TODAY IN NEW JERSEY HISTORY

2008: Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero, one of New Jersey’s most powerful political figures, was indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption charges. His consulting firm business partner, Dennis Oury, an attorney for Bergen County Democrats, was also indicted. Both were charged with conspiracy and mail fraud. Their firm, Government Grants Consulting LLC, helped towns land millions of dollars in grants from the county and state in return for a percentage of what they brought to the coffers. Ferriero and Oury allegedly used their political clout to obtain the grants. (Source: The Star Ledger)

2007: Two days before FBI agents arrested 11 public officials, including two Democrat state Assembly legislators, Gov. Jon Corzine signed into law four anti-corruption bills, but made no promises about halting corruption in New Jersey where 108 public officials have been convicted on federal corruption charges in the past five years. Earlier this year, state Sens. Wayne Bryant of Camden and Sharpe James of Newark were hit with federal corruption charges. Despite the bill signing, Republicans said tougher reforms are needed, calling the bills “phony reforms that will nothing to repair the massive ethical breach that has overtaken Trenton.” (Source: Associated Press)

2004: Gov. James McGreevey says the state’s safety was not compromised by former Homeland Security Advisor Golan Cipel, the man with the governor is said to have had an extramarital affair. When hired by McGreevey two years ago, lawmakers raised questions about Cipel’s qualifications and inability to gain security clearance because he was a foreign citizen. At a news conference today, McGreevey downplayed Cipel’s role saying he served as a counselor to the governor. Administration sources, however, said Cipel visited nuclear power plants, seaports, bridges and other sensitive sites to make an inventory of security needs. (Source: The Record and Associated Press)

2003: A new poll finds residential support for a proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) commuter rail line that would link with the Northeast Corridor line in South Brunswick in an effort to relieve traffic congestion in central Jersey. The survey found 78 percent support running the line from Lakehurst to South Brunswick’s Monmouth Junction, where it would link with the Northeast Corridor line. NJ Transit estimates the long-proposed line could cost as much as $500 million, but the project is unfunded. It would feature 12 diesel trains serving 6,000 riders daily. (Source: The Times)

2002: New Jersey’s state Assembly holds a memorial service to honor the 691 state residents who died in last year’s terrorist attacks. To commemorate the first anniversary of the attacks, a plaque with a quote from Abraham Lincoln was unveiled in the Assembly gallery along with a book with the names of the New Jerseyans who were killed which will be kept on display in the Statehouse. The service ushered in a week of remembrances to coincide with the first anniversary. (Source: Gannett)

2002: New Jersey’s state Assembly holds a memorial service to honor the 691 state residents who died in last year’s terrorist attacks. To commemorate the first anniversary of the attacks, a plaque with a quote from Abraham Lincoln was unveiled in the Assembly gallery along with a book with the names of the New Jerseyans who were killed which will be kept on display in the Statehouse. The service ushered in a week of remembrances to coincide with the first anniversary. (Source: Gannett)