NCJ Number
65377
Date Published
1971
Length
239 pages
Annotation
THE STORY OF THE BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION SCANDAL INVOLVING JAMES L. MARCUS, NEW YORK CITY'S COMMISSIONER OF WATER SUPPLY, GAS, AND ELECTRICITY DURING 1966 AND MOST OF 1967 IS TOLD.
Abstract
THE BOOK IS DESIGNED TO EXPOSE THE MECHANICS OF CORRUPTION AND THE MANEUVERINGS OF CORRUPTERS IN ORDER TO AID UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CITIES WORK OR DO NOT WORK TODAY. BASED LARGELY ON TRANSCRIPTS OF THE TRIALS OF MARCUS AND THE OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE SCANDAL, THE BOOK DESCRIBES THE BACKGROUNDS AND INTERACTIONS OF THE MAIN FIGURES INVOLVED PRIOR TO AND DURING THE SCANDALS. DIALOGUES ARE RECONSTRUCTED FROM THESE TRANSCRIPTS. THE INITIAL ILLEGAL ACTION BY MARCUS IN CONNECTION WITH HIS OFFICIAL ROLE WAS ARRANGING FOR AND ACCEPTING A BRIBE IN CONNECTION WITH A CONTRACT FOR DRAINING AND CLEANING THE JEROME PARK RESERVIOR. LATER SCANDALS INVOLVED THE CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY. PERSONS HAVING A HAND DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN THE CORRUPTION INCLUDED MARCUS, SOME OF HIS PERSONAL FRIENDS, RACKETEERS, BUSINESSMEN, AND POLITICIANS. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)