Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
"You're Kidding:" NJ Shocked At Being Least Corrupt State
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 19, 2012
Modified Mar 19, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 19, 2012
Modified Mar 19, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Believe it or not, we now live in an age when New Jersey politics is less corrupt than New York politics. A new report by the Center for Public Integrity—created with Global Integrity and Public Radio International—found that NJ is now the closest thing America has to a shining beacon on accountability and corruption. As for us? It seems our public offices are packed to the brim with liars, cheaters, users and abusers. And we can't just blame Pedro Espada Jr. for that.
Each state was graded based on a "data-driven assessment on transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption mechanisms." Citing a February report released by the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs, NY had a grand total of 2,522 federal public corruption convictions from 1976 to 2010, the most in the country. Between that, the lack of campaign finance oversight, and Governor Andrew Cuomo stacking the Joint Commission on Public Ethics with political allies, a lack of budget transparency, NY was graded D (eight states failed overall). And yes: the report literally name-checked Espada.
On the other hand, it seems that NJ's high-profile corruption cases of the past have actually benefited them now, giving them the highest rating of B+, which even the report acknowledges is "a seemingly stunning ranking." “Legislators will react to a corruption scandal, and work to get political cover by enacting reform,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, vice president for state operations at the nonprofit advocacy group Common Cause. Now, NJ has extensive financial disclosure requirements for the governor, a transparently-run pension fund, and an aggressive ethics enforcement agency.
"It may seem counterintuitive that the land of the Sopranos topped our survey," said Randy Barrett, part of one of the three collaborators in the State Integrity Investigation. New Jersey residents are still wrapping their head around this one: "You’re kidding," Marc Mappen, author of the book "There’s More to New Jersey Than The Sopranos" and a longtime chronicler of Garden State corruption, told the Star-Ledger. "It’s nice to know we’re not as corrupt as people think. New Jersey has some spectacular examples of corruption in its history, but studies have painted a better picture."
Tagged
accountability
corruption
new jersey
nj
transparency
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY's housing crisis is on the ballot. Here's what the candidates say they'll do about it.
Housing costs are top of mind for many voters across New York.
By
David Brand
Published Oct 29, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway is a haven for reckless driving. Mamdani isn't allowed to fix it.
City data shows seven people have been killed and 74 were seriously injured in crashes along the street over the last five years.
By
Stephen Nessen
News
Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway is a haven for reckless driving. Mamdani isn't allowed to fix it.
City data shows seven people have been killed and 74 were seriously injured in crashes along the street over the last five years.
By
Stephen Nessen
Man killed in police-involved shooting in Moonachie, NJ
By
Kaya Laterman
Queens man took girlfriend’s body to beach in a wagon, where it remained for 5 days
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends NYC racial equity leader's term after Council pushes back on replacement
By
Elizabeth Kim
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .