Business as usual

Trenton-November 29, 2007- The NJ Senate, in a vote that was not on the published calender, unanimously confirmed Joseph Doria as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.

The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) was created to provide administrative guidance, financial support and technical assistance to local governments, community development organizations, businesses and individuals to improve the quality of life in New Jersey. DCA offers a wide range of programs and services that respond to issues of public concern including fire and building safety, housing production, community planning and development, and local government management and finance.

According to a federal lawsuit filed in late October, Doria, the former Mayor of Bayonne, was a party to corruption, ticket-fixing and other official misconduct in the Bayonne Parking Authority. In addition to his job as mayor, Doria is a former the Speaker of the State Assembly, and State Senator. He resigned from the Senate and the Bayonne Mayoralty in September in order to accept Governor Corzine’s appointment as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). He has been serving as Acting Commission of DCA since October 9. His nomination passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously on November 8.

A state grand jury investigation into the Bayonne Parking Authority is ongoing.