Our final score: Fulop 7, Independents 2, Healy 0

Maybe that's why Beth Mason over in Hoboken attempted a clumsy backtrack and threw a pittance of cash and prizes towards His Excellency Steve Fulop a few days ago. She could see what was coming.

As we said last night the last Healy backers are gone. With the exception of Ward C, where Healy-then-Fulop ticket member Nidia Lopez lost to Rich Boggiano, and in Ward D where Michael Yun dusted Healy supporter Sean Connors (he once called Steve Fulop "un-American") Team Fulop won every ward. Fulop's at-large candidates, Joyce Watterman, Daniel Rivera and Rolando Lavarro ended the council career of Viola Richardson and defeated Sean Connelly. In Ward A Frank Gajewski, part of the Fulop team, bested former superintendent of schools Charles Epps (Those girls are evil). Ward F is stuck with the unfortunate wordsmithing of Diane Coleman. Ward B wasn't even close with Khemraj “Chico” Ramchal defeating Esther Wintner.

So there you go. Things are going to look a lot different July 2nd after the hangovers subside. Certainly Fulop will get just about anything he asks for. On paper (or computer screen) that looks and sounds great. But this IS Jersey City and of course anything is possible. We think Fulop will get a honeymoon but what length we can't say. We do think the first two or three initiatives and whether they are divisive or common-sense fixes will help set the honeymoon timeline. There's a huge budget mess right off the hop, just like a stinking fish left by Healy in Fulop's chair June 30 on his way out the door.

It's Jersey City and anything is possible.

So, who was the biggest loser tonight?

We have an idea.

Jersey City raised the Irish flag over city hall yesterday

The mayor, city council, some interested rubberneckers, parade nominees and of course Grand Marshall John M. Burns Jr. were on hand for the flag raising. Mayor Healy said some nice words.

And nobody got arrested, nobody went to jail and nobody puked. That's Jersey City refinement right there, unlike what you might find say elsewhere in Hudson County.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorses Jerramiah Healy

In a high profile if not expected endorsement, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has endorsed Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy in his re-election bid. Said Mayor Mike:

“Mayor Healy has been an excellent partner in the effort to eliminate the scourge of illegal guns and he has been a thoughtful leader on economic development and environmental issues that are so important to our region,” Bloomberg said. “America needs mayors like Jerramiah Healy and he has earned another four years to keep the progress going in Jersey City.”

Healy is a founding member on Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns lobbying organization.

So, it's a big bright firework that lights up the news cycle for a night or two but it remains to be seen if it can start tipping the scales in this race.

Just a stray thought. Come later this year the cross Hudson mayors could be Steve Fulop and Countess Chocula. It's been Healy n Bloomie forever.

Jersey City to get 54 miles of new bike lanes

Saying he was taking a great idea being used in other locales and inspired by the city's youth movement Mayor Jerramiah Healy late last week said some 54.7 miles of new bike lanes were coming to our fair city.

“There’s a new movement,” he said. “It’s a new goal and we thank a lot of our new people who have come to Jersey City in the last 10 to 15 years and their youth and their energy and their ideas. We know they’ve done it in Newark and it’s being done in Hoboken and we’re going to do it here in Jersey City.”

The 54.7 miles of designated bike paths will include 35.2 miles of bike lanes and 19.5 miles of shared lanes marked with “sharrows” arrows (no doubt where most of the accidents will happen but we digress).

A great idea, we do wonder why it took looking at the success of other cities' bike lanes, but it is more important Jersey City (recently voted a top walking city in the USA) provides to the non-car/truck environmentally responsible commute with those wishing to enjoy a more environmentally friendly commute. Healy also said local businesses would get a break on buying bike racks for their stores.

Everyone seems to be on board thus far with glowing reviews for the idea especially from the State Department of Transportation:

“The bike lane and bike sharrow program is essential, not only for the city but for the state,” said Sheree Davis, of the state Department of Transportation. “We commend Jersey City for actually implementing this and putting their money where their mouth is.”

An important article you the Jersey City resident should read

Augustin Torres, the political insider at the Jersey Journal has some very important information (even if the city isn't giving any) on where Jersey City went wrong in their storm response (which believe it or not continues to this day) and how response times can be vastly improved next time something serious hits our fair city. Also of note and very juicy that maybe, just maybe, Steve Fulop might not be running against Mayor Healy come May. Torres thinks one might just drop out of the running. But you won't get the answer as to whom from Johnny, you'll just have to read it here yourself.

Fire at Jersey City Hall this morning

Jennifer Weiss at the Jersey City Independent is reporting that the bevy sirens you heard shortly after 9 am were headed to Jersey City Hall where a small fire in the basement. She writes that Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who was outside talking to firefighters, suggested it might be an electrical fire. Arson investigators are also on the scene.

Look for the union label...

Who remembers those old ads?

Well beginning anew any developer working on a building in Jersey City that gets a five-year or longer tax abatement must hire union workers. Supported by Mayor Healy and voted out of council on a 6-3 vote, the ordinance is now in effect. Voting for the measure were David Donnelly, Steve Fulop, Rolando Lavarro, Nidia Lopez, Michele Massey and Viola Richardson. Voting against were Peter Brennan, Bill Gaughan and Michael Sottolano.

Opposing the plan were the developers who represent The Beacon who felt the plan was redundant to state laws already on the books. Not so said Mayor Healy who said developers had been finding loopholes in the legislation.

“We believe union labor builds best,” Healy said in a statement, adding the measure approved this week by the council “closes any loopholes that developers may have tried to use to circumvent”

Jersey City Council -- FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!

It's become like a schoolyard over at 280 Grove St. A couple City Council members, Nidia Lopez (formerly in Mayor Healy's back pocket when first elected now showing signs of independence) and Viola Richardson want to change how the President of the Jersey City Council is chosen and put Richardson in the catbird's seat. This has angered current President Peter Brennan (A useless crony of a city councilman if you ask us) who was elected for a four year stint in 2009, and Mayor Healy who has very few allies who will roll over for him anymore. No doubt Healy can see the writing on the wall with his comment directed towards Richardson and Lopez:

“premature . . . unjustified and illegal.” Healy then went into voting numbers from 2009 to state his case. Brennan took the high road in immediately trashing the Lopez idea and brought up her previous disturbing citizenship flap:

“Maybe she should go back to Florida, that’s a change maybe people might want” he said.

RAWR, the kitty claws are coming out aren't they? Should make for an interesting City Council meeting when this is brought up January 11th.

In our humble opinion ANYTHING That can take power away from Healy and Brennan, however ceremonial, should be undertaken immediately. This city needs smarter decisions than the ones being made because it would seem just about all the decisions made in Jersey City involve somebody's palm getting greased. Out with the old and in with the new.

Mayor Healy would rather spend your money on protection at a fundraiser than his

Mayor Healy held a fundraiser the other night at Puccini's Restaurant while two on-duty Jersey City policemen stood guard outside. Now the mayor's minions are claiming that government official do get shot and we need only look at Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to see this (albeit and isolated case we think). So then Mayor, since YOU are fundraising, and well since you haven't even announced you're running for re-election this is kind of a PRIVATE matter and in no way city related or tasked we sorta think the security detail should have been on YOUR dime. You're wasting our money so you can put money in your coffers for a race you may or may not run in? City Councilman Steve Fulop who IS running for Mayor in 2013 said this about the waste of taxpayer money:

“It is pathetic, as they know the city has a crime problem, and yet they take patrol officers from the busiest police district to watch over a political event,” Fulop said. “This is the type of judgment that explains why residents don’t feel safe”

Is this the biggest deal to ever hit this city? No. Does it show a complete lack of understanding on the Mayor's part about what everyone is going through financially? As per usual.

Just another day in HealyWorld®

A potpourri of newsiness this morning

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and former Police Chief Robert Troy are breathing a sigh of relief today as all federal counts against them were dropped from a lawsuit by JC police Lt. Valerie Montone, who claimed she was not promoted for supporting Lou Manzo for mayor

The United States Attorney General is looking into News Corp., Rupert Murdoch's sleazy outfit, for disgraceful if not outright illegal possible phone hacking of 9/11 victims and family members' mobile phones.

Sony is not above the law in New York City, being told to take down(?) sidewalk advertisements around their HQ at Madison between 55th and 56th St. You can advertise ANYWHERE in NYC but the sidewalk apparently.

And finally, as the Today Show Australia host says near the end of this piece "Well that didn't end well did it?"

Mariano Vega sentenced to 30 months in prison -- The usual suspects come to his defense

Sometimes in Jersey City it's just not enough to plead guilty to crimes of confidence. See, like Mariano Vega you can be convicted of a felony, sentenced to 30 months in federal prison (what was it the movie Office Space called those again?) for being on the take from your city job afforded you by the VOTERS and STILL there is the same little cabal of Jersey City elected officials who think you got a raw deal (project much guys?). Here are some of the comments from certain elected officials in our fair city in Vega's sentence with Johnny's commentary after:

"He was a respected man in the community, all the years of service in the community -- I think that should have meant something." -- Peter Brennan (Yeah Peter, it DID mean something, it means he got to hang onto his city council job refusing to give it up even after being indicted. It probably also kept him from a bigger yet still well deserved sentence)

"I just feel badly that he lost judgment on this issue. He's a hard-working family man, and my heart goes out to his family." --Bill Gaughan (If by hard working you mean trying to not get caught taking bribes then yes, he worked very hard)

"We wish him and his family the best and we're hopeful he can now move on with his life in a positive direction" -- Mayor Jerramiah Healy (Yes, we hope he can move on to another community, one he didn't steal from and live out his days not disgracing Jersey City one more day)

Face it, when you're willing to throw everything away for 30K you're nothing but an elected hooker.

It's time for Jersey City's favorite game show -- Jerramiah Healy State of the City BINGO!

That's right Jersey City citizens, Hizzoner Jerramiah Healy will deliver his state of the city address tonight (6 pm 280 Grove St.) and it's time to play State of the City BINGO!

First off, good luck getting into the address as Mayor Healy likes to pack these things with his die hard supporters (aka dead-enders) and there's not a lot of room for John Q. Public. But should you get in, bring your Bingo scorecard and if you win just stand up and yell BINGO!

We're trusting you know the rules of bingo. If Da Mayor says any of the words listed under the corresponding letter, mark your cards.

B
Austerity
Embankment
New York City
Leona Beldini
Budget

I
Mariano Vega
Campaign
Police
Blueprint
Journal Square

N
Fire Department
Property taxes
Hoboken
Blue Ribbon
Jersey City

G
Stable
Abatement(s)
Asset sale
Good News
Retire(ing-ment)

O
Corruption
Spectra Energy (Gas pipeline)
Election
City Council
Crime

OK, if you get BINGO, stand up and yell it. If you manage to get it on video somehow and we can post it to YouTube Johnny will be happy to buy you dinner at the Light Horse Tavern. A dinner at the Light Horse? Now that's a Bingo.