Jersey City truly has one of the most irresponsible police forces anywhere -- UPDATE

You all know the facts. You know the JCPD's history with illegal steroids, changing grades on tests, faking time sheets, not paying taxes on sketchy stand around jobs they solicit at construction sites, and of course, drunk driving. We have yet another case of the JCPD circling the wagons, and Mayor Steve Fulop doing nothing when Jersey City Police Lt. Robert Kearns, president of the Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association, as well as an ally of Mayor Steven Fulop, appeared to drive recklessly down John F. Kennedy Blvd. after leaving a bar in North Arlington, NJ. Just drove down the street KNOWING a professional courtesy ride was waiting if anything unexpected happened.

The JCPD drives drunk, they give out "professional courtesy" rides (Question, what IS the courtesy being offered? Teaching the cop in question drive drunk all you want, you got yer back, Jack?) and once again, Mayor Steve Fulop shows absolutely no moral core whatsoever in dealing with the issue. He fires people in departments he doesn't like yet he protects allies. Vincent Corso in Robbinsville? Fulop said boo. He was all-too quiet when his city ciuncil ally Chico Ramchal was tagged with a DUI while in a county vehicle after faking time sheets. While certainly not approaching anything even close to DUI, Fulop covered for an obviously inebriated Brooke Hansson a few years ago after a profanity-laced tirade towards certain Jersey City residents. How drunk and embarrassing, and how many times to JCPD officers get to put the public's safety at risk before the mayor shows a spine? Go watch this video and the excellent reporting by Michael Shurin at Real Jersey City.

This really just guts Johnny as he's mentioned here before a victim of a drunk driver, to look at these cops around town. Shameful. They really aren't up to the level residents are paying for and expect.

UPDATE 7:21pm -- Mr. Shurin has been kind enough to allow us to also post his video. It truly is a must see Jersey City Desk readers.

What an absolute hash Mayor Fulop and Brooke Hansson have made of the mural program

You remember Ms. Hansson don't you? The woman in charge of the mayor's mural program and some cultural outreach shown here in a foul-mouthed attack on either people or garbage or things:

She's a real quality individual isn't she? Yeah, and here's how she handles the mural program. The Monopoly artist was almost done when a shadowy man named "Paul" came up and asked if somehow Silverman, could you know, get a FREE shout out on the mural. The artist told him no. "Paul" left. Let's pick this up and find out who "Paul" is shall we?

Wynans started painting the mural before Memorial Day. On his final day, he told the National Coalition Against Censorship in an interview posted online Friday, he was approached by a man named Paul who asked if his company could get a shout out on the mural. Wynans said he told him no, then said he received a call from Hansson asking if "we can incorporate Charles & Co. on the board." Charles & Co. is the latest residential development from the Silverman brothers, located across the street from City Hall.

Paul Silverman (Snivelman?) it sounds like ran like a bitch to city hall and cried to Hansson or Fulop and then yeah, Hansson according to the artist came directly to him to try and get the mayor's friend some FREE advertising in a city art program.

Hansson is not someone who has shown she's up to this task. It would appear though because she's willing to do the mayor's asks she keeps her job.

This may well have been the screeching end to the program many artists in Jersey City fear because what top level artist is going to come to Jersey City and do a mural when the city may well demand it be changed or have a donor of the mayor's added at the last minute, but don't take it from Johnny:

"I can't imagine most serious artists are going to accept the potential that the city can sort of step in and alter things based on whims or a couple of complaints," said Hrag Vartanian, co-founder and editor in chief of art site Hyperallergic. "It's sort of sad and it tells me that a place like Jersey City isn't ready for serious art in a public forum."

The mural program is a really great idea but the people running it are in over their heads. A full change at the top of the program on Jersey City's end is necessary.