We now live in the gilded age of Jerramiah Healy's third term...with murals

The old cuss must be laughing this morning. Hell, he's probably been laughing and wringing his hands at Steve Fulop ever since he took over, carrying out his third full term, only with murals.

The tax abatements tossed around just to get the quick cash to keep tax increases (for now) low or minimal continue at a fast pace, just like they were under Healy. Only now we have some context on these developer giveaways looking long term from the New Jersey State Comptroller:

Here the report again points a finger at Jersey City, noting that the Hudson River waterfront has “frequently” been identified as an area where abatements are no longer needed, yet continue to be granted. It goes on to state that many municipalities, including Jersey City, have granted a large number of abatements for market-rate housing although this may not be the best use of the tool. Instead, the report suggests that “identified areas of deficiency,” such as industrial, large commercial retail, small retail, low-income residential, or other sectors “should drive the focus of abatements.”

As a further method of enhancing what it calls a “perfunctory and limited” process for reviewing and granting abatements, the report recommends that areas designated as “in need of redevelopment” — the areas where abatements are permitted — should be regularly reviewed and redesignated as time goes on and circumstances change. The report notes that in areas where abatements and other measures have successfully been used to spur development, “tax incentives should no longer be necessary.”

Remember when Councilman Steve Fulop was against these ridiculous abatements and giveaways? Those were the days huh?

To date Jersey City, according to the state comptroller, has left over 2 BILLION dollars out of taxable rolls. Billion with a 'B'. Steve Fulop is accelerating Healy's abatements on any empty lot he can find ensuring a downward spiral when the first of Healy's abatements come due now within ten years. Unfortunately we also have a city council willing to carry out Healy's third term with their continued backing, no matter the topic, of Fulop. They probably don't even know it and will get mad when Johnny points out they are enabling the new Healy Administration.

Healy had no real interest in the schools as his candidates always lost and Fulop is now the same way after his candidates had their asses handed to them. Kind of hard for Fulop acolytes to cry about how they need to give all these abatements because of Abbott money for failing schools that they somehow miss the entire idea behind it. Sure they mention the causes but they do nothing about it. Both Fulop and Healy share pretty much equal blame on Jersey City schools. Abatements are doing nothing but addicting you to the Abbott payouts and killing JC's long-term finances.

Like Healy, Fulop always seems to be chasing crime trends and new ways of dealing with it which never seem to catch up to anything. They promote big crime aggregators and cameras and how they are moving to be proactive yet are always playing catch-up. At least Healy ran the JCPD without the unnecessary drama Fulop insists on injecting into it. Still, we're in a zero-sum game between the two mayors on crime.

Headcount remains high in Jersey City when it comes to government jobs. We also now have headcount with people doing half-measures perhaps to prep the mayor for a run for governor. We as taxpayers continue to NOT get the best out of our city government.

Spending continues to go waaaay up and with tax abatements coming due in the next ten years this is a death spiral for a city economy and we're looking at you Greenville, Journal Square and The Heights. Monies promised once again dry up and things just sit and sit, just like they always did with Healy. Oh, if we only had a few bucks we could spare on you Greenville but, alas, downtown developer gotta get paid.

Much like Healy, City departments under Fulop run amok. While Fulop gets points for dissolving the JCIA he still fails at open government like Healy did. Like Healy with Mariano Vega, Fulop has a rogue City Councilperson in dutch with law enforcement he refuses to deal with because he's a solid vote for the mayor.

City planning is desperately need of change and sits bereft of focus and anything that isn't bending to business interests and continues to falter. Neither Healy not Fulop who could both have make the necessary changes at City Planning, continue to let tax payers down with a "City Planning" department that constantly caves to developers and business interests perhaps just to get a belly rub.

So, on we go with Jerramiah Healy's third term...only with murals