Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Viola Richardson, you've always been better than this racism charge

We here at the Jersey City Desk have a lot of respect for Viola Richardson. She gives a lot of her time and effort to help improve Jersey City. Yes we're sure some will disagree with her on certain topics or the way she has voted on them, that's politics, we don't always agree but we come to an understanding. Richardson has long served the city which is why her comment about Jersey City council members questioning the process and the money to be handed out by the JCIA for the Director's contract saying it was "bordering on racism" as very disappointing.

A little backstory from the Jersey Journal:

JCIA commissioners last Tuesday awarded a new five-year contract to the agency’s executive director, Oren K. Dabney. The new contract came with a 4.8 percent pay raise and a guarantee that he would be paid his salary and receive benefits for the term of his contract even if the agency is dissolved.

Four Jersey City council members Steven Fulop, Rolando Lavarro, Nidia Lopez, and David Donnelly called last week for the seven JCIA commissioners who signed off on the contract to resign and for the state attorney general to investigate the contract.

Claiming racism over hard questions by an elected group trying to ensure money this city has precious little of is money well spent is NOT racism. Sorry Viola, it's simply not.

As Steve Fulop said, they are trying to get a review of all six autonomous agencies, not just the JCIA.

Please, we have big issues to solve in Jersey City, Viola Richardson has always been there for her constituents and works hard for them. We just feel a cry of racism here is misguided. Please save such claims for when racism really does rear it's nasty head so it can then be properly attacked.

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