Well friends, the Cult of Personality has won and won big. Steve Fulop won by almost a 4-1 margin. Four more years of abatements for anyone who asks (More on the council later), sending thugs around to do his bidding and let department workers know what he expects on contracts and what not and another four years of swaths of Jersey City being ignored or given lip service like happened to Journal Square for over 30 years. Worst though is the finances that look great right now but aren't before too much longer. A lot of those first abatements to get people to buy downtown again are coming due and sadly because of the lack of city planning back then they'll come due at the same time a lot of them. More come off after that. That's when taxes go up and there's still never enough money to fix problems or invest in Greenville and other areas that are overlooked. Accounting tricks are great but there's always that moment of clarity where you realize how the trick works.
Do you really think the city can take close to $100 million off the city tax rolls downtown alone, hire more public servants, give the ones we have needed raises, pay rising insurance costs, not raise taxes for two years and not have a ticking bomb somewhere? Incidentally part of this time Mayor Fulop was looking at the governor's race and this year for mayor and optics mean you can't raise taxes. Not what's best for Jersey City in the long run, it's what's best for Steve Fulop short term. FYI if you're upset by Johnny pointing this out and want to bring up all the new buildings opening, yes, Mayor Healy can be proud of the ones opening now, these aren't Fulop buildings, these are the ones he railed against as councilman. Johnny's guess? This term starts out with Fulop once again forgetting who elected him as he eyes a bigger office, maybe Bob Menendez's job or a congressional run. He's done this very thing before when he sees something shiny. No reason to think that won't be repeated.
The council races went largely as expected. Incumbents and Fulop rubber stamps Rolando R. Lavarro Jr., Joyce E. Watterman and Daniel Rivera all won their At-Large seats quite comfortably. Great. Feel all that energy? Lavarro, who never met someone else's money he couldn't spend, will be trying to increase his visibility as he should be announcing he's running to replace Fulop in the next election by Friday.
In Ward A to replace the 'Gone fishing 4 years ago' Frank Gajewski, Denise Ridley and Joseph Conte will face each other in a runoff with Ridley's campaign running strong.
Ward B had maybe the biggest 'surprise' last night with new seat holder but incumbent Chris Gadsden, who has been a fantastic addition to council flush with new workable and smart ideas on school funding will face Mira Prinz-Arey, who outpolled Gadsden last night.
Despite one of the worst answers to a question about his independence from Steve Fulop, John Hanussak got enough votes to win a runoff in Ward C with incumbent and Fulop burr under the saddle Richard Boggiano. Our guess is Boggiano holds this seat at first glance but he's only ever one grumpy moment away from perhaps not.
Michael Yun will continue to serve Ward D with honor and distinction and continue to drive Fulop spokesperson Jennifer Morrill batshit.
Ward E (and you may be hearing more on this race in the upcoming days--maybe) brings the fourth runoff between top vote getter Rebecca Symes and James Solomon. Big question here is can Solomon coalesce the Hudnut and Grillo vote into enough support to win.
Ward F also returns a good councilman, Jermaine Robinson who was never really headed in his race.
There you have it friends, election night in Jersey City 2017, a good night for team Fulop in November that could still go wrong on a night in December.
Showing posts with label Joyce Watterman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joyce Watterman. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Friday, May 26, 2017
See Spot Rescued just got some money
That's right, after the Jersey City Council's gutless and inexcusable to allow puppy mills continued access to Jersey City pet stores Johnny decided something positive needed to come from their dimwittedness. This morning, Johnny made a donation in EVERY City Council member's name to See Spot Rescued, the not puppy mill place (Of course you could use Liberty Humane Society as well, they're super good).
Maybe it has to come to that here in JC, other people making donations for your officials' poor decisions. Get ready to dig deep citizens.
Maybe it has to come to that here in JC, other people making donations for your officials' poor decisions. Get ready to dig deep citizens.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Steve Fulop and the Jersey City Council art of the $10 deal
Well, the gang that never met money they couldn't spend did it again last night only on a scale SO GRAND it defies belief.
You know the story, Liberty Science Center (they of the soft-porn "science" nights) wants a new science-based school (SciTech Scity,) on their land but the problem was this land, worth millions, was something they'd never afford so Steve Fulop and 6 council members gave it to them. Actually, Johnny's wrong on that and supporters bristle at calling the millions in real estate a "giveaway."
The city paid 10$. Yep, a Hamilton for land worth millions. Fail. Yes, really, ten bucks. That's their level of contempt for you taxpayer. They just gave away millions you were part owner of. Forget the fact we're being slow-walked to a Reval and here's more property that won't be collecting money.
But, we got 10$.
The supporters claim, this school will bring kids in from all over falling over themselves to get in. The claim this one school will transform Jersey City educationally. That's kind of the problem isn't it? Jersey City kids, those of normal means won't see this school unless they drive by. This school (Hear Johnny now and believe him later) is not for kids from Greenville or The Heights or Journal Square, it's for the richies and well-connected. Make bet on that.
But Johnny's isn't this slated to be a "public school?" Yes, suuuuure it is. The only public school our city council expects TURN A PROFIT!:
City officials have argued that the deal isn't a giveaway, citing a revenue-sharing portion of its agreement with SciTech Scity. Once the complex turns a profit beyond $78 million, the city would share in the profits, initially getting 50 percent and, once the value of the city's land is paid off, 20 percent.
A school complex, turn a profit. $78 million. WTF?!
This was one miserable deal that NOW Jersey City can't control once the JCRA gets the property. Seems only Ward C Councilman Michael Yun noticed that:
"...once the land is transferred to the JCRA and "it is completely out of our control."
"The JCRA, their own board members, (are) not elected by people but appointed by the mayor. They're going to do what the mayor asks them," Yun said.
There are city council members that need primary opponents. Good solid citzens who realize planning for the long-term beats panicked giveaways. Thank the lord Frank Gajewski isn't running again. A complete waste of a seat. Daniel Rivera, champion of cars in yards, needs a serious wake-up call. Rubber stamp is no way to go through life. Candice Osborne, who actually said last night this deal won't make dime one STILL voted for it. There's some solid thinking. Remember this about Osborne, she'll vote for anyone's abatement or construction variance -- except those in HER own Paulus Hook neighborhood. Rolando Lavarro, who sees Fulop as his meal ticket will never do anything to upset the mayor because for some reason Lavarro thinks he'll be mayor after Fulop. Great he's voting like it's 2021 on issues today. Also, remember when Lavarro said he was going to curb spending? Yeah, he's holding the city back and needs to go. Joyce Watterman has been failing JC taxpayers for far too long, she needs a swift exit through a side door too. Jermaine Robinson, we're watching you. You voted poorly last night but it's just too early to see if you're going to be a yes man like the rest listed here, but we're watching you. You blew it last night Mr. Robinson.
So, Jersey City taxpayers, unless you take matters into your own hands, by either running a primary campaign against one of these rubber stamp council members, supporting a primary opponent or simply voting against those in their seat now, you're at least able to say you, if nobody else, is looking out for the long-term financial health of Jersey City. Look at their track records, it's not going to happen with Fulop, Rivera, Lavarro, Gajewski, and Osborne in their current jobs.
It's not. We're going to give the Jersey City Desk famous last word to Daniel Sexton former Jersey City attorney under Bret Schundler. When it comes to long-term planning and why it's important:
Daniel Sexton, a former city attorney under Bret Schundler, called the land transfer "scandalous."
"You saw it's swampland. Well so was Newport, swampland. So was Harsimus Cove ... so was Liberty National," Sexton said. "This is a valuable asset."
You know the story, Liberty Science Center (they of the soft-porn "science" nights) wants a new science-based school (SciTech Scity,) on their land but the problem was this land, worth millions, was something they'd never afford so Steve Fulop and 6 council members gave it to them. Actually, Johnny's wrong on that and supporters bristle at calling the millions in real estate a "giveaway."
The city paid 10$. Yep, a Hamilton for land worth millions. Fail. Yes, really, ten bucks. That's their level of contempt for you taxpayer. They just gave away millions you were part owner of. Forget the fact we're being slow-walked to a Reval and here's more property that won't be collecting money.
But, we got 10$.
The supporters claim, this school will bring kids in from all over falling over themselves to get in. The claim this one school will transform Jersey City educationally. That's kind of the problem isn't it? Jersey City kids, those of normal means won't see this school unless they drive by. This school (Hear Johnny now and believe him later) is not for kids from Greenville or The Heights or Journal Square, it's for the richies and well-connected. Make bet on that.
But Johnny's isn't this slated to be a "public school?" Yes, suuuuure it is. The only public school our city council expects TURN A PROFIT!:
City officials have argued that the deal isn't a giveaway, citing a revenue-sharing portion of its agreement with SciTech Scity. Once the complex turns a profit beyond $78 million, the city would share in the profits, initially getting 50 percent and, once the value of the city's land is paid off, 20 percent.
A school complex, turn a profit. $78 million. WTF?!
This was one miserable deal that NOW Jersey City can't control once the JCRA gets the property. Seems only Ward C Councilman Michael Yun noticed that:
"...once the land is transferred to the JCRA and "it is completely out of our control."
"The JCRA, their own board members, (are) not elected by people but appointed by the mayor. They're going to do what the mayor asks them," Yun said.
There are city council members that need primary opponents. Good solid citzens who realize planning for the long-term beats panicked giveaways. Thank the lord Frank Gajewski isn't running again. A complete waste of a seat. Daniel Rivera, champion of cars in yards, needs a serious wake-up call. Rubber stamp is no way to go through life. Candice Osborne, who actually said last night this deal won't make dime one STILL voted for it. There's some solid thinking. Remember this about Osborne, she'll vote for anyone's abatement or construction variance -- except those in HER own Paulus Hook neighborhood. Rolando Lavarro, who sees Fulop as his meal ticket will never do anything to upset the mayor because for some reason Lavarro thinks he'll be mayor after Fulop. Great he's voting like it's 2021 on issues today. Also, remember when Lavarro said he was going to curb spending? Yeah, he's holding the city back and needs to go. Joyce Watterman has been failing JC taxpayers for far too long, she needs a swift exit through a side door too. Jermaine Robinson, we're watching you. You voted poorly last night but it's just too early to see if you're going to be a yes man like the rest listed here, but we're watching you. You blew it last night Mr. Robinson.
So, Jersey City taxpayers, unless you take matters into your own hands, by either running a primary campaign against one of these rubber stamp council members, supporting a primary opponent or simply voting against those in their seat now, you're at least able to say you, if nobody else, is looking out for the long-term financial health of Jersey City. Look at their track records, it's not going to happen with Fulop, Rivera, Lavarro, Gajewski, and Osborne in their current jobs.
It's not. We're going to give the Jersey City Desk famous last word to Daniel Sexton former Jersey City attorney under Bret Schundler. When it comes to long-term planning and why it's important:
Daniel Sexton, a former city attorney under Bret Schundler, called the land transfer "scandalous."
"You saw it's swampland. Well so was Newport, swampland. So was Harsimus Cove ... so was Liberty National," Sexton said. "This is a valuable asset."
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
The more things change, the more they stay the same -- UPDATED
Well well well, that took all of a day didn't it? The day after the wonderful swearing in of Mayor Fulop and the city council, Joyce Watterman who won an at-large seat on the council -- wait for it -- wants to hire a family member for her staff. Yes Watterman wants her daughter Jennifer to serve on her staff and be paid the commensurate $15K a year salary.
So there's part one.
New council President Rolando Lavarro wasn't quite sure what to say in his first big test. After getting after Bill Gaughan's use of a family member on staff (And be clear, Jersey City has a looooong history of this sort of thing) Rolando seemed a lot less troubled about Watterman's decision:
Lavarro said hiring a family member “is not the approach I would take." But Lavarro said it’s difficult to find someone to do all the work of a council aide on $15,000 a year.
“It’s their decision, at the end of the day,” he said, adding that he believes Jennifer Watterman is “qualified” for the job.
Rolando Lavarro, you have Mayor Fulop on line 1:
Lavarro called about an hour later to reiterate his position: "I don't approve of it. Period."
Good to know Fulop has the city council president on speed dial. Now, there's nothing legally Mayor Fulop can do about this choice. The council chooses who the council chooses. But Fulop did strike the proper tone on this slippery slope:
"While by law her aide is only her decision and Jen is great, I think the appearance is not something I would think is favorable for her," he said. "I think another route would be better."
We agree with the Mayor. We here at the Jersey City Desk have nothing against Jennifer Watterman. We're certain she's a tip top professional who would serve her mother proud. The heck of it is this is bigger than just an appointment. This is the old Jersey City we're all trying so hard to move beyond. It's unfortunate those before Joyce Watterman abused the system.
It just sends the wrong message.
UPDATE: Ms. Watterman has decided against hiring her daughter. We commend her choice and once again say it's not about the fact her daughter wouldn't do a great job. It's just the message it sends at this point in time.
So there's part one.
New council President Rolando Lavarro wasn't quite sure what to say in his first big test. After getting after Bill Gaughan's use of a family member on staff (And be clear, Jersey City has a looooong history of this sort of thing) Rolando seemed a lot less troubled about Watterman's decision:
Lavarro said hiring a family member “is not the approach I would take." But Lavarro said it’s difficult to find someone to do all the work of a council aide on $15,000 a year.
“It’s their decision, at the end of the day,” he said, adding that he believes Jennifer Watterman is “qualified” for the job.
Rolando Lavarro, you have Mayor Fulop on line 1:
Lavarro called about an hour later to reiterate his position: "I don't approve of it. Period."
Good to know Fulop has the city council president on speed dial. Now, there's nothing legally Mayor Fulop can do about this choice. The council chooses who the council chooses. But Fulop did strike the proper tone on this slippery slope:
"While by law her aide is only her decision and Jen is great, I think the appearance is not something I would think is favorable for her," he said. "I think another route would be better."
We agree with the Mayor. We here at the Jersey City Desk have nothing against Jennifer Watterman. We're certain she's a tip top professional who would serve her mother proud. The heck of it is this is bigger than just an appointment. This is the old Jersey City we're all trying so hard to move beyond. It's unfortunate those before Joyce Watterman abused the system.
It just sends the wrong message.
UPDATE: Ms. Watterman has decided against hiring her daughter. We commend her choice and once again say it's not about the fact her daughter wouldn't do a great job. It's just the message it sends at this point in time.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Mayoral hopeful Steve Fulop fills in the blanks on his ticket but for one
Steve Fulop, mortal arch-enemy of Mayor Jerramiah Healy (If Jersey City was all Justice League), has completed his picks for his ticket this May.
Fulop has called on the following to help him in his quest for the one job:
Rolando Lavarro for Council-At-Large
Daniel Rivera for Council-At-large
Joyce Watterman for Council-At-Large
Frank Gajewski for Ward A Council
Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal for Ward B Council
Sean Connors for Ward D Council
Candice Osborne for Ward E Council
Diane Coleman for Ward F Council
We would be terribly remiss if we didn't mention that Sean Connors originally told Mayor Healy he'd run on his ticket but after some soul searching and perhaps hours of torture (OK it was only waterboarding) he changed and supported Mr. Fulop.
We're kidding about the waterboarding.
So, if you're reading this Nidia Lopez you're probably wondering who Fulop has in mind to challenge your Journal Square seat. Since Sonja Henne isn't running we just don't know. It hasn't been announced but on an editorial note we do appreciate your independent stances with the Mayor. You have grown well into your job. Johnny used to live in Ward C and met with you Nidia when you were running in 2009. He had his concerns you'd be a Healy rubber stamp. You have not.
So on we go to May and the only thing missing are your thoughts dear readers, tell us how YOU see the city elections shaping up.
Fulop has called on the following to help him in his quest for the one job:
Rolando Lavarro for Council-At-Large
Daniel Rivera for Council-At-large
Joyce Watterman for Council-At-Large
Frank Gajewski for Ward A Council
Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal for Ward B Council
Sean Connors for Ward D Council
Candice Osborne for Ward E Council
Diane Coleman for Ward F Council
We would be terribly remiss if we didn't mention that Sean Connors originally told Mayor Healy he'd run on his ticket but after some soul searching and perhaps hours of torture (OK it was only waterboarding) he changed and supported Mr. Fulop.
We're kidding about the waterboarding.
So, if you're reading this Nidia Lopez you're probably wondering who Fulop has in mind to challenge your Journal Square seat. Since Sonja Henne isn't running we just don't know. It hasn't been announced but on an editorial note we do appreciate your independent stances with the Mayor. You have grown well into your job. Johnny used to live in Ward C and met with you Nidia when you were running in 2009. He had his concerns you'd be a Healy rubber stamp. You have not.
So on we go to May and the only thing missing are your thoughts dear readers, tell us how YOU see the city elections shaping up.
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