Deputy Mayor Kathleen Canestrino said the apartment and retail projects would never get built without the longer abatements, also referred to as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT).

Canestrino noted the land and buildings at 150-170 Main St. are paying tax revenue of $228,277 a year, compared to the first-year payment of $802,605 after the project is completed.

Meanwhile, the city's annual street festival is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. t0 6 p.m., rain or shine.

Among the entertainment is Village People. 

Today's paper

Nearly six years after he took office, Christie says he is open to raising the gas tax and creating a stable source of funding for the Transportation Trust Fund (A-1).

His refusal to raise the second-lowest gas tax in the nation helped drivers, even though logically they should pay for repairing the roads and bridges they use.

But the GOP dictator moved decidedly against mass-transit users by killing the Hudson River rail tunnels, and stood by when the Port Authority refused to expand bus operations into Manhattan.

He also cut state subsidies to NJ Transit, forcing the agency to raise fares and cut service.

The Record's coverage of mass transit is so sophisticated a reporter today refers to NJ Transit's sleek, electrified light-rail system as "trolleys" (L-3).

And, like Christie, the Woodland Park daily has paid far more attention to drivers and driving, as evidenced by a dozen years of Road Warrior columns largely devoted to no other topics.

Hackensack Costco

The Record today is reporting Costco Wholesale is planning to convert its Hackensack warehouse to "a more specialized business center" after the store closes Oct. 13.

A bigger Costco is scheduled to open in Teterboro on Oct. 14.

In October 2014, the same reporter said the Hackensack Costco would be closing permanently, making the 14.8-acre parcel available for redevelopment.

So much for the reliability of The Record's business reporting.