The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • A12

FROM PAGE ONE FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2007 A-12 THE RECORD James yf jjjB CHRIS PEDOTASTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER .1 Spotlight Name: Sharpe James Age: 71. Born Feb. 20,1936 Political experience: Elected to Newark City Council in 1970. Mayor from 1986 to 2006. Appointed to state Senate in 1 999, elected to a full term in November 2001 Served as assistant Democratic leader 2002-03 and assistant majority leader 2004-05.

Education: Bachelor's degree, Montclair State University; master's, Springfield College. Family: Wife, Mary; three sons, John, Elliott and Kevin. Work outside of politics: Joined Essex County College in 1968 as an assistant professor of physical education; worked as athletic director from 1 970 to 1 973. Left in 1 986 as a professor. Rejoined the college as director of the Urban Issues Institute in 2006, stepped down on June 30.

$203,000 from 1999 to 2006, the indictment notes. He also get $49,000 as a senator. The probe began when the FBI got a tip from a concerned citizen that city-owned properties were being sold to associates of the five-term mayor, said Weysan Dun, head of the FBI in New Jersey. 'Traditionally, in many cities, mayors will give away the keys to the city," Dun said, at a news conference outside the federal courthouse. "The activities alleged in the indictment today are tantamount to giving away the city itself." U.S.

Attorney Christopher J. Christie said James "used both his office as mayor and his office as state senator as a personal piggy bank." Christie also noted that Thursday was "40 years to the day" after the Newark riots. "While claiming to try to rehabilitate the city of Newark, James practically gave away properties to benefit friends, companions and himself." Among the counts in Thursday's indictment is a charge that James used taxpayer money to pay for a stay at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach in the summer of 2004. A New Jersey attorney who spoke on the condition of anonymity said he ran into him there. James, dressed in swim trunks, was lounging beside the pool with a female companion.

"He looked like he was enjoying himself," the New Jerseyan said. "He was certainly living the life of leisure." The indictment alleges Riley made more than $500,000 from the resale of nine city properties in transactions that were facilitated by James' official intervention as both mayor and senator. From 2000 to 2006, James had a "personal relationship" with Riley, the owner of a public relations firm, that included meetings at local hotels, Riley's home and James' summer home in Bayville, the indictment alleges. She also accompanied him on trips and outings from California to the Dominican Republic, it says. James "used his position of influence and power" to help Riley, who "was not experienced in urban redevelopment, who had neither the money nor the background," Milgram said.

"She had one thing on her side though, and that was her personal relationship with James," she said. Riley acquired the land under a program designed to enable developers to buy blighted city lots at below-market rates with the condition that they rehabilitate them before his seat in Trenton after his term expires in January. Riley, who was arrested by the FBI, was freed on $100,000 bond. From Page A-l mayor for 20 years before stepping down last summer, turned himself in at FBI headquarters in Newark following his midday indictment Thursday. He appeared briefly before a federal magistrate, who set his bail at $250,000.

Wearing handcuffs, his tie having been removed, James told the judge he understood his rights and the charges against him. Hours after the brief hearing, James walked out of the courthouse with his attorneys, asserting his innocence and promising vindication. "I am innocent of all these charges and I look forward to my day in court, where the truth will be told," he said before getting into a waiting car. The indictment, which took virtually no one by surprise, caps a three-year investigation by the FBI, IRS and state authorities that was dubbed Operation Cornered Lot. During the same period, the state slashed aid to suburban towns and schools while sending more and more cash to help keep Newark's impoverished schools and city services afloat.

Although the city has recently had "pockets of progress" in housing and the building of a new arena, "the sad truth is unemployment rates are triple the state average and family income is only half the state average," said David Rebovich, a political scientist at Rider University. Corruption "drives up the cost of government," said Alex DeCroce, the Assembly minority leader. "These wasted dollars could have been used to provide property tax relief to suburban and rural communities who have been shortchanged in recent years." James got a $25,000 annual expense account from the city, on top of a mayoral salary that ranged from $172,000 to 'A sad day "While there have been pockets of progress in Newark in housing and the building of the new indoor arena, the sad truth is that the unemployment rates are triple the state average and family income is only half the state average." David Rebovich, Rider University political scientist "Take a minute to think about that. Sharpe James was not even willing to pay $1 0 out of his own pocket to go to the movies." Anne Milgram, state attorney general "It drives up the cost of government and, worse yet, these wasted dollars could have been used to provide property tax relief to suburban and rural communities who have been shortchanged in recent years." Alex DeCroce, Assembly GOP leader "I really don't think it's really appropriate to comment on a case that the state attorney general is handling. The public trust is something that needs to be protected.

The accusations are what they are and they need to be addressed one is innocent until proven guilty, and I think it needs to unfold in the courts." Governor Corzine Conserve: From Page A-l hold information such as electric bills and multiplying it by conversion factors available from the federal government and other sources. Windeknecht's home on Old Gormley Lane has outdoor lamps with compact fluorescent light bulbs on timers, a compost box, and a backyard clothesline. She makes time in her schedule for another 10 minutes of highway commute so she can drive at 55 to 60 mph. Overall, she said, she's reduced her carbon footprint by an estimated 8,760 pounds per year. Also down is her electric bill -from $160 to $180 a month to $110 to $130 a month, Winde- knecht "This because the dioxide sunlight.

Union week and southern even to deal signed cut the Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James, above, after he was indicted Thursday on corruption charges relating to allegations that lie used city funds for vacations and other personal expenses. In April 2005, his Rolls-Royce convertible was parked in the State House garage in Trenton, where he serves in the Senate. resale. She allegedly flipped at least seven of the properties without making any improvements. Riley is also charged with defrauding the state Department of Community Affairs out of housing rental assistance for her home at a time when she was reaping her real estate windfall.

James also attempted unsuccessfully to get her a $25,000 state grant and to secure a city lease for office space. The indictment charges them with conspiracy and mail and wire fraud, which could result in eight-year prison sentences under federal guidelines. James remains a state senator but was expected to relinquish Other officials who Below are the New Jersey public officials who have been or are being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie's office: State Sen.

Wayne R. Bryant: Accused of unlawfully using his official position to secure a "no-work" job at UMD-NJ in exchange for steering millions of taxpayer dollars to the school. Bryant was indicted in March, has maintained his innocence and is awaiting trial. Former state Senate President John A. Lynch: Admitted accepting bribes in exchange for using his official position to help firms trying to win state approval for construction projects.

Sentenced in December to 39 months in federal prison. Former Paterson Mayor Martin G. Barnes: Pleaded guilty in July 2002 to accepting gifts from contractors and tax evasion. Barnes was sentenced in April 2003 to 37 months in prison, fined $1 ,000 and ordered to do 200 hours of faced federal corruption charges community service and three years' su pervised release. He was released in February 2006.

Former Hudson County Executive Robert Janiszewski: Admitted taking more than $100,000 in cash bribes in connection with his official duties. Janiszewski, a former Democratic County chairman, was sentenced in March 2005 to 41 months in prison on bribery and tax evasion. Former North Bergen Township Administrator Joseph Auriemma: Pleaded guilty in September 2002 to mail fraud, admitting he took concealed corrupt payments and benefits. He was sentenced in July 2003 to 36 months in prison, ordered to pay North Bergen $33,792 in restitution and fined $7,500. Former Essex County Executive James Treffinger: Pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and mail fraud in May N.J.

towns apply local efforts to global challenge BETH ESALESIERZSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Staff Writer Mitchel Maddux contributed to this article, which also contains material from The Associated Press. 2003. Treffinger was sentenced in Octo ber 2003 to 13 months in prison. Former North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority official Joseph Hernandez: Pleaded guilty in November 2002 to accepting cash payments, a jet ski and home improvements from two MUA contractors and concealing his acceptance of the bribes. He was sentenced in October 2003 to 30 months in prison.

Former Hudson County Freeholder Nidia Davila-Colon: Convicted by a federal jury in June 2003 of passing cash bribes to Janiszewski. She was sentenced in December 2003 to 37 months in prison. Former Hudson County Freeholder William C. Braker: He was sentenced in December 2004 to 41 months in prison for accepting cash bribes from a county vendor. STAFF PHOTOS BY CHRIS PEDOTA Janet Windeknecht of Kinnelon, left, tending her compost box, part of an effort to reduce her household's output of heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

Another step, above, is using compact fluorescent bulbs, not incandescent bulbs, in her outdoor lights. Tally your impact An estimate of a household's carbon footprint, or a representation of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by human activities, can be easily calculated. It requires some basic household information about electric usage and travel mileage. Those numbers are multiplied by standard conversion factors, provided by the federal government and other sources. To figure out your carbon footprint, visit any of these Web sites to use or download a carbon calculator: epa.govclimatechangeemis- sionsindcalcu lator.htm I carbonfootprint.com conservation.org earthlab.com said.

is great, what I'm doing, it's helping me and helping environment," she said. Greenhouse gases like carbon trap heat generated from A report released by the of Concerned Scientists this said global warming has already affected the state's climate could make it more like Virginia's in 60 years, with emissions reductions. Efforts both public and private with climate change are accelerating: Governor Corzine has into law a bill that aims to state's greenhouse emissions by 80 percent by 2050. And 1 last weekend, thousands attended and millions tuned in to watch Live Earth, a series of worldwide concerts, including one at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, intended to raise awareness. In North Jersey, municipalities such as Demarest, Teaneck and Ringwood have signed up for the Sierra Club's Cool Cities campaign, a town-by-town effort to curb global warming and encourage energy-efficient practices.

"It's a good thing. Anything we can do to help the environment, it's an investment in our future," said Demarest Mayor Jim Carroll. He said the borough's also looking into buying electric cars. Teaneck Mayor Elie Katz said Siemens is conducting an energy efficiency study of all municipal facilities and that the Township Council has encouraged all departments to use compact fluorescent lights. "Teaneck has made the environment a priority when it comes to government affairs," he said.

Meanwhile, Kinnelon Conserves co-founder Avery Hart said she and the other participating 141 families are in a transition phase learning how to ride a bike now. It feels funny." Jeff Tittel, head of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said grass-roots efforts such as Hart's group are happening throughout the nation. "Not since the first Earth Day 37 years ago have you seen this kind of outpouring," he said. That effort by individuals is important, said John Cusack, executive director of the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability. NJHEPS is a consortium of colleges and universities in the state focused on research, conservation, education and sus- Fast facts A rough snapshot estimate of how much Kinnelon resident Janet Windeknecht reduces the amount of heat-trapping emissions she produces annually from regular activities her "carbon footprint." The list below does not include other activities such as reducing appliance usage; annual carbon dioxide reduction in pounds: Recycle all recyclables: 1,300 One less dishwasher load a week: 100 Cold water wash three times a week: 300 Hang clothes outside one time a week: 260 Thermostat set at 62 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter: 1,000 Buy and install an Energy Star-approved air conditioning unit: 600 Buy and install an Energy Star front-load washer: 500 Drive 20 percent less: 2,100 Lower temperature of water heater by 20 degrees: 75 Replace 1 0 light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs: 1,000 Oil furnace tuneup: 300 Total reduction: 8,760 pounds Sources: Janet Windeknecht, "Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5,000 Pounds," by David Gershon Shower in five minutes: 300 Drive 55 mph (50 percent of time): 550 Plant 1 5 trees (each tree reduces emissions by 25 pounds): 375 tle bit, but it's not that big of a deal," she added.

Now she said she takes short showers and has shorter hair that doesn't require much blow-drying. "I think it's education. I think it's just being conscious. If everybody really did something we could make a difference and businesses obviously have to do a lot, too," she said, adding that individuals just can't keep saying don't know what to do, so I'm not doing E-mail: yoonorthjersey.com tamable environmental and building practices. "We've got to get people aware that this is something they do have control over, and they do have to make changes," Cusack said.

Kinnelon's Hart, whose group has lobbied local and state officials, said, "It's on macro levels that real change will help, but we're here to help families and children make a bridge to the future." All the effort takes is a little sacrifice. But there's one Windeknecht says she's felt baths. "So that's one thing I kind of miss a lit.