And once again.....it rears it's ugly Head

[Guest Studies and Observations]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/f...e_issued_f.html

Federal investigators have subpoenaed documents from the Senate Democratic Office and Pennsauken Township seeking records and communications concerning the developer of two failed Camden County redevelopment projects.

The probe is focusing on Cherokee Investment Partners of Raleigh, N.C., according to two officials with knowledge of the subpeonas. The firm was also behind the defunct plan to build homes and a golf course atop landfills in the Meadowlands.

Derek Roseman, spokesman for the Senate Majority Office, today confirmed his office received a subpoena Thursday. "We will fully comply," Roseman said. He declined further comment.

Pennsauken Administrator Ed Grochowski said the township received a federal subpoena a week ago seeking records on the defunct Petty’s Island redevelopment project and Cherokee, its developer. Grochowski said today he clarified for federal investigators that Petty’s Island was just one piece of the former waterfront redevelopment project, and promised to comply with their request. "We are assembling all sorts of documents and sending them to Newark,’’ he said.

Cherokee proposed $2 billion worth of development on Petty’s Island on the Delaware River in Pennsauken. The oil firm Citgo eventually donated the island, which was used for fuel storage, to New Jersey last year after the developer pulled out.

Cherokee also was spearheading the redevelopment of the Cramer Hill development in the city of Camden. Cherokee proposed a $1.2 billion plan centered around a golf course, which would replace an unused municipal landfill, according to Camden After the Fall, a book about development in the city. But the community eventually mounted fierce resistance to the plan, especially because 1,200 families would need to be replaced.

The city approved Cherokee’s plan but it eventually was abandoned. Now a newer, cheaper plan is currently in the works. Camden spokesman Robert Corrales said that the city also received a subpoena from federal investigators, but had no further details. "All I can do is just confirm it," he said.

Cherokee also was behind the failed EnCap redevelopment for homes and a golf course over Meadowlands landfills. Federal authorities are already probing the EnCap project and issued subpoenas to the governor’s office last year.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman declined to comment. As a former attorney for Cherokee in the EnCap project, Fishman has recused himself in any investigation that may involve a client.

Corruption???? Out of EnCap??? Nahhh never happen!!!!!!!!