How many ways can Mayor Fulop politicize the State of the City speech?

Six so far...

Instead of giving  the usual State of the City speech, as mayors have done for decades here, an update of what went right and wrong over the past year and what the administration's goals for the upcoming year are. There's a little back patting, but all in all it's a rather non-partisan event. Yesterday Mayor Fulop announced he's eschewing the usual State of the City speech instead he's planning on giving a speech to tout his achievements for reelection later this year in each ward. We're gonna go ahead and just guess, after Fulop was held up and spanked before a crowd by Rev. Alonzo Perry Sr., of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church at the Old Bergen Church last April, this will be a one-way discussion with Fulop giving a speech in each ward and not taking questions. Oh these "State of the City" speeches will be made to look like town hall events, that looks good for photographers, but it won't be.

Have you ever seen anyone, President, Governor, Mayor or Borough Overseer take questions after a "State of" speech? You go, he runs for re-election. He gets free press, free crowds and you'll be a prop.

Know when the time for these ward to ward speeches and or town hall meetings was? The last four years. Fulop has completely ignored huge swaths of the city for four years and NOW he needs a little credibility. Think on that. When did he come and give one of these in your district on you know, city things. Greenville? Heights? We've seen him back slap developers once or twice at Journal Square events and dozens of times downtown but most likely if you're reading this you weren't invited to those.

Where was he the last four years? We've found out he wanted to launch a secret run for governor from practically before the was inaugurated mayor of Cool City. Can't go out and meet if you're hiring consultants and attorneys and working with Super PACs. Want to see what a detached mayor looks like in real-life terms? Look at the JCPD since Fulop was elected.

Jersey City was not his first priority. No, it wasn't.

Trust Johnny on this, if Fulop himself didn't know this he wouldn't be doing this photo op tour.

Fulop and DeGise are probably no longer fans of night church

The Old Bergen Church opened wide and swallowed up Mayor Fulop and Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise whole last night. Both men, missing their usual cadre of police officers, friendly administration officials and supporters, were asked the hard questions and when they didn't have answers, or tried to dodge them they were met with less than friendly responses, it would seem many in the African-American community in Jersey CIty are sick of being taken for granted and leaned on every-time downtown needs a tax cut:

The Rev. Alonzo Perry Sr., of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, pressed Fulop on why his administration has not moved forward with a citywide reval, one Perry said would shift the city's tax burden from its less affluent neighborhoods to wealthier areas. Fulop's attempts to explain his reasoning for postponing the reval were met with occasional jeers from the crowd of about 850 gathered inside Old Bergen Church for the launch of Jersey City Together.

"I did believe as I do believe today that people in this room would lose their homes," Fulop said. "I believe that."

"People are losing their homes now, Mr. Mayor," Perry said to applause. "People are leaving the city now, Mr. Mayor. There's a crisis in the city today, Mr. Mayor."

According to many there, DeGise was an utter jackhole, constantly shifting blame and crying poor and committing to not much. Just like his day job. Fulop however seemed in over his head said some who were there and this report does make it seem like there is a disconnect between the African American community in Jersey City and a Mayor who views it as one big Ward E. This was a very very telling meeting in both the Jersey City context and more than likely Fulop's run for governor. Without his support staff and being able to call the meeting shots the mayor shrunk and got rattled and also watched a key section of any Democratic candidate's base further peel away.