Channeling Blondie this morning -- The vehicle stickers for city vehicles are coming, one way or another

And Mayor Healy, either Steve Fulop or Ray Velazquez's plans are gonna get ya get ya get ya get ya...

After City councilman Steve Fulop's plan to sticker city vehicles was wrongly vetoed by Mayor "I like it that taxpayer funded vehicles have no limits and no markings" Healy, at-large councilman Ray Velazquez has chimed in with yet another plan, this one that drew approval from the Jersey City attorneys. The city attorneys claim there IS a difference between the two very similar plans. Yes, and we here at the Jersey City Desk are just as sure this has nothing to do with saving face (rolling eyes).

Councilman Fulop is certainly right that Velazquez could simply vote to override the Mayor's veto and put this all to rest. We are encouraged that in the face of a November special election Velazquez is willing to do the second right thing with his plan.

Point of order Mr.Velazquez, if you're trying to show that you're not completely in Mayor Healy's pocket, overriding the veto is the way to go on this. Help Councilman Fulop lead from the front on this taxpayer issue, not the rear.

It's reasons like these that help people lose faith in city government

Now, before we get going, Ray Velazquez, Jersey City Councilman-at-Large voted AGAINST city issued vehicles having some kind of city sticker affixed to them (or maybe that was just for the ones city council members drive).

Velazquez's Ford Explorer was stolen back in June. Velazquez kept his keys to the Explorer in a glove box of another car he owned on site. Not so much of a safe spot there Ray but OK, you messed up. Now, things get really sad. The Explorer was accruing tickets in New York City (Some of our regular readers may know New York City, Jersey City's largest suburb, is just across the Hudson River). About three and a half weeks later the car was discovered to be property of Jersey City and Gotham kindly called and asked if we'd like the Explorer back.

Ray, you voted against stickers on these cars. Do you suppose that if ticketers in NYC had seen the affixed JC sticker on the car this might have been cleared up sooner? We sure do.

Ray and JC Officials -- was a police report taken?
Ray and JC PD -- Did somebody check the EZ Pass to see if the SUV might have, um, gone into the city?
Ray -- Why sit on this? Isn't losing a 30K ride worth alerting -- oh, wait, we get it now, hush hush, don't let people know your city issued vehicle is missing. *Wink wink* we get it now...

And these people wonder why we have no faith in them. Oh, by the way Mayor Healy is also against affixing stickers to the vehicles in the city he runs that WE pay for. Luckily there are still some people on city council that think stickers are a good idea and have as of now voted to place these stickers on taxpayer-funded whips.

Jersey City council to discuss permanent benefit guidelines tonight

Since the state of New Jersey changed the law regarding how much time an individual must work for a municipality before collecting the old golden watch, the Jersey City council will address their ideas on the amount of time worked necessary for full permanent benefits at taxpayer cost.

There are a few differing ideas on the time one should put in before collecting such benefits, ranging from 10 years to the maximum of 25 years. Council members Steve Fulop and Viola Richardson want the maximum of 25 years worked while Ward A councilman Michael Sottolano wants 20, at large councilman Ray Velazquez wants 15 and Ward D councilman Bill Gaughan wants just 10.

Ten? Are you kidding Mr. Gaughan? Really, for FULL benefits and health care? Get real.

While we here at the Jersey City Desk think it should be set at 25 years we could see our way clear to compromising on a 20 year plan. Pensions (and that's basically what this amounts to -- only from tax monies) SHOULD be difficult to get. They SHOULD mean a job well done after 20 years. They shouldn't be shortened or trivialized in any way shape or form.

The meeting is at City Hall tonight at 6 pm.