The Trenton Times published the following article on July 2, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Senate President Sweeney calls for Trenton Mayor Tony Mack to step down

By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton 
on July 02, 2013 at 2:59 PM, updated July 02, 2013 at 3:05 PM

TRENTON — State Senate President Stephen Sweeney is calling for Trenton Mayor Tony Mack to step down, saying that the federally indicted mayor is blocking the troubled capital city from moving forward.

“I personally think he is not benefitting the city,” Sweeney said this afternoon during an editorial board meeting with The Times.

“When you are not getting the job done, that is when you have to look at whether you stay and serve,” he said. “He’s not making a difference now.”

Mack’s trial on federal corruption charges is expected to begin in January, but Sweeney said the six-count indictment is not the reason he thinks the first-term mayor should quit. Sweeney said state officials do not trust Mack and have refused to work with his administration.

“Obviously no one is going to listen to Tony,” he said. “Right now you are basically in a time warp, you are frozen in time, until someone comes in that the state is going to trust that every dollar that is going to be spent is the way they said it is going to be spent.”

The charges against Mack include bribery, extortion and mail and wire fraud. He allegedly collected bribes from the developer of a proposed downtown parking garage project who turned out to be an FBI informant. Mack will be tried alongside his alleged co-conspirators, his brother Ralphiel Mack and Joseph “Jo Jo” Giorgianni.

“I believe that you are innocent until being proved guilty,” Sweeney said. “I really do believe that.”

Mack did not immediately return messages requesting comment.

Mack and his attorney have previously said the mayor would not step down from office before his trial.

But Sweeney said under Mack’s leadership, the city government has become “dysfunctional” and “ineffective.”

“Trenton right now is paralyzed and unfortunately is going to stay that way as long as his administration is in place,” he said.

Sweeney said legislators wants to help Trenton, but need a good, visionary leader to explain the community’s needs so they can help the city achieve its goals.

The senate president said he hoped that whoever succeeds Mack is more trustworthy, because state officials want to help the city enhance its historical assets, encourage economic development and reduce crime so residents and visitors feel safe.

Trenton is suffering through a crime wave, with 19 homicides so far this year, but Sweeney pointed to places like Jersey City and Newark where state aid has helped to quell violence.

“There is a lot of tech and there are a whole bunch of things that the state could do and they need to do, but they aren’t doing anything right now — that I can see,” he said.

Sweeney acknowledged that the State Police have repeatedly sent in teams of officers to buttress the city’s depleted police force, but said the state could provide more sustained and sweeping law enforcement support.

Sweeney joins a list of local and state officials who have called for Mack to step down, including Gov. Chris Christie.

Contact Jenna Pizzi at jpizzi@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5717.