CleanGreenNJ Call to Action

Investigate Corruption Culture, Empower Whistleblowers, and Bring New Transparency
A common thread in the latest wave of indictments of NJ public officials is how developers are able to get what they want through a shadow system of campaign contributions, political connections, and outright bribery. The FBI’s cooperating witness, Solomon Dwek, posing as a developer, provided cash donations to numerous unscrupulous municipal and state level officials in exchange for zoning changes, permit approvals and project support for new development. Just like the previous waves of corruption exposed by operation “Bid Rig,” it is clear that environmental decisions are made within a “culture of corruption” in which developers are overly influential.

Is it any wonder that the Garden State is so over-developed?

Before another wave of corruption comes to light, we citizens of New Jersey concerned about the failure of our democratic institutions, call on Governor Corzine’s administration and the state legislature to immediately initiate an independent investigation into the culture of corruption that threatens the ability of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to do its job.

We also ask for whistleblower reforms to empower employees to speak out when unethical behavior is witnessed. Further, we ask for rules that will require new transparency in DEP operations. Finally we seek long-term reforms that will fix the system, including developer pay-to-play reforms and a prohibition on outside sources of income for members of the legislature.