Tony Mack's Bridge to Himself

In an era of scarce tax revenue, empty city coffers and drastic cutbacks in Trenton, New Jersey, mayor Mack's decision to drop $17,000 dollars on a sign fashioned after the landmark two-lane Warren Street Bridge (the one with the historic "Trenton Makes the World Takes" sign on the side that spans the Delaware River) has come to symbolize his embattled administrations troubled tenure.

Hanging over the entrance to Trenton's Cadwalader Park, (where many puzzled Trenton residents note, there are dilapidated swing sets with no swings for kids to play on) the $17,000 price tag includes a painted blue sign with yellow letters prominently featuring the mayor's name. This while many city libraries, pools and recreational facilities remain closed because of lack of funding.

Allegations of financial mismanagement, the appointment of unqualified cronies and friends to important municipal posts and shady political deals straight out of the HBO series "The Wire" are just some of the low-lights of Mack's administration that bring to mind ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's scandal-ridden tenure in Detroit.

The July 18th FBI raid of Mack's home in the Berkeley Square section of Trenton came the same day Feds searched the Ewing, NJ home of Joseph "Jo Jo" Giorgianni; a convicted child molester, Trenton business owner and prominent financial contributor to Mack's campaign. [Read about Jo Jo]. The next day agents descended on City Hall to question employees and seize boxes of records in response to allegations of bribery, extortion and corruption.

Mack, just back after slipping out of town for a well-timed "vacation" that began when the Feds arrived over ten days ago, denied the FBI allegations as he re-opened another closed city library under the name "Learning Centers"; meaning they are now staffed four hours per day by unpaid volunteers - but no one can check out the books. Sign of the times indeed.