Essex Co. Exec. Joe DiVincenzo Collecting Pension & Salary Courtesy of Pension Loophole
April 1, 2011 3 Comments
By Desiree Taylor
Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo didn’t hesitate to answer questions about why he is receiving a salary and pension for the same job. DiVincenzo, who earns 153, 000 dollars as county executive, put in his retirement papers last August. But a loophole allows him to stay on the job and collect monthly pension payments totaling more than 5,700 dollars.
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CHANGE THE LAW AND END THESE ABUSES TO THE PUBLIC TRUST.
This situation is not unique to New Jersey. A few months ago it was disclosed that New York State Senator William Larkin and State Assemblywoman Nancy Cahoun have used a loophole in the law to “double dip”. This, at a time when teachers and other state workers are either being laid off or having their benefits reduced.
When confronted with this, Senator Larkin said that if you don’t like the law then you should go to Albany and change it.
The audacity of NJ politicians is sometimes vitriol in spirit. Exploiting (often intentionally placed) loopholes is not only a violation of the public trust but a violation of the spirit of law and public service. But the people most to blame are those who continue to vote for these individuals and especially those that do not vote at all. Politics is money in New Jersey – its time people engage in civics and take responsibility for the society we create.