Sharpe James, 72, and the former mayor of Newark, was recently sentenced to 27 months in prison for selling city land at cut rate prices to his 39 year old mistress, Tamika Riley. Ms. Riley paid $46,000 for nine city lots which she subsequently sold - sometimes only weeks later and in the same condition she bought them - for $665,000.
Mr. James served as mayor of Newark for 21 years and somehow during that period of time, he managed to amass enough wealth to drive around in a Rolls Royce and Mercedes and to purchase a beach house and yacht, despite his civil servant salary. Prosecutors were also said to be contemplating additional charges against James for billing the city an additional $58,000 for personal expenses, including vacations to Brazil, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Martha's Vineyard with eight different women.
Despite the fact that James bilked taxpayers, he stil maintains a number of admirers, including Newark resident John Edwards. In an interview with the New York Times, Mr. Edwards remarked about James, "He’s always been a dude on the streets of Newark,” Mr. Edwards said. “He’s friendly, he’s got a nice rap on, he can shoot pool, he can dress, he can dance, he can do all the things that a black man from the 60s through the 80s could do...He’s a shining example to the youth of Newark as to what you can do.”
Given this sentiment among some voters, is it any wonder that Newark is such a dump?
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