No extra special tax abatements for 77 Hudson

The 420 condo units at 77 Hudson will have to do without special tax abatements the owner of the property, K. Hovnanian was seeking in Superior Court. Judge Mark Baber dismissed Hovnanian's suit brought against Jersey City which sought the same deal Crystal Point was offered which is an upping of tax abated years from 20 to 30.

These tax abatements (and mea culpa, Johnny has one) seemingly were given out along the waterfront like Johnny Appleseed was giving them away. While the abatements have helped in some cases to fill downtown buildings with residents and businesses, it does make one wonder how Crystal Point got their tax abatement raised from 20 to 30 years and 77 Hudson can't.

One wonders if the tax abatements near the Hudson River in Jersey City didn't start drying up about the same time the huge graft arrests happened last year and so many in the Jersey City government decided it was time to keep a closer eye on taxpayer monies.

Mayor Healy was against tax abatements before he was for them before he's against them

When the Mayor was running for his first term he was against tax abatements. They were mere giveaways to the rich and powerful. Once he became mayor he passed them out like a Jersey City Johnny Appleseed, they were oh so necessary and good for the city despite the blow to the tax base (and a mea culpa, Johnny is moving himself and the Jersey City Desk offices to a downtown tax abated building next week) and woe be to those who dared call him on it. Now, after a good portion of the Jersey City government has been cuffed and booked on public graft charges, suddenly da Mayor says tax abatements are on a case by case basis.

Ya follow?

Whereas Healy told Crystal Point's Fisher Development Associates in June "come and get you some tax abatement loving" he's now telling K. Hovnanian owner of 77 Hudson "hard cheese."

Funny isn't it? Healy claims one building is done for the most part and doesn't need an abatement while the other is still being worked on so an abatement is necessary.

Uh huh, we think the fact that so many went to city employees were exposed as crooks, and the fact the vultures are circling the mayor might just account for his newfound need to protect tax monies.

Suuuuuure there was no connection between the contribution to Team Healy's campaign and the tax abatement request

Who are we to question the motives or sheer goodness of Crystal Point, a waterfront condo tower and their managing member Brian K. Fisher and his attorney James McCann? According to McCann, the fact he donated $3500 and Fisher donated $4000 to 'Team Healy' on the very same day McCann went before the city council requesting a sweeter tax abatement.

Of COURSE it was a coincidence. Of course there is no history in Jersey City or Hudson County of anyone getting favors or payoffs. The FBI didn't just bust seemingly half the city government here on bribery charges. Merely a mirage.

Suuuuuuure there was no connection. You have the developers word on that.

Dear Jersey City Council, don't you dare allow luxury condo developer to reduce payments

Fisher Development Associates, owners of Crystal Point condos, luxury units on the Hudson River want to amend their payments to our fair city because times are HARD for them and they've only been able to sell 24 out of the 269 condos they built.

Know what Fisher Development Associates? Hard cheese. It's called the cost of, and risk of doing business. If the Jersey City Council allows you to change your PILOT agreement (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) then everyone who is experiencing hard times in these overall challenging economic times will want and expect a break. Shoot, if John Q. Public can't get tax breaks now, why should big deal condo developers get breaks. Here is what the developers want to get from Council:

A change in the PILOT agreement from 20 to 30 years and reduce the percentage of annual gross revenue paid from 16 to 11 percent for the first five years, with 13 percent payments for the next five years, and 16 percent payments for the final 20 years.

You're kidding right? Do you realize how much this would cost the taxpayers of Jersey City? Al Cameron, deputy director of the city's Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce has it right and is on the side of sound economics when he said the request should be rejected. Downtown Councilman Steve Fulop agrees, it's simply a way to shift Fisher Development's responsibilities onto the taxpayer.

The hell with this request. You pays your money and you takes your chances. Little guys never get breaks like this from the City Council, no way should a big deal developer, who can withstand the economic hit even better then the average homeowner get this request approved.

Council, we're taking names on this vote, just saying....