Johnny's Jersey City Stories Volume 1: They Did What Now?

Johnny's going to be using his remaining time in Jersey City to spin some yarns, tell some tales out of school and favor you with things he's heard on his way out the door to Oscoda.

Today's Jersey City Story is back when, in fall 2008 Johnny and Mrs. Johnny were getting ready to move east. Mrs. Johnny had been moving up the ranks at the old Borders Books & Music and around 2007 she was named Director of Borders' digital strategy. She could pretty plainly and clearly see that above her position, NOBODY at Borders had any good idea about what a digital strategy was, or how one was going to be implemented. Mrs. Johnny could clearly see the Titanic heading for the iceberg in Ann Arbor. So, when Amazon's digital audio book company, Audible headhunted her, it as an easy choice to leave. Within a year Borders was gone.

Enough backstory, now it was time to find a place out east to live. Since we hadn't yet made our "fortune" as it were, NYC was out of the price range. The search was on and Johnny had read all kinds of awful and bad things about Newark, back then when it was known as the 'home of carjacking' Johnny wasn't going to choose Newark, right or wrong. He certainly wasn't going to live in a town Bugs Bunny made fun of so Hoboken was out. So, Johnny started reading up on Jersey City.

The very first thing Johnny laid eyes on about the town he was going to call home? A Star-Ledger article on Ward C Councilman Steven Lipski, peeing on concert-goers in Washington D.C.. Yep, the first thing he saw was an article by Carly Rothman on the whole disgraceful sordid affair. That's quite a first thing to see. But the article went on: The Mayor there does what now? The mayor gets drunk and nekkid and fights police? Wow.

What the fuck is in the water in this Jersey City?

But the article still had more. In trying to play off the urination, one Willie Flood didn't sound like she wanted to deal with it at all saying she'd need more information. OK, so the police report and arrest documents weren't enough. OK, this is how it is in Jersey City.

It was there, and then at that moment Johnny first saw the name Councilman Steve Fulop. Fulop, interviewed for the article said actions like those of Healy and Lipski were embarrassing would lead investors to "question the leadership" of Jersey City.

"It is very humiliating," he said.

Wow, Johnny thought, this Steve Fulop seems like an honest guy who would always stand up for taxpayers and the good people of this new town.

Yikes.

So, here you go, Johnny's first impressions of learning about his new home-to-be.

24 hours later, law firm McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter is out

Now, if Johnny were Donald Trump he'd jump up and down and scream he had some hand in this but Johnny's a pragmatist, not an egomaniac, there's a difference. The Jersey City Desk had some great numbers as far as how many people read our story but we also realize other factors were at work too.

The important thing is 280 Grove St. did get a free civics lesson and to wit Mayor Fulop got bit by a law he championed so everyone got a chance to get their learn on over this mess.

More sloppy sloppy sloppy out of city hall though.

The Fulop Flip-Flop

Pull up a chair boys and girls, this story is juicy, it's long, and it will show you that when Mayor Steve Fulop shows up for the ribbon cutting at 110 First St. Thursday morning will complete his descent into just another all about himself say anything politician.

To understand how utterly distasteful it will be Thursday morning when the Jersey City Mayor shows up to gladhand building owner Lloyd Goldman, BLDG and "The One" employees, (and we told you he'd sink to this) you have to know the whole story. An arts building used to stand on the property at 110 First St., The Art House. Artists would, as artists do, sleep there and make it an art community. Some 50-60 used the art space. This never sat well with Goldman who wanted the building at 111 First St. gone. The city under Mayor Healy sued Goldman. There are rumors online and still persist downtown Goldman sent goons to light fires to destroy the integrity of the building to get it condemned. Meanwhile the city actually stood up for the residents in PADNA and sued Goldman and won. Again and again the city won. Goldman would countersue and all the while the Jersey City fire department would be levying tens of millions of dollars in fines against Goldman. At some point an agreement was reached, with the help of convicted felon and then Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega, that forced the city to drop lawsuits and allow the Art House to be torn down and built over. Keep the idea in mind about the rumors of starting fires as you read later. Goldman agreed to 25 affordable units that once agreed upon told the city they didn't want poors living anywhere near them. So much so in fact Goldman's BLDG decided to pay into the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund to keep them away.

Wanna know who supported the city's positions, the residents of his ward and fought against Goldman's shady dealings? Councilman Steve Fulop. We'd like to share with you, before Mayor Fulop shows up tomorrow and overlooks the destroyed city park right behind him that BLDG and 110 First St. contractors destroyed, without permission, in March (Remember now about the rumors of setting fires and in general destroying things to circumvent laws and rules to get what they want when it comes to that city park next to their property) and his thoughts about all things 110 First St.:

At least one council member still objects. Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop said the agreement is “not a good deal,” and noted that city Tax Collector Maureen Cosgrove voted against it at the July 13 meeting of the city Tax Abatement Committee, which approved the new agreement with Goldman by a 5-1 vote. “This thing is flawed on many front,” Fulop said at this morning’s council caucus. “This is a bad deal.” Jersey Journal 

The deal needs approval from the City Council, and Steven Fulop, the councilman for that area, is strongly opposed to renegotiating the affordable housing component, which he said is the sole concession the city got from Mr. Goldman in 2006. "The most important thing for me is that the city over the last nine years has shown no backbone," Mr. Fulop said. "It's created stagnation in that Powerhouse Arts District." Wall Street Journal

“I didn’t vote for the initial [amendment] as I thought that was a bad deal,” said Fulop, who said he would “absolutely not” vote for it this time around, either. Jersey City Independent

Added Fulop, “This may appear wise today, but in the long term it’s going to be detrimental to the city.” Jersey City Independent

There are more but you get the idea. Steve Fulop was all about taking MORAL stands against Goldman trying to keep affordable units, stands against bad tax deals being passed onto taxpayers, and voting against Vega's not enforcing the JCFD imposed fines. He stood on his moral rock and time and time and time again came out against the plans for the existence of a 38 story building 110 First St. and how they were implemented.

Tomorrow he'll be giving that aforementioned gladhand to public enemy #1 in PADNA and parade around with him and act like best friends. Why? Why would someone do that? Just because he's mayor now or because he might want something from BLDG and Goldman in the future such as an endorsement for governor or money for his campaign. It's sad we have to ask that question. Why turn your back on something you were so set against Mr. Mayor? Johnny personally would have skipped this event (and yeah he's dropped paying clients for being dicks later on but that's just Johnny, he has morals). Can "The One" even get a certificate of occupancy? Last we heard Councilwoman Candice Osborne was holding that up until Goldman/BLDG/The One makes good on repairing the city park they set on fire destroyed.

So enjoy your speech about the booming downtown and how you're all about it but just remember Mr. Mayor, the building you're cutting the ribbon on was a Mayor Healy joint. 90% of the construction you'll point to going up downtown was approved and started under Mayor Healy.

Remember, you were fighting things like 110 First. St. back then. Not so much now, huh?

The boycott of 110 First St. by those who support the arts, love downtown, are sick of the city going to the highest bidders continues...

Fulop has the early lead

As of 8:30pm

Fulop 4,670
Healy 4,070
Walker 835
Malik 109

More here from the Healy campaign HQ.

The Jersey Journal has endorsed Councilman Steve Fulop for Jersey City mayor

The local paper of record has endorsed councilman Steve Fulop for Mayor in what really isn't much of a surprise. Mayor Healy just has too many things not working right in this city for the Journal to endorse him for another term. Said the Journal in endorsing Fulop:

Healy’s administration can be summed up by a stretch of Bergen Avenue, from Montgomery Street south. While one could argue that dealing with crime is difficult and the poor economy can be an impressive foe, there is no excuse for not providing basic services.

Taxpayers along this stretch have been clamoring for years for the city to pave the road and fix the curbs, only to be ignored. Potholes and bare patches are the norm along the forgotten avenue, a metaphor for older sections of the city. It is not the waterfront.

So voters, what say you? Does Healy deserve another term? Will you be voting for either Jerry Walker or Abdul Malik? Will the Jersey Journal endorsement be the tipping point? Tell us in comments.

Fulop up 12? Healy up 3? DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!

It's the first Saturday in May which should just be a national holiday with the Kentucky Derby and normally Cinco De Mayo being celebrated across this good land. People do watch the Kentucky Derby. It's pomp. It's fashion. More and more it's the celebrity watching. NBC devotes almost an entire week to it. It even has it's own official drink. While Cinco de Mayo doesn't have an official drink it does have lots and lots of celebratory drinks toasted in its name.

Every four years in Jersey City it means the candidates for mayor are in the home stretch. Normally jockeys don't hit each other with their crops either. If you really want some numbers and analysis on where this race is headed then Agustin C. Torres and his column in the Jersey Journal is required reading for you this morning. Is Fulop really up twelve points? Is Healy really up by three points? How about this nugget?

While Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise endorsed Mayor Jerramiah Healy's re-election bid, there are plenty of sources who say that county employees have been released from any bonds of "loyalty" and to act on their own.

All this and how Sen. Sandra Cunningham impacts the race is just a click away.

The final Jersey City mayoral debate might have seen a turning point

Mayor Healy was hot under the collar and went on about threatening litigation against Councilman Fulop because of the FBI ad. Why he keeps making the crime and graft sweep of 2009 a campaign issue (Fulop is doing a good enough job of that himself) is beyond us but yesterday did show a mayor who is angry, and who might just be feeling this race slipping away. Reports say Fulop scored points on Healy by mentioning the Healy campaign mailers and literature which Fulop said to laughter:

"Not even one mailer that had come from the mayor's (campaign) office has one thing about a vision for Jersey City. Each one has my image distorted and a picture of President Obama on the other side."

For his part in the debate, candidate Abdul Malik seemed pretty pissed off at the other two candidates (Jerry Walker was at a fundraiser):

"It's a dirty fight we have seen, and we are seeing it here," said Malik, who compared politicians to puppets. "Listen my friends, I am not political, I am not controlled by anyone, I don't have big money ... This is time to clean up our politics, and I am asking for your help to support me and we can do this together."

Mayor Healy? He was still threatening lawsuits:

"They are lies and slanderous and we will file a lawsuit."

We just think it would be kind of hard to sue someone using words Mayor Healy himself spoke on the FBI tape.

We're also going to throw in the candidates (all four) and their views on tax abatements for the downtown area from a couple days back. Valuable information to help you decide on May 14. Follow this link and hear and see (in living color) the candidates and their tax break opinions.

For the life of us, we can't understand why Mayor Healy wants Steve Fulop's latest ad taken down

You've seen the ad, it's the FBI video where our Mayor met with Solomon Dwek, Leona Beldini and other Healy friendlies at the Medical Center Luncheonette and thanked Dwek, the FBI informant, for the do-re-mi. It's the kind of ad a prosecutor might use as a closing argument.

Healy, who not two weeks ago said, “I should have gotten a gold medal for effective, honest, open government for that,” wants the ad off the air at all costs, lawsuits at 20 paces if need be.

ORLY?


Why are you sending the Fulop campaign a cease and desist letter? You Healy folk want the ad taken down that the Mayor says he should have won a gold medal for? You might want to double check because you can't do better than a gold medal, that's the best Jerry, the best! So why wouldn't the Healy campaign want more of this on teevee? Color us baffled.

We'd also like to take time out to call Fulop campaign spokesperson Bruno Tedeschi a real butt dumpling. Tedeschi told the media not only no to taking down the ad, but hell no, which would have been fine if he'd left it at that. He couldn't. He just had to try and get in one more dig which won him the title of Ser Butt Dumpling:

“Healy is at the center of the biggest political corruption scandal in New Jersey's history. From the selling of body parts of the dead in morgues to payoffs to politicians, it became a source of national embarrassment. What's stunning is how brazen Healy was then. “

Mr. Tedeschi, where EXACTLY does the issue of body parts being sold enter into Jersey City politics? Do you have some meeting on surveillance tape that Mayor Healy was in with someone talking about reselling kidneys to pay for his campaign? This was a very New York Jewish community issue, is NOT a Jersey City mayoral issue. You could have mentioned Peter Cammarano up in FuHo in that crime sweep. You chose not to. It was a lot more pertinent too. So we're still left wondering as to why you would stain Jersey City as part of something it had nothing to do with. Some of the comments that come out of the mouths of those around Councilman Fulop are truly insulting.

Jersey City firefighters, the mayoral endorsement and the anti-Fulop flyer

First things first, two firefighters unions have endorsed Mayor Healy for another term:

Dominick Marino, president of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, and Pete Nowak, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1064, praise Healy in a statement issued by the mayor’s re-election campaign.

“Mayor Healy shares our vision for a strong, secure Jersey City,” Nowak says in the statement. “We are proud to stand with President Marino and support Mayor Healy, because he always puts Jersey City first and has unwavering commitment to firefighters and the safety of all residents.”

So that's a good get for the Healy camp. Which for the Healy campaign segues poorly into the next portion of the story.

As the election gets tighter it hasn't brought out the best in some of our fair city's firefighters themselves. Posted in a handful of fire stations, a flyer, obtained by the Jersey Journal, was apparently trying to intimidate would-be Fulop voters:

The employees are backing Fulop “for their own personal gain,” reads the letter, which is unsigned and not on any official letterhead.

“This notification is to let all our members know who the sell-outs are in the department,” it reads. “They are all X-HEALY supporters now they want a favor from FULOP because they feel they were F*****. In one way or another.”

The letter, which claims Fulop plans to slash the department by 30 percent, ends with this note: “ALL 100% FACTUAL AND TRUE.”

Of course the usual HealyvFulop shitstorm broke out over this with the Fulop campaign blaming Healy, the Healy campaign noting they had nothing to do with it and pointing out the fire director took quick action to remind firefighters this is not to be tolerated. A right fine scolding it was.

Johnny gets the last word on this because he's just in that kind of mood.

The candidates for mayor and city council will be everywhere this week

There are many many events planned this week not just between those sparring for the mayorship, but city council candidates will also lock horns in debates going on this week. NJ.com has all the times, persons attending and locales, all you need to do be become a more informed voter is to follow this link.

The election is less than one month away, time to pay attention peeps.

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.

Healy and Fulop go toe to toe, mano y mano, one on one...

And this is the part where Johnny dissects some of what was discussed.

Something has been eating at Johnny since he read the debate stories where Councilman Fulop challenged our Mayor because so many of his closest political allies, his deputy mayor (and campaign treasurer) and others who did business with Mayor Healy (how are those pancakes at the Brownstone Diner tasting now?) are in jail, have killed themselves or resigned in disgrace. Mayor Healy's actual response on his meeting that day with Solomon Dwek, Leona Beldini and others:

“I should have gotten a gold medal for effective, honest, open government for that,” he said.

That wasn't The Onion making up that quote, no it was Mayor Healy himself.

You don't get a gold medal for not committing a crime. You're expected to not commit crimes all the time and everywhere you go. You do not get credit or a gold medal for all your closest allies going to jail while you weren't arrested. You're don't get to elevate yourself as some paramour of virtue because you weren't indicted and your pals were. 

Unless.

Unless you were one who helped turn state's evidence, secretly of course, once you found out just how out of control this vipers nest at city hall had become. Unless you decided to take a stand for honest and open government and made a phone call or two. See that would be how one would get a gold medal in all this. But as of press time you haven't claimed credit for helping in the investigation.

Back to Mayor Healy's very bad debate day (and remember last time when he didn't even bother to show up for a few of the debates because he knew he had Lou Manzo whipped already). When pressed by Fulop on how Journal Square becomes a priority two months before each election Healy basically said well it was better than the dump he inherited (and then ran three times to govern over it). Ah yes, it's not a swamp, it's only a bog. The very Journal Square theatre the debate took place in came up as a topic of debate. Healy said he wouldn't drop any taxpayer money into the 'in-progress' rehab of historic Loew's Theatre. Fulop said rehabbing Loew's is vital to anchoring the Journal Square area. 

Check local cable times for the debate to air in it's entirety. 

We'd like to pass along a "what a douchecanoe" aimed at Hudson Media Group's Pat O'Melia who decided that Jersey City mayoral candidate Abdul Malik wasn't allowed to participate in the debate. Again, douchecanoe. He's on the ballot. Who cares if YOU don't think he can win. How about we as a right-thinking city excuse this clown from further debate decision making?

Mayoral showdown at Loew's Theatre today at 1pm

Historic Loew's Theatre will be the site of a showdown between some of the Jersey City candidates looking for the top job. Mayor Healy will be there as will Councilman Steve Fulop. Jerry Walker has been invited but illness may keep him away. Candidate Abdul Malik wasn't even invited and actually wasn't even allowed to participate. That's shameful.

So get yourselves on that Journal Square train, or head in from Nidia's Neighborhood and see the fireworks beginning at 1pm.

Debate night in The Heights

The four candidates for Jersey City mayor squared off last night in The Heights for a two hour back and forth over the issues, and all the character flaws that could be tossed out.

Mayor Healy, Councilman Fulop, Abdul Malik and Jerry Walker all had problems with some of the other candidates platforms. After Steve Fulop said he had a passion for education, Malik responded by saying:

Fulop “has a passion for power, more and more power.”

After Mayor Healy spent time talking about how great the JCPD are and how certain crime metrics are down, Jerry Walker spoke about his plan for real public policing and took the mayor to task for perhaps not seeing the reality of things on the streets:

“We’re tired of looking in the paper, picking up the paper and seeing another kid killed in the streets,” he said. “This has to stop.”

Fulop, as expected, pressed Mayor Healy over what kind of record he has truly built:

“We have an opportunity in Jersey City to be the best mid-size city in the United States of America, and I believe that’s possible,” said Fulop, also noting the city is at a crossroads.

One day after his endorsement from President Obama, Healy continually stressed that streets are safer and hiring more cops would cost taxpayers more, something he's not ready to do:

“Our police department and leadership is doing an excellent job,” Healy said. “What we need are more cops ... that entails money, and we can’t keep hitting the taxpayers over the head.”

So, debate #1 is in the books. Did anyone come off better than you expected? Worse? Anything you'd like to ask the candidates that wasn't brought up? Spill it in comments.

The first Jersey City mayoral debate will be March 21

Well the powers that be are calling it a "forum" but trust us, it'll be a debate.

March 21 will find all four mayoral candidates, Mayor Jerramiah Healy, City Councilman Steve Fulop, doctor Abdul Malik and former local basketball star Jerry Walker, on hand to share their ideas on issues facing The Heights and to help familiarize residents there with the mayoral candidates' platforms. Terrence T at the Jersey Journal fills in badly needed details:

The forum is scheduled for Thursday, March 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at School 28, 167 Hancock Ave. It is being hosted by the Riverview Neighborhood Association, Washington Park Association of Hudson County, Pershing Field Garden Friends and others.

“The goal of this forum is two-fold—for candidates to gain a better understanding of Heights residents’ concerns and for Heights residents to better familiarize themselves with each candidate and his or her platform,” said Becky Hoffman, president of the Riverview Neighborhood Association.

Be there or be square Heights residents. Make 'em sweat. Don't just accept their first answer as gospel and if they try to get off your topic into talking points make sure you jump in and say "Excuse me, but now would you like to answer the question I actually asked?"

Pulaski Skyway Shutdown: City Held Hostage!!

Big stories with big ideas need big annoying headlines like you see on teevee news don't you think?

We'll start with Terrence T. McDonald at The Jersey Journal:

Hudson County and Jersey City officials this morning urged a state Assembly panel to consider options to minimize the traffic nightmare expected when the northbound lanes of the Pulaski Skyway close for two years starting in 2014.

Here's another issue where Mayor Healy and Councilman Fulop argue on the same side yet because of the political acrimony can't really show too much cooperation. The Mayor understands the huge impact this has on our city:

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy additionally suggested banning single-occupancy vehicles from the Holland Tunnel during rush hours. Healy acknowledged that the Skyway “must be fixed,” but added that even on a normal day there is a crush of vehicles heading in and out of Manhattan during rush hours.

Fulop too understands the economic impact this will have beyond just traffic:

“I think that the costs to the financial Waterfront, our business committee … could be much more substantive,” Fulop said. Jersey City Ward E City Councilman Steve Fulop, meanwhile, told the panel that the DOT should explore keeping one of the northbound lanes open, even if it means the rehabilitation project takes longer and costs more.

But citizens for once people came with possible solutions in mind not just brickbats. Ideas on having motorists carpool from the Frank Lautenberg Secaucus Junction station (good luck with that), extending Jersey Avenue out to the Turnpike extension and keeping one lane open northbound regardless. Johnny likes very much the idea of extending Jersey Avenue out to the turnpike extension. Can they get it done by 2014? Somebody hurry up and make that call. Once they do get that open consider closing both northbound lanes at off hours and weekends because yes, the bridge needs to be saved because ferry boats would suck more than traffic jams.

Just saw one of Mayor Healy's ads on the teevee

It centered on the Mayor's tireless efforts to get guns off of Jersey City's streets. Thankfully he has taken this head on for years. The ad notes the drop in the murder rate. We sometimes don't spend enough time thanking the Mayor about this because it's his signature issue. We eagerly await the Mayor's next ad on something new, the city taxes, what is REALLY physically tangibly happening at Journal Square, and the merging of city departments to really save money.

A note to Councilman Steve Fulop. Should you be fortunate enough to win the keys to city hall we can only hope you'll put as much emphasis on the topic of guns as Mayor Healy has.

After this bit of nose holding Healy business, Steve Fulop's chances are looking fine as a frog's hair split up the middle and tied at both ends

One of Johnny's best friends growing up was from Alabama if you were wondering.

Boy, one needn't be a bloodhound to smell the possible election changing stench from the fact the Jersey Journal has voicemails from Mayor Healy calling city workers and employees of city agencies asking of they can't you know, chip in a little for the mayor's re-election. The Jersey Journal's Terrence T. McDonald has more on the smelly goings on:

In another voicemail played for a Jersey Journal reporter, Healy urged a city agency worker to give $500 to his re-election bid. In the message, Healy referred to a Dec. 6 campaign fundraiser at Casino in the Park that his campaign has said brought in over $100,000. "We were hoping you'd write a check for $500," the mayor says in the voicemail.

OK, is someone keeping track of who gives and who doesn't? We can't say for suuuuuure but have our suspicions. Using the doctrine of "How the World Works" you can draw your own conclusion. This slope is slicker than a greased baby's ass (Roll Tide).

The Healy campaign doesn't seem at all concerned about the iceberg they have just scraped:

Healy's campaign shrugged when asked about the phone calls. Healy is reaching out to people throughout Jersey City, according to a campaign spokesman, though one Healy ally acknowledged that the mayor in past campaigns didn't make fundraising phone calls himself.

We can't say for sure if it's a "shakedown" as Mayoral hopeful Steve Fulop says but we most certainly agree with him when he says it's "not right." It's not right. It's effervescent as hell. It is not going to take the average Jersey City voter too entirely long to agree with Councilman Fulop and think of this as a shakedown. After hearing the names Mariano Vega, Leona Beldini and Maher Khalil over the last few years Johnny has a hunch that this might just be a tipping point. For Jersey City voters this might just tie a bow of that frog's hair around a cereal box in the Brownstone Diner labeled 'Crispy Critters'.

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.

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