Ward F councilwoman Viola Richardson is proposing that city council positions become full time jobs here in Jersey City. Her proposal would take effect in 2013 and if passed by the council would bump the pay grade up damn near 70K a year.
Why would we as a city need this? The city council will never agree to give up their other jobs on the gravytrain (Richardson already hauls in 90K a year as program monitor for the county jail, Bill Gaughan is chief of staff for County Executive Tom DeGise and makes almost 126K) so why should we reward them with pay for two full time jobs we the taxpayers of Hudson County and Jersey City will end up paying for?
Steve Fulop, who has an interest in full time city council members PROVIDED they give up other city and county civil jobs told Richardson this at last night's meeting:
"I think is being out of touch a little bit with what's going on."
Her response?
"Don't tell me it's out of touch, it's for 2013."
What the hell does that mean? It's not out of touch because this idiocy is proposed for 2013? Sorry Viola, once again you make no sense.
Now, we've had our fair share of fun with Mayor Jerramiah Healy but on this topic, he's right. His office said not only does the city not have the resources to pay the extra roughly 500K in salary but in making the city council positions full time is would preclude those with full time jobs from serving, every citizen's right. Well said Mr. Healy.
Richardson's plan fails on three fronts, citizen participation, funding, and the fact she and others will non commit to giving up taxpayer funded jobs they already have.
It also sounds like somebody wants their job to turn full time before the state of New Jersey cuts the pension money for part time government employees.
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