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."

So, Fulop's not running for governor, analysis time!

According to now many sources, Mayor Steve Fulop will hold a press conference at Jersey City Hall at 2pm and announce he's not running for governor (His, "Oh boy there's so much going on here in Jersey City I just don't ever want to leave it" speech) and his support will go to Democrat (duh) Phil Murphy.

Johnny has opinions. First, Fulop diddled around way too long to truly run. Secretive meetings, throwing some party people under the bus, secret SuperPACS, and "I might but I might not though I probably will but won't say it now" comments over the past couple years really begin to grate on the citizenry. He had to make a choice and it was NOT going to wait until after the general election as Fulop had previously said when he'd make his official decision and announcement. Phil Murphy stepped in and announced his run in May, began a campaign in earnest in late July and August ramping up television ad buys. Murphy is sitting in the exact "slot" Fulop would have taken in the race, the furthest left progressive guy in a world of Sweeneys, Lesniaks and Wisniewskis. Murphy took that slot and solidified it with each ad that ran. Not only was Fulop going to have to battle Steve Sweeney et al, but just to get air he'd have to tangle with Murphy to again, get that "slot". That's a big hill to even start to climb with less and less time each passing day. Nobody can say Fulop can't read tea leaves, he was going to get beaten around on crime, Abbott Districts, his reckless abatements, his SuperPAC, you name it.

Plus, and feel free to call it piling on, thanks to Johnny, certain other candidates have pictures of Fulop and Rolando Lavarro in Transmission the night it was raided by JCPD. Those wouldn't have looked good in teevee ads. Plus, Johnny said don't put that craptastic club there and you did anyway. Call it piling on but do read Johnny's mission statement here:

He moves silently, like a shadow in the night collecting dirt on the powers that be. Now he calls on a silent army of many to expose the corrupt and irretrievably stupid around town.

Fulop would not have been a good governor in Johnny's opinion. He's wasted almost four years dabbling with the governor idea and giving our fair city short shrift in doing so. Some of his decisions absolutely look as though they were made with Trenton's best interests in mind, not Jersey City's. Whatever it was going to take, whether bad planning, dodgy work on the city he was elected to govern, questionable financing, his run had to be stopped and it's a good thing Murphy got going when he did.

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.