Stossel Confronts Politicians About Corruption Allegations
Developer claims politicians blocked their project to favor a crony who helps the politicians.
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An apartment developer paid millions for prime real estate in Edgewater, New Jersey, with a beautiful view of Manhattan. Nearly 2,000 apartments would be built. The developer also offered to build public parks, parking, a ferry terminal, and a pier, all at no cost to taxpayers.
But Edgewater's mayor, Michael McPartland, and city council said: No, you may not build!
That's not that unusual. Local officials often keep new developments out.
But in this case, they also voted to seize the developer's land using eminent domain. John Stossel asks: Why would they do that?
The developer says he knows. He filed a lawsuit alleging a "corrupt relationship" between politicians in Edgewater and an established developer, Fred Daibes. The lawsuit claims Daibes was upset because he wanted the property himself. "Daibes even directly threatened Plaintiff's representatives that they 'should have come to me in the beginning,'" the lawsuit states. "'I own and built this town. Now it will be condemned; I am your neighbor on all sides.'"
The lawsuit then lays out alleged corruption: The mayor lives in a Fred Daibes' apartment building, where he gets a subsidized rent (an accustation the mayor denies).
Four city council members also received loans from a Daibes-controlled bank. The lawyer for the plaintiff tells John Stossel that many have "ongoing relationships with [Daibes]. Jobs...undervalued rentals...loans for their business purposes through a bank that Mr. Daibes started and has the controlling interest in."
But the mayor and city council say they have a legitimate reason for blocking the development. It "would kill the infrastructure. It's just too much," McPartland told The New York Times.
But then why did they approve an even bigger development for Fred Daibes? It's twice as tall as the project the city council blocked.
That sounds like possible corruption to Stossel.
Neither Daibes, the mayor, nor anyone on the city council agreed to be interviewed for this story. So Stossel went to a town council meeting to see if the politicians would answer questions.
"Are you on the take?" Stossel asks. He then lays out some of the allegations. But the council members and mayor don't respond to the issues. Their lawyer criticized Stossel's "objectionable tone" and advised the mayor not to comment.
"You've had your time. You may sit down," the mayor eventually tells Stossel.
That was that.
Developers can't tell other developers "you can't build here" unless they have cronies in government, Stossel points out. That's not capitalism, that's crony capitalism. Or corruption.
That harms people who now won't be able to live in apartments near Manhattan. It harms the developer who loses a multi-million dollar investment. It harms citizens of Edgewater who lose out on free parks and other amenities.
The views expressed in this video are solely those of John Stossel, his independent production company, Stossel Productions, and the people he interviews. The claims and opinions set forth in the video and accompanying text are not necessarily those of Reason.
Пікірлер: 420
Thanks for being one of the few real journalists these days stossel
Wait, the Mayor comes to city council meetings with his own personal lawyer?
@kode3
6 жыл бұрын
It's the City's lawyer.
@jeremyrainman
6 жыл бұрын
If it's the city's lawyer, why is he legally advising the Mayor on responding to a personal matter?
@kode3
6 жыл бұрын
He's acting as Mayor, anything he says can put the City in jeopardy. This is common practice across the country.
@ab-ul1yz
6 жыл бұрын
It's not a good practice.
@clinke2007
6 жыл бұрын
In other words, "Our Mayor is a dipwad who can't put two words together without incriminating himself, so let's put someone there to save him from himself".
One of my biggest pet peeves is when liberals assume that libertarians are "for corporations" and that we'd defend "crony capitalists". The truth is the exact opposite. Real competition and low government power, enforcing the law equally, encourage businesses to be moral, liable, and responsible for their actions. Giving politicians discretionary power over things only creates corruption.
@jeremyrainman
6 жыл бұрын
The worst is when liberals presume that the only way to rein-in big corporations is to create regulations... It's like, "Wait wha??".... the reason corporations get so big, unchallengable, and prevent disruption of their position is by lobbying government to change regulations in a way that is palatable for them and impossible for small businesses to comply with, while pretending they are virtuous in the public sphere. So many liberals seem to be unable to recognize that government regulation in a representative democracy just means that eventually (perhaps not right away, but eventually) government will make it harder for mom-and-pop shops and easier on big corporations.
@AK1776-
6 жыл бұрын
Brandon Butler absolutely power corrupts absolutely
@bruhmoment8108
6 жыл бұрын
Roboter and how do you remove business from power? And what do you mean by "primacy of power"?
@jeremyrainman
6 жыл бұрын
*Well most liberals and all republicans are brainwashed into being corporate servants. The solution is not to dissolve government. The solution is to remove businesses from power and create a primacy of power of the elected government over the economic matters.* Well, for one, I never suggested dissolving government. But I would submit that any time you create regulations in a nation where the people have the power to influence those regulations, then only the corporations most affected by those regulations are going to spend money to re-write those regulations. Regulatory capture is inevitable in the system of governments we have in the west, it is inevitable.
@Dan16673
6 жыл бұрын
Roboter nothing exists in perfect form. It's only relative comparisons that count.
You can't Jossel the Stossel
@robertcampbell840
6 жыл бұрын
Clever!
@wkdravenna
6 жыл бұрын
I want to comment but my legal consul says it's obvious your tone is very jossely.
@werunguns
6 жыл бұрын
Damn right!
@lucretius123
6 жыл бұрын
Jostle
@wkdravenna
6 жыл бұрын
lucretius123 the mis-spelling was intentional.
It's very obvious that he's getting kick backs. Refusing to answer the question or questions is a very telling sign of corruption
@jpodell007
6 жыл бұрын
Mr. Stossel should file complaints with the FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division along with the Official Corruption Unit of the New Jersey State Police.
@KeoniPhoenix
6 жыл бұрын
It's not that simple but for the most part yes. A public official isn't suppose to lie or dodge to answer legitimate questions but that is for his constituents to either approve of or disapprove of by exercising their right to vote them out or pursue another legal remedy.
@Barskor1
6 жыл бұрын
As useful as filing complaints with the Mafia.
@MilwaukeeF40C
6 жыл бұрын
I hope the Institute for Justice is on this. There was a similar case in Illinois that ended up going RICO.
@jimothy_7255
6 жыл бұрын
Jostle
Stossel is my hero.
@vrolleri
6 жыл бұрын
No. He is ours! :)
@flamefusion8963
6 жыл бұрын
Vince R Ours? Are you a commie? 😂😂😂
@DrCruel
5 жыл бұрын
My understanding is that the Left fascists have issued a fatwa against Stossel.
Instead of being embarrassed when being called out, they get angry. It seems they feel they are entitled to be corrupt.
@SM77785
6 жыл бұрын
It's the typical mobster mindset. It is NJ after all.
Lol look at them squirm and bend into pretzels.
This is true journalism. Very well done
The more power in government, the more corruption can occur.
Having lived in Edgewater and Fort Lee for several years... Not surprised at all. Plenty of corruption in those towns.
@njeddie4488
6 жыл бұрын
Questioning a municipal government in Bergen county? The real question is " who is Stossel going to get to start his car for him?"
Stossel is seriously the best
Please email the Mayor at mayorMcpartland@edgewaternj.org to ask about his curruption.
@nobodymatters3294
6 жыл бұрын
Austin Holloway this needs to be at the top. Good work son!
Those criminals should be in prison
Unfortunately the judges are also corrupt
If I lived in NewYork, I would go to all of these meetings until I got those questions answered. In fact, I would create a group to do just that at EVERY single meeting. Politely request answers. If I get dismissed, then I would have ten friends in line with the same question.
@OriginalBongoliath
6 жыл бұрын
Marcel Casella New Jersey
@419fish
6 жыл бұрын
You would be wasting your breath. This is a fundamental consequences of representatives democracy. Even if after thousands of hours you won, the next problem will creep up. This is one of thousands of such corruptions
This is so ridiculous, I hope this goes viral.
3 dislikes were from dabies, mayor and his lawyer lol
@werunguns
6 жыл бұрын
Hahahahaha
@101fairplay
6 жыл бұрын
it now 7, the lawyers for the other 3 accused maybe?
@jordanlucien426
6 жыл бұрын
Anthracycline 10 dislikes, most likely Davies and the Mayor are making fake emails to dislike the video
If there wasn't corruption there, they could quite easily have denied it or responded truthfully.
Damn way to stand up Stossel.
How does this only have 40k views? This is real journalism
corruption is everywhere....
The mob never died. They just changed their job description from "drug dealer" to "developer"
THEY ALL LIED ! NEED NEW LAW THAT PUNISH WHEN CAUGHT LIEING !
This happens all over the world. I live in Spain and work in the real estate sector. Even a teller can pull major favors.
Great investigative journalism. I love this stuff. The media needs more of this kind of digging. Keep it up sir.
I dont think is appropriate lol well it's obvious they are hiding something.
@SM77785
6 жыл бұрын
They don't think that exposing their criminal behavior is appropriate.
I hope Stossel is packing. Never know what kind of goons these people have on their payroll.
Great reporting, this level of corruption is disgusting
Because the housing industry doesnt need more houses i guess
@glanemann
6 жыл бұрын
This is why there are so many homeless in big cities. Because there is never enough housing. The cost of living increases to the point where you either have to be very rich to afford to live there, or your poor as shit and homeless. You make the middle class disappear. It's what is going on all of California and other high cost cities that refuse to let developers develop land and build housing.
@Barskor1
6 жыл бұрын
Plenty of buildings in New Yuck that are empty because of rent control paying less than what it takes to maintain the building and have any profit left over leaving them decaying hulks full of drug users and crime all to "Help the people" because the rent is "Too damned High!".
Bless you, Mr. Stossel.
This why I am a libertarian cause you point out that most government agencies become too powerful and spend way to much on stupid thing that no would pay for with there own money
This guy has it balls! Shame on the politicians!
Wow, I have no connection whatsoever to any of this, but this injustice is infuriating to watch.
This is gross. Absolutely disposable
Thank you, John Stossel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What part of Stossel's question was inappropriate? Did he insult the mayors mother?
Every voter and rent payer in New York should watch this
Haha this is fantastic!!! Those guys all looked like they saw a ghost.
Get'em Stossel!
Get'em, Stossel!
Those bums got Stossel'd!
Bravo Stossel!
I hope this video gets that corrupt mayor thrown out on his kiester.
@furtim1
6 жыл бұрын
Right into a jail cell.
WOW, we need to VOTE! Pay constant attention to the gov't, like the are children.
Nice Mafia swamp you got over there.
Dawww, da widdle mayor doesn't like your tone. Living like he does, I bet he expected "my lord, by your grace may I speak?"
two kinds of people...those who want to be left alone, and those who won't leave them alone...
Great reporting, Stossel.
Keep up the good work, John!
This is insane to see this. Their guiltily as f. Its so obvious!!!!
That makes my blood boil.
An Objectionable Tone, Heavens Me!
This makes me sick
Yet another example of our non-representative government. Why do we let them take our earnings?
Hmm, I suspect The Founders would have strung up the City Council Members as tyrants.
Best of luck to Maxal. Fight that corruption machine
Corruption in Jersey? Shocker.....
These are the kind of stories we USED to see on television.
Awesome piece Stossel loved how you connect it to how its hurting capitalism and consumers. Keep it up.
So what ever happened with this?
Sounds like Socialism to me.
@S314159265358979
6 жыл бұрын
There is no sense to bribe a bureaucrat who has no power of restricting the free market. So yes, giving such power to bureaucrats is socialism.
@zachjones6258
6 жыл бұрын
Socialism is the worker ownership of the means of production. No state required. This is still capitalism, as private property still clearly exists.
@darthmoodydiah2796
6 жыл бұрын
Zach Jones socialism on paper, is different than socialism in practice. If you don't realize this, you haven't studied socialism, and you have studied history. It's that simple.
@danil874
4 жыл бұрын
@@zachjones6258 well, sounds great, no private property. Sounds like man in caves with no property, other than himself and occasional stones used as a tool... But no, this means that the stone is the mean of production, so... So, idk, just starving man in the cave
The mayor has the right to remain silent,the right to have an attorney present before answering any questions etcetera.!
I love it! Stossel is the man! He busted all their balls and they can’t take it!
Our forefathers killed for this type of behavior. It's time the people stand up against it
Great work - About time.
Drain the swamp!
this is great investigative journalism MSM take note!!
This country needs more John Stossels. Stossel the only reason to watch Reason.
IT’S OBVIOUS THEY’RE ON THE TAKE
Love this reporter!!! You are awesome dude keep up the amazing work!
Nicely done, John. Love the videos!
This is an example of superb journalism. Kudos to Stossel and everybody involved!!
good job!!
Nice Video. Go Stossel!
Appreciate the video -- it's a good example of cronyism. Thanks.
I feel like I've seen this mayor before, but never lived in New Jersey
I love you, John. Get the bastards.
I bet the FBI and the NJ State Police would be interested in this.
Mr. Stossel should file a request under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act for all of the materials he wants including the public employee financial disclosure forms of the mayor. If any sort of shenanigans are indeed found, then Mr. Stossel should report his allegations of misconduct to the Official Corruption Unit of the New Jersey State Police along with the local FBI Public Corruption Squad in Newark and the local field office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. If corruption is afoot, it will be interesting if criminal charges are initiated against the involved public officials.
I hope that this opens up a huge federal investigation.
Awesome
How long has that guy been mayor? Typical NJ politician.
Long Live the Stossel!
Why would anyone want to move to New Jersey anyway?
As your legal counsel I advise you not to answer that. Was the best statement from this video. Not being able to say definitively no I am not on the payroll at this guy is insane
This man should be in charge of everything in this country him and Ron Paul basically people like this should own this country.
Politicians are slime
An example of why normal people hate politicians and fear government authority (and expansion). The mayor wouldn't be getting so pissed off if he were not hiding something.
Not suppressing in the Garden State. More reasons to get out of NJ and never look back.
As Mark Twain said, you have the best government that money can buy.
Stossel you're a badass. Hope this gets resolved
Stossel is the man!
"You're welcome to stick around" anyone feel uneasy at that.
That's exactly what a free press was made for. Thank you, Stossel.
They should all be jail.... but it’s New Jersey 😂😂😂
Why I continue to watch and respect John Stossel 👌
revoke their right to govern
LOL! ... of course Mr Major will not answer that question. That would mean to admit that whatever Stossel said is true. Otherwise he would have denied it.
Edgewater's light poles would look better with holiday decorations this 4th of July.