Kennedy vs Nixon this is not...

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has decided to elevate his office and place it squarely into the realm of Trenton. Fulop who is bursting at the seams to bring a giant mostly unwanted casino that'll bring the usual bad actors to the contracting game tables and of course more traffic and more crime while well-connected individuals that might donate to a Fulop run for Governor run get all the concessions and the city gets shit but for the infrastructure bill, has decided he's challenging state senate leader Steve Sweeney to a debate over the future of casinos in North Jersey.

While the proper idea of a debate might be two STATEWIDE assembly figures and not a mayor interjecting himself into the process, Fulop's BFF Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto would be the logical choice here, Fulop challenged Sweeney to a debate on NJTV’s On the Record with Michael Aron anyway. That's just sad. His petulance is showing again:

“In recent media reports, Senate President Sweeney inserted my name into the discussion regarding supposed obstacles that he alleges that I inserted for political reasons,” Fulop said in a statement.

Ooooh, a statement. You didn't say that to On The Record? Oh, and by the way, Sweeney's not wrong. EVERYTHING you do now has a political angle to it. Apparently former ironworkers don't take to mayors meddling in state business:

In response, Sweeney spokesman Richard McGrath said, “The Senate President doesn’t have the time to engage in manufactured theatrics with Mr. Fulop, who once again is attempting to insert himself into the legislative process.”

More meddling than a Scooby Doo episode friends. Johnny used to call Councilman Fulop and Mayor Healy the Jersey City version of Itchy and Scratchy but this Sweeney vs. Fulop preening might get even funnier.

Extra! Extra! Itchy and Scratchy fight it out while Jerry Walker and Abdul Malik look on in disgust

Lincoln High was the site of yesterday's two hour debate between Jersey City mayoral hopefuls Jerry Walker, Abdul Malik, city councilman Itchy and Mayor Scratchy.

Sure we could tell you how Healy and Fulop hogged the lion's share of the time and questions, sure Jersey Journal columnist Earl Morgan sounded out of touch again, sure we could tell you about charges of corruption and the fact Itchy said of Leona Beldini it was a shame that Mayor Scratchy let "grandma" take the fall. Sure we could tell you all these things but wouldn't you rather read about it here and then follow-up in the snarky comments section? Of course you would.

Mayor Healy's red light cameras have brought in so much munny, there's big raises for his donors!

We understand attrition and taking on more responsibilities at work and not getting a dime more in your pocket. It happens far too often in these United States. People around you leave and hiring people is bad for the bottom line so you now get to do their jobs too. If you complain someone will be adding your workload tomorrow.

That being said we're not against all these raises. We're questioning the ones that were given to donors. Jersey City raised the pay of 81 city workers. Some work hard, some don't. Any of you want to pile in here and say you all do Johnny will release some pictures of city workers sleeping and screwing around. Better hope you're not one. A lot of these people were deserving because their supervisors said so. They were then reviewed higher up the line. That's good enough for us.

Now, to the donors and the very large % of the raises. What do YOU get dear reader? 2%, 3% in a good year maybe 5% if you're a rockstar. Terrence T. McDonald tell us more:

CFO Donna Mauer, whose 6 percent increase boosts her salary to $100,299; Personnel Director Darlene Pharmes, who now makes $100,499 after a 10 percent hike; Risk Manager Peter Soriero, who received a 5 percent hike that gives him a $96,609 salary; and Cultural Affairs Director Maryanne Kelleher, who now makes $87,488 thanks to a 7 percent raise.

Got that? Ok.

Of the four above officials, three donated to Healy’s re-election campaign, according to documents filed with state election officials. On Dec. 6 – the date of a major Healy fundraiser at Casino in the Park that the mayor’s allies claim brought in more than $100,000 – Kelleher and Pharnes each donated $150 and Soriero donated $500.

Now, you the voter make up your own mind but do it quickly because here come Itchy and Scratchy to tell their sides:


“Mayor Healy is attempting to buy this election, compliments of middle-class Jersey City taxpayers,” -- Steve Fulop

“Allegations by Councilman Fulop that these raises were for any reason other than job performance denigrates each of these hardworking public employees.” -- Mayor Healy

“At the end of the day a mayor has to be responsible, and buying an election that will be paid for by property tax payers is wrong" -- Steve Fulop