Point Breeze Development Frauds, Jersey City
1971-72

After an October 1971 public hearing (reported in the Commission's 1971 Annual Report), two bills implementing SCI recommendations were enacted into law.  One improved the urban renewal process and the other tightened statutory provisions to prevent a purchaser of publicly-owned lands from receiving any part of the brokerage fee on such a purchase.  The Commission also referred records to prosecutorial authorities.  A Hudson County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging a former Jersey City building inspector with extorting $1,200 from an official of the Port Jersey Corp. and obtaining money under false pretenses.  The inspector was convicted of obtaining money under false pretenses, fined $200 and given a six-month suspended sentence.