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9/11 See other 9/11 Articles Title: 9/11 cops overtime probe won't have subpoena power 9/11 cops overtime probe won't have subpoena power Friday, June 15, 2007 By KEN THORBOURNE By a 7-1 vote, the Jersey City City Council has rejected a call by Councilman Steve Fulop for a special council subcommittee to investigate claims the city misappropriated $2 million in federal funds in the months after 9/11. Instead of the formal committee Fulop requested - which would have had subpoena powers - City Council President Mariano Vega appointed a three-member ad hoc committee to meet with law enforcement agencies that have already looked into the allegations. "In typical Jersey City fashion, these persons like private back rooms to figure out what to do with the taxpayer dollar," Fulop fumed after Wednesday's City Council meeting. "What I'm saying is people took advantage of a horrible situation," Fulop added, talking about the $2.08 million the Federal Emergency Management Agency claims the city spent outside of FEMA's spending guidelines. "Let's formalize that (committee) and (investigate) it publicly." Nearly half of the money was spent on overtime payments to police officers - $100,000 of which went to three officers. Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio has encouraged the council to investigate the issue in order to dole out appropriate administrative discipline. Vega said the ad hoc committee would focus on policy and procedures, which he said is at the heart of FEMA's complaints. "If it was this (current) administration," Vega said, he would be inclined to establish a formal council committee with subpoena powers. "But this was two mayors ago." During the council debate Fulop suggested some of his colleagues were reluctant to investigate since some of the police officers involved worked on their campaigns. After the meeting Fulop singled out Lt. Edgar Martinez, who has campaigned for Vega. Martinez earned thousands of dollars in 9/11 overtime. "That has nothing to do with (my decision)," Vega responded. Martinez said Fulop had asked him to support him for higher office, but he turned him down. "I'd like to know what his motives are now," Martinez said. Nonplused, Fulop said he's never asked Martinez for his support and hasn't spoken to him in two years. "Maybe it was someone who looked like me," Fulop said.
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#1. To: robin, *libertarians* (#0)
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