Johnny's Jersey City Stories Volume 2: Hello Mayor Healy, nice to meet you

When Johnny and Mrs. Johnny were looking at places in Jersey City, once they decided NYC and FuHo were out, and figured they would rent for the first year or so, see where they were spending most of their time in JC and where might just be a good place to buy. The first home for them was at 75 Liberty, Brunswick Towers, the old Tonnelle Circle as it was, backed right up to the place off 139 and Kennedy Blvd. One couldn't go more than a minute without car horns. Johnny tried many mornings. He'd slide open the glass sliding door a crack when he got up for work around 4am (That is not a typo, 4am for 9 years) and rarely if ever, even at that hour did it go longer than a minute without some aggrieved driver honking.

The place was nice, indoor pool, cool neighbors and the people Johnny and Mrs. Johnny were renting from, one was the former Parenting column writer in the Jersey Journal, Melinda Vickerman-Lalaoui. Wonderful woman. She and her husband Alex mentioned that the all powerful Jersey City mayor, Jerramiah Healy would be holding a fundraiser for his 2009 re-election right there in building and asked if we'd like to go. The fundraiser in fact was right down the hall from the mayor's opponent in the 2009 race, Lou Manzo. Johnny had gotten to know Mr. Manzo just on a "Hi how are you" head nod basis but even after only being in Jersey City for five months he had a good idea why this fundraiser was being held where it was. Mea culpa, Johnny nor Mrs. Johnny gave money to Healy's campaign that night. Johnny thinks in fact after a night with Healy and all his cronies and what they talked about and how they spoke he realized the Jersey City Desk at the time wasn't nearly ready enough to talk on city issues very deeply The fundraiser changed all that.

As Johnny shook Mayor Healy's hand the mayor gave him a quizzical look and asked if he'd met Johnny before. He was almost certain he had. Perhaps Healy though Johnny might be some kind of Manzo plant. He wasn't, Johnny and the mayor further talked that Johnny had just moved from Detroit (to which Healy and Bill Gaughan both rolled their eyes, ("Oh Detroit") and perhaps after all the Kwame Kilpatrick malfeasance that had just gone on in Detroit had the Jersey boys feeling a little smug. Of course this was mere days before the big Hudson County law enforcement net snared the Mayors of Hoboken and elsewhere, a few of Healy's top appointments as well (so be careful what you shit on Jerry, it might be days away from biting you in the ass) in the Solomon Dwek real estate scam. Johnny did actually get to talk with Mayor Healy about riverfront development and Johnny told the mayor quite directly he needed recession-proof hotels on the riverfront. More than were there at the time, ie, one. The hotels downtown Detroit Johnny explained weren't going bankrupt, the city was. The hotels downtown near the new casinos had to move money to go to the toilet. Hotels along the river or near the river in JC would be bulletproof. Someone took a notepad out and scribbled some ideas on this. Johnny would never claim to be the reason two more hotels got built by the water in the time he was here after he spoke to the mayor about it, that would be some serious ego shit right there. BUT he will say when Healy heard the Detroit hotels on the river were some of the biggest contributors to city coffers, he looked interested. Again, deep into the discussion Healy swore he's met Johnny before. Bill Gaughan offered to get Johnny a cocktail. It was a nice discussion with a guy Johnny would later go on to realize was pretty much in it for his pals.

Johnny also had two lovely discussions with both then-candidate for Ward C Nidia Lopez-Boehringer who was a very very nice woman and great to talk to and the actual highlight of the evening for Johnny was talking with Healy's wife Maureen out on a balcony of the place holding the fundraiser. She was just wonderful. She told Johnny about great places to shop, things to see and do, a little history of the city, just a true ambassador. For someone new to the city this was such great information. Johnny will never ever forget her kindness.

Johnny still thinks fondly about this night, he does. Even after all the nonsense that happened with Healy in office he's glad he had this chance to talk with a mayor of a big city who was willing to talk turkey and discuss real issues and not just give it the old "No comment" or "I've released a statement on that" or worse, "You're new here, you wouldn't understand."

It was an edumactional night for the noob in town.

We're gonna get her a nice fruit basket

Johnny's favorite Jersey City spokeswoman, Jennifer Morrill is leaving Jersey City to become the unnecessarily combative and overly dramatic spokeswoman at Care Point Health. She served Mayor Healy vs Steve Fulop and Mayor Fulop vs Jerramiah Healy.

You can't get much more spokesperson than that. More on her storied career in Jersey City here.

Just going to leave these numbers right here

Johnny's in a rush tonight but had to hare this important article by Terrence T. McDonald as he takes a good look at the four years of Steve Fulop and his history of abatements and taking a look at as Johnny has said, Councilman Fulop would hate Mayor Fulop. Johnny also pointed out over a year ago that Fulop's term economically pretty much felt like another Healy term. The count?

In Healy's first full term as mayor, the council approved 52 abatements lasting 10 or more years, 21 of them Downtown. Under Fulop, the council has approved 43 abatements, 14 Downtown.

Mmmmmhmmmmm. Not that big a difference with still another few months left. There is so much good reporting at this link, go get your learn on.

Who is funding the upcoming Jersey City mayoral and council races? People not from Jersey City

Sadly, it's true. The top two candidates who have released their fundraising numbers as required by law, both Mayor Steve Fulop and top opponent Bill Matsikoudis are both filling their coffers from those not living in Jersey City. With Mayor Fulop we know developers and outside interests are gonna give big, he can't say no to them (make your own decisions on that one as to why). As former corporation counsel under Jerramiah Healy, Matsikoudis is also taking in outside cash, though not as much.

Charles Mainor, we're not going there yet, he needs to get his finances in line and stop taking improper and illegal 100K donations from the attorney of the guy who beat the hell out of the Easter Bunny at the Newport Mall last year. We may circle back to him.

As for Fulop and Matsikoudis, the numbers shake down like this:

Matsikoudis -- 178 donations, 44 from Jersey City residents. #Sad
Fulop -- 620 donors to Fulop, his council team and the JCDC in the last quarter of 2016. Of those contributors, 346 are Jersey City residents. #Sad

So, as the great Terrence T. McDonald reports, these numbers mean over 80% of these donations are from outside the city. That should tell you exactly who they both plan on serving if elected.

We'd be remiss if we didn't take a dig at the ridiculous spin put out by Jennifer Mo---wait, what's this, Steve Fulop has a campaign spokesperson equally capable of producing a verbal nothingburger with a side of word salad? Let's check out her style together shall we?

Fulop campaign spokeswoman Hannah Peterson said, "The most important thing to note is that the majority of our donors reside in Jersey City, showing overwhelming local support from residents who are investing in Mayor Fulop's vision by becoming engaged in a grassroots fundraising effort."

Well Hannah Peterson, you're gonna be in for a rough ride from the Jersey City Desk staff if you keep putting out horse-shit like that.

Tiny donations from around the city mean shit to Steve Fulop. How many of those donors got meetings with him over the last 3.5 years? See, we KNOW the big developers can get meetings anytime they want, hell the Silvermans practically live at city hall (when they're not involved in a plot to call the building dilapidated so they can build a new one) and recent reports show Fulop will meet the big developers anytime they want.

What about you Jersey City, do either of these guys sound like Jersey City is their first and only priority? We know Fulop spent the first 3.5 years of his mayoral gig making decisions and comments only in regard to how it would play out running for governor. Yep, he pretty much wasted a LOT of his first term. No wonder nobody who lives in Jersey City is ready to write Fulop the BIG check.

Matsikoudis is a Healy man. We know what that means. They look out for themselves and their cronies. They tend to look the other way at hard problems as they did forever, always kicking the can down the road.

it's a sad start to a Friday to see this November race already setting up as such. Fulop or Matsikoudis will win and residents and taxpayers will lose.

Jersey City Police about to embarrass the city once again

About a dozen more Jersey City police officers, with one already busted, are expected to be behind bars as early as next month in a federal investigation over no-show stand-around construction site jobs. The officers in question weren't sharing their take from the construction companies with the city of Jersey City who not only allows, one might say at this point encourage the wasting of police officers to standing around construction sites since they get a cut. Remember when Councilman Steve Fulop railed against cops doing these stand around jobs and part of his mayoral platform was actually correcting this problem? But, once Fulop became Mayor and the PD fell under his purview and realized money was being made no matter how shadily, he hasn't made a peep about it since. Even now it's his spokesperson.

This has long been one of Johnny's pet-peeves. These cops do nothing but stand around all day talking with workers, smoking cigarettes or even cigars with workers, and hitting the food trucks. Don't expect to see them always standing around the work sites though (if they even show up), much of the time they retire to their vehicles and sometimes catch a few Zzzzzzz's. Johnny has documented the sleeping problem again and again.

So, on goes the federal investigation, sure to make national news and embarrass the city further, and Mayor Fulop's office, knowing he's approved of these stand around jobs now that he's mayor, is actually, lamely, trying to get out front of this (more like getting out behind on this) through his spokeswoman, the venerable Jennifer Morrill:

"Over the last three years this administration has initiated and worked with federal authorities in several investigations to root out corruption by long term city employees," Morrill said. "We have a zero tolerance policy and employees should be aware that if they break the law they will be held accountable."

Fulop's people seem perfectly fine with unaccountable rogue cops (excused drunk driving for JCPD officers anyone?) until it blows up on his administration. By being expected to provide files and time-sheets and interviews with certain cops and supervisors, the city isn't leading the investigation on this, they are cooperating. Johnny's a professional media analyst, he's been sought out and hired by some of the largest companies on the globe, when he says Jersey City is merely supplying the Feds with what they want, believe it. He speaks press release and spokesperson. If Jersey City was leading the investigation U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman wouldn't be the one behind the microphones on this since last October.

So, the Jersey City police force is ready to embarrass the city yet again as they have done to mayors before. Who could forget the ridiculous steroid abuse scandal during the Healy administration that got national play. The JCPD lets this city down far more often than should be allowed without major changes. If, like Mayor Fulop says, Jersey City is to become the best mid-sized city in America we're going to need an A+ police force, not C- force we have standing around cheating taxpayers.

Lather, rinse, abate

We're running out of reasons why Mayor Steve Fulop, who as candidate Steve Fulop pretty much ran on a plan of NO MORE huge downtown condo tax abatements, continually insists on bleeding the city tax base dry. No more downtown abatements bellowed candidate Fulop, they already have too many. Fast forward to 3 and a half years later and Fulop has broken that promise to all of Jersey City in spades. He continues to give out sweet deals to just about anyone who can still find an unabated lot downtown. One tall square building and a couple project starts elsewhere still has not concentrated on the rest of Jersey City monetarily to what Fulop since becoming mayor has asked his "yes sir" council (Sans Boggiano and Yun) to dole out "in lieu of taxes." Some of these might have been be palatable if any of these new buildings had businesses. Look around. The One has A dry cleaner. A, ie 1. Marbella, nothing. Toll Brothers The Morgan, nothing. These promises of great new taxpaying businesses if a false one. The Igloos (The Art House and The Jokeman on First St.) have scads of parking put in, if you own an electric vehicle. Maybe, maybe 3 spots out of 25 are ever being used (Right now a call from the mayor's office going out to find every Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf within Hudson County to get it there NOW for the media). Sometimes those spots, 3/4 a block, part of "in lieu of taxes," sits empty. Wow, great "giveback" there Shuster. Bet that cost almost nothing to get your deal. If one looks hard enough at that row of empty chargers it would seem the city has outsourced those as well.

So, is Jersey City real estate that unappealing still, after Healy's seed money got things going, for now the budget looks OK, and by most accounts Jersey City is a big old social buzz city? Could just be the mayor rolls over far too easily.

Jobs have come here, and these are exactly where any abatements downtown SHOULD be going to. Those still have to be measured but no more abatements for condos or apartments downtown. How often must this simple idea that less spending is good and right now is the time to make developers, if they want a part of Jersey City, to pay the going rate downtown. The city isn't going to collapse if a corner stays a parking lot. Somebody will pay it, at full tax rate going forward because it's close to NYC. A Chinese company is building the new 95 story tower on Hudson. They could afford going rate rather than "in lieu of taxes," no?

Why is Johnny back on this again?

Terrence T. McDonald, take it away:

Now, city officials are asking the City Council to approve a 25-year tax break for a 52-story, 50-unit high-rise slated for a Columbus Drive parking lot.

AND Fulop wants to loan them money, like Bruce Ratner at the old Pep Boys site. No money for your neighborhoods but actual money to loan a developer. The Goldman Sachs guy in Fulop is on full display here.

The deal would also include $1 million in city-issued bonds, known as redevelopment area bonds, the city said will fund infrastructure improvements on the site, to be known as 25 Columbus Dr.

Oh, that neighborhood gets a new public school kindergarten and first grade out of it (unless the deal is changed and that happens all the time where developers weasel out of agreed to things and council lets them often back out). If you live in Greenville, or say in India Square or along parts of Communipaw, you'll pay for it, but what do you think the chances of your kid going to the new shiny school downtown is?

The answer is pretty clear looking to OUR shared future isn't it Jersey City? You want to open or move your business downtown, we've got office space, we're listening. You want money and loans to build and enrich one tiny neighborhood at the cost of all neighborhoods after all that's been given, yes given, to downtown? No.

Call your councilmember NOW. Tell them to vote responsibly or you'll look to find someone next time who will. Look at Ward B, remind them people aren't tied to they mayor's one-track desires anymore.

The Jersey City Desk would like to get a forensic accounting of Jersey City taxes/books

More excellent reporting from Terrence T. McDonald at the Jersey Journal, who asks the hard questions and asks the right questions of the right people. To wit:

A rival of Mayor Steve Fulop is asking state officials to audit Jersey City's tax program, saying the city's recent move to halt new assessments of renovated homes was outside of Fulop's legal authority.

Bill Matsikoudis — a Fulop critic when he was top city attorney under ex-Mayor Jerramiah Healy — alleges in a letter sent today to state tax officials that "political concerns" appear to have been behind the city's request to stop the added assessments, which would have given over 450 homeowners a tax break.

This reval that was cancelled after being 95% done, Loans now to developers, the shifty none-too-aboveboard plan to declare City Hall a dilapidated property so the property next to it can be wink wink'd to developer friends of the mayor at an oh-so-special rate. Who benefits? The developer. Who pays? If you're reading this angrily most likely you and Johnny.

The taxpayers of Jersey City deserve a full accounting of all city finances on a forensic level by an independent firm. This means going back into the Healy years as well Mr. Matsikoudis and if any financial skullduggery was going on back with your guy we're guessing you all know a good attorney. No more trusting city hall or council. A full forensic accounting, if need be to be paid for by developer checks in lieu of real tax rates so it can't be argued the city lacks the finances to do so. No, a locally connected firm or the same old firm attesting to the numbers isn't enough anymore. There are of course many other things the forensic accountants can look into, departmental budgets (and we'll almost guarantee they find some questionable spending and practices under those rocks) and payroll and possible no-show jobs as a certain other investigation turned up quite by a drunken car accident this year. The point is, the taxpayers of our fair city deserve a complete check-up with X-ray machines of our finances. Anyone opposing such makes Johnny wonder about what exactly they'd be worried about someone finding.

We now live in the gilded age of Jerramiah Healy's third term...with murals

The old cuss must be laughing this morning. Hell, he's probably been laughing and wringing his hands at Steve Fulop ever since he took over, carrying out his third full term, only with murals.

The tax abatements tossed around just to get the quick cash to keep tax increases (for now) low or minimal continue at a fast pace, just like they were under Healy. Only now we have some context on these developer giveaways looking long term from the New Jersey State Comptroller:

Here the report again points a finger at Jersey City, noting that the Hudson River waterfront has “frequently” been identified as an area where abatements are no longer needed, yet continue to be granted. It goes on to state that many municipalities, including Jersey City, have granted a large number of abatements for market-rate housing although this may not be the best use of the tool. Instead, the report suggests that “identified areas of deficiency,” such as industrial, large commercial retail, small retail, low-income residential, or other sectors “should drive the focus of abatements.”

As a further method of enhancing what it calls a “perfunctory and limited” process for reviewing and granting abatements, the report recommends that areas designated as “in need of redevelopment” — the areas where abatements are permitted — should be regularly reviewed and redesignated as time goes on and circumstances change. The report notes that in areas where abatements and other measures have successfully been used to spur development, “tax incentives should no longer be necessary.”

Remember when Councilman Steve Fulop was against these ridiculous abatements and giveaways? Those were the days huh?

To date Jersey City, according to the state comptroller, has left over 2 BILLION dollars out of taxable rolls. Billion with a 'B'. Steve Fulop is accelerating Healy's abatements on any empty lot he can find ensuring a downward spiral when the first of Healy's abatements come due now within ten years. Unfortunately we also have a city council willing to carry out Healy's third term with their continued backing, no matter the topic, of Fulop. They probably don't even know it and will get mad when Johnny points out they are enabling the new Healy Administration.

Healy had no real interest in the schools as his candidates always lost and Fulop is now the same way after his candidates had their asses handed to them. Kind of hard for Fulop acolytes to cry about how they need to give all these abatements because of Abbott money for failing schools that they somehow miss the entire idea behind it. Sure they mention the causes but they do nothing about it. Both Fulop and Healy share pretty much equal blame on Jersey City schools. Abatements are doing nothing but addicting you to the Abbott payouts and killing JC's long-term finances.

Like Healy, Fulop always seems to be chasing crime trends and new ways of dealing with it which never seem to catch up to anything. They promote big crime aggregators and cameras and how they are moving to be proactive yet are always playing catch-up. At least Healy ran the JCPD without the unnecessary drama Fulop insists on injecting into it. Still, we're in a zero-sum game between the two mayors on crime.

Headcount remains high in Jersey City when it comes to government jobs. We also now have headcount with people doing half-measures perhaps to prep the mayor for a run for governor. We as taxpayers continue to NOT get the best out of our city government.

Spending continues to go waaaay up and with tax abatements coming due in the next ten years this is a death spiral for a city economy and we're looking at you Greenville, Journal Square and The Heights. Monies promised once again dry up and things just sit and sit, just like they always did with Healy. Oh, if we only had a few bucks we could spare on you Greenville but, alas, downtown developer gotta get paid.

Much like Healy, City departments under Fulop run amok. While Fulop gets points for dissolving the JCIA he still fails at open government like Healy did. Like Healy with Mariano Vega, Fulop has a rogue City Councilperson in dutch with law enforcement he refuses to deal with because he's a solid vote for the mayor.

City planning is desperately need of change and sits bereft of focus and anything that isn't bending to business interests and continues to falter. Neither Healy not Fulop who could both have make the necessary changes at City Planning, continue to let tax payers down with a "City Planning" department that constantly caves to developers and business interests perhaps just to get a belly rub.

So, on we go with Jerramiah Healy's third term...only with murals

Mayor Fulop selling out the city again, more tax breaks for downtown

For a guy who started at Goldman Sachs we'd expect more economic understanding. When you look at what Goldman Sachs has done to the American economy maybe this shouldn't be the surprise it seems to be for Johnny.

Mayor Fulop, who railed against former Mayor Healy's "Johnny Appleseed" idea of downtown tax abatements is doing exactly the same. Yet, Fulop announced, well his schoolmarm spokesmodel announced, Fulop wants to give the many towers going up in the BJ's, Pep Boys lot downtown off Second St. and Marin  TWENTY year tax abatements. See Fulop somehow thinks instead of a long-term tax base with large developers paying the going tax rate for OUR land, Fulop would rather let developers (and this goes on again and again and again with him) take a cheap payout by paying a pittance into JC coffers. Terrence T. McDonald has more on this sweet deal for developer

The abatement would allow Forest City to eschew normal taxation in exchange for paying the city 7 percent of its annual gross revenue on the $449 million project. The amount the developer expects to pay the city in its first year of operation is about $920,000 for each tower.

What economic madness Mr. Mayor. Where the hell did you get your econ degree? Moreover, where did you lose your backbone? Certainly Mr. Mayor you'll remember this comment YOU made:

“Until now, all the market-rate development has been limited to Downtown because of a lack of a policy,” Fulop said in a statement from the city. “These one-off deals have created a culture of artificial competition with parts of the city, abatements based on who you know, and no foresight for future development in those parts of the city where it is needed most.”

A lack of policy. Yes Steve Fulop, YOUR lack of policy.

So the mayor with one foot out the door is not protecting Jersey City's economic long-term development and health. When Healy did it you could make a case jumpstarting downtown was necessary. In no way, shape or form does downtown need ANY MORE tax breaks but Fulop simply can't stop himself giving YOUR money away. Where are the groundbreakings at Journal Square Mr. Mayor? Where are your new big digs in Greenville? You said, you out and out said downtown was done getting breaks while the rest of the city was rehabbed on your watch. Liar. Your new and more tax breaks downtown despite your hollow words now have gone beyond stupid Mr. Mayor and they are starting to smell of patronage, you know for when someone needs campaign contributions for governor.

Don't worry though, no doubt this deal will get passed on Tuesday night as city council has their marching orders. Candice Osborne claims she hasn't read the plan and this is her ward. You know, millions upon millions of business deals going on in her ward and she hasn't had time to worry yet. It'll probably make her vote Tuesday (not Wednesday this week kids) that much easier. Rolando Lavarro hasn't met a proposal to build in someone else's ward and fuck them over he doesn't like. Joyce Watterman is in Fulop's hip pocket. Oh this deal is going to pass alright, with your city council proving they are as economically challenged as the mayor.

Of course we'd also like to give a shout out to the mooch who wants all your tax monies, The developer, Abe Naparstek. Naparstek has a funny idea about how business should work but luckily he found the Jersey City mayor and council who seemingly have no idea how it works:

"...the city tax break and the redevelopment bonds as a package deal that, together, make the project viable. Without one of the three components, he wouldn't be able to build the towers, certainly not with 172 affordable units, he said. "All work in concert together," Naparstek told The Jersey Journal in a phone interview this morning. "You can't have one of these things without the other."

HA! Does anyone think that number, if any, will be "affordable units"? City Planning will, as they always do, give a variance to affordable units and the developer will then say they are to be built in Secaucus or Hopatcong (with some of your tax money) and developers still get tax breaks. There will be NOWHERE NEAR the number of "affordable units", trust Johnny, look around you if you don't believe him. Lloyd Goldman, BLDG, Toll Brothers, all have agreed to affordable units to get tax breaks only to decide it made them no money and they kick the can down the street and the city allows it.

So fuck you Abe. Know what we as a city would rather have? NO buildings and our tax money in our pockets. These buildings don't HAVE to be built yet you act like it's a city necessity. Maybe for your bankbook Abe but that's why you want to work with Jersey City government, they don't ask the tough questions like Johnny does you fucking mooch.

The Fulop Flip-Flop

Pull up a chair boys and girls, this story is juicy, it's long, and it will show you that when Mayor Steve Fulop shows up for the ribbon cutting at 110 First St. Thursday morning will complete his descent into just another all about himself say anything politician.

To understand how utterly distasteful it will be Thursday morning when the Jersey City Mayor shows up to gladhand building owner Lloyd Goldman, BLDG and "The One" employees, (and we told you he'd sink to this) you have to know the whole story. An arts building used to stand on the property at 110 First St., The Art House. Artists would, as artists do, sleep there and make it an art community. Some 50-60 used the art space. This never sat well with Goldman who wanted the building at 111 First St. gone. The city under Mayor Healy sued Goldman. There are rumors online and still persist downtown Goldman sent goons to light fires to destroy the integrity of the building to get it condemned. Meanwhile the city actually stood up for the residents in PADNA and sued Goldman and won. Again and again the city won. Goldman would countersue and all the while the Jersey City fire department would be levying tens of millions of dollars in fines against Goldman. At some point an agreement was reached, with the help of convicted felon and then Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega, that forced the city to drop lawsuits and allow the Art House to be torn down and built over. Keep the idea in mind about the rumors of starting fires as you read later. Goldman agreed to 25 affordable units that once agreed upon told the city they didn't want poors living anywhere near them. So much so in fact Goldman's BLDG decided to pay into the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund to keep them away.

Wanna know who supported the city's positions, the residents of his ward and fought against Goldman's shady dealings? Councilman Steve Fulop. We'd like to share with you, before Mayor Fulop shows up tomorrow and overlooks the destroyed city park right behind him that BLDG and 110 First St. contractors destroyed, without permission, in March (Remember now about the rumors of setting fires and in general destroying things to circumvent laws and rules to get what they want when it comes to that city park next to their property) and his thoughts about all things 110 First St.:

At least one council member still objects. Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop said the agreement is “not a good deal,” and noted that city Tax Collector Maureen Cosgrove voted against it at the July 13 meeting of the city Tax Abatement Committee, which approved the new agreement with Goldman by a 5-1 vote. “This thing is flawed on many front,” Fulop said at this morning’s council caucus. “This is a bad deal.” Jersey Journal 

The deal needs approval from the City Council, and Steven Fulop, the councilman for that area, is strongly opposed to renegotiating the affordable housing component, which he said is the sole concession the city got from Mr. Goldman in 2006. "The most important thing for me is that the city over the last nine years has shown no backbone," Mr. Fulop said. "It's created stagnation in that Powerhouse Arts District." Wall Street Journal

“I didn’t vote for the initial [amendment] as I thought that was a bad deal,” said Fulop, who said he would “absolutely not” vote for it this time around, either. Jersey City Independent

Added Fulop, “This may appear wise today, but in the long term it’s going to be detrimental to the city.” Jersey City Independent

There are more but you get the idea. Steve Fulop was all about taking MORAL stands against Goldman trying to keep affordable units, stands against bad tax deals being passed onto taxpayers, and voting against Vega's not enforcing the JCFD imposed fines. He stood on his moral rock and time and time and time again came out against the plans for the existence of a 38 story building 110 First St. and how they were implemented.

Tomorrow he'll be giving that aforementioned gladhand to public enemy #1 in PADNA and parade around with him and act like best friends. Why? Why would someone do that? Just because he's mayor now or because he might want something from BLDG and Goldman in the future such as an endorsement for governor or money for his campaign. It's sad we have to ask that question. Why turn your back on something you were so set against Mr. Mayor? Johnny personally would have skipped this event (and yeah he's dropped paying clients for being dicks later on but that's just Johnny, he has morals). Can "The One" even get a certificate of occupancy? Last we heard Councilwoman Candice Osborne was holding that up until Goldman/BLDG/The One makes good on repairing the city park they set on fire destroyed.

So enjoy your speech about the booming downtown and how you're all about it but just remember Mr. Mayor, the building you're cutting the ribbon on was a Mayor Healy joint. 90% of the construction you'll point to going up downtown was approved and started under Mayor Healy.

Remember, you were fighting things like 110 First. St. back then. Not so much now, huh?

The boycott of 110 First St. by those who support the arts, love downtown, are sick of the city going to the highest bidders continues...

More pie in the sky from the Mayor last night

Mayor Steve Fulop gave his 'State of the City' address last night and as usual, he had a lot of praise for himself. A video ran before the speech of former President Clinton giving Fulop accolades. Kinda tells you what comes next. Fulop touted what he called "the greatest growth and expansion ever seen in Jersey City's history."

OK Mr. Mayor, so why is the budget so flat? When are we getting rebates or lower property taxes? This building boom should have our city coffers in much better shape, there should have been talk last night about Jersey City residents getting something back. You sure missed on that one. Do you think people don't notice all the construction and loss of parking around town? We're not blind Mr. Mayor and frankly your promises on city finances are coming up short. You might also want to point out that most of what you see going up now you're taking credit for Mr. Mayor was signed off on and started under former Mayor Healy. Somehow you missed telling us that.

Fulop also made a big deal last night about, since every empty lot is either under construction or is in the planning stages, he was back in his effusive praise of affordable housing downtown. His words have never rung so hollow. Remember when Fulop was Ward E councilman? Remember the community arts building that once stood, in Fulop's ward that Lloyd Goldman had dragged down to build a new 38 story high rise WITH of course 10% set aside for art space and affordable housing? Well as soon as this proposal got the green light Goldman, as he no doubt planned to do all along, then reneged on his affordable apartments and art space. Fuck that Goldman said, he didn't want the poors living there despite what he signed off on to get tax breaks he was never made to pay back. So, that did Councilman or Mayor Fulop say about this deal? Absolutely fucking nothing on record. Thanks Mayor for your support and undying work on affordable housing in Jersey City. If your next work is anything like your previous work on getting residents downtown into affordable units just admit your speech last night was just that, a pie in the sky speech.

So the Mayor gave a speech and practically nobody outside his inner circle were impressed by it. In fact, we're going to give the Jersey City Desk famous last word to Ward D council member Michael Yun:

"He painted a pretty picture, but we're looking for more substance."

Smile for your close-up Jersey City

Crews are currently filming what Johnny was told is a commercial (or parts of a commercial) on Morgan St. at Warren this morning. Take a look at the pics and from the looks of that buffet table they plan on being here for a while today.

One a side note, Johnny heard two jagoffs from the Mill Creek construction team working on the old dark brick building at Warren and Morgan looking at the commercial set-up and complaining it would make their trucks take circuitous routes to their job site and for them that was a problem. Hey, morons, how do you think the people in the Powerhouse Arts District feel when you block off entire streets for your worksites? How do you think they feel when half their roads are blocked for you and Goldman and Tish and Shuster and Toll Brothers? We're just glad to see film crews still heading over into the PAD after all the whitewashing of the character of the area from mayors Healy and Fulop along with the aforementioned developer vampires.

And we're back on the air...

What a few days off it was too. The police murder and police riot in Ferguson Mo., the pedestrian walkways being set up to the chagrin of some drivers, and something that shook Johnny to the core and something we will be addressing over the next few days, the fact that if Steve Fulop runs for governor and just about everyone expects (and he has shown through his own actions) that Jersey City may well need to prepare for another Healy administration.

So friends and dear readers, the days off were nice but beware power brokers of Jersey City, Johnny and his staff are back on the clock.

BREAKING: Mayor Steve Fulop sacks Police Chief Robert Cowan

In what our friend Terrence T. McDonald at the Jersey Journal is calling a potentially "unprecedented" move, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has fired now former Police Chief Robert Cowan. As to why he decided to make the move Fulop cited "low morale on the police force, Cowan's "refusal" to implement "structural changes" sought by the Fulop administration and a growing number of lawsuits accusing Cowan of political retaliation as reasons for the change, which takes effect in 20 days."

Fulop also said he's not done making moves. You can get much more from the story on the Jersey Journal.

Look, like the story says it's been a bloody mess out on the streets over the last couple months and summer is just starting. Fulop cannot look weaker on crime than former Mayor Healy. Sounds like a Red Wedding coming over at City Hall. Stay tuned to this infotainment outlet.

What is dead may never die -- Jersey City Parking Authority to be folded into the city government

Once a state board looking at the question as to whether or not Mayor Steve Fulop could move to roll the Jersey City Parking Authority into the auspices of city government (currently the JCPA is an autonomous agency) said he could, the JCPA's days were numbered. All Fulop needs now is a vote of city council, of which he's got more than enough support, and JCPA becomes city property. 

Current chair of the JCPA’s board of commissioners John Tarantula said taking away autonomy for the 65-year old department was a "big mistake" and "political payback" since the JCPA supported then-Mayor Healy in the last mayoral election.

“I believe they want to lay everybody off and rehire who they want to,” Tarantula said.

Longtime city spokesmodel Jennifer Morrill said Tarantula's comments were “ignorant and self-serving.”

While we agree with Mayor Fulop in rolling the department into the city government makes good economic sense, we do have issues with Ms. Morrill's comments. “Ignorant and self-serving.”? Did you forget who you worked for until last May Ms. Morrill? Jerry Healy. Now you want to say others are making “ignorant and self-serving.” comments?

Pot meet kettle.

Mayor Steve Fulop's great transparency government is a little rough around the edges.

In yet another tip top article by the Jersey Journal's Terrence T. McDonald, Mayor Steve Fulop's datebook was full of redactions when requested by the media. Fulop's spokespeople say it's to protect private citizens but it that fully true? Some redactions shouldn't have been and yet other redactions have met with redactions. The group Civic JC, a group that worked with then Councilman Fulop on the city's first pay to play legislation feels the mayor's excuses are just that:

Aaron Morrill, an attorney, argues that Jersey City is within its rights to redact meetings that helped shape public policy, but not meetings with, say, private citizens seeking to do business with Jersey City.

“Jersey City residents should have some idea of what their mayor does during the day, what issues he is working on and who he is meeting with,” Morrill said. “We expected more transparency from the mayor.”

Disappointing on many levels for someone who went out of his way to ride former mayor Healy over open government and trumpet how important a transparent government would be under his stewardship. What we're hearing from the mayor's office is he will continue doing just enough to meet the minimum requirements.

That should be as clear and transparent as mud.

Jersey City's own Highline a step closer after Federal Court ruling

A Federal Court has said Steve Hyman has lost his lease! Everything must GO! Everyone knew the Sixth Street Embankment, sold to Hyman from Conrail, was going to end up in the hands of the city of Jersey City. First some backstory:

The previous owner of the embankment, Conrail, sold the property -- which  runs along the south side of Sixth Street from Marin Boulevard to Brunswick Street -- to developer and investor Steve Hyman for $3 million nearly a decade ago.

In 2012, the city and Hyman reached a tentative settlement in which the city would purchase most of the roughly mile-long parcel for $7 million and create a Highline-style park, while Hyman would retain one block. Hyman had wanted to develop the entire property.

So to court they went, Hyman and Jersey City, Jersey City and Hyman. Most knowing full well who was going to prevail. Wednesday a panel of federal judges agreed with Jersey City that the property was indeed a rail line which to make a long story short would give the city right of first refusal on the land which they would never do. Not Healy nor Fulop. In fact said Mayor Fulop:

"We are committed to this fight and partnership with the Embankment Coalition to create a world-class citywide park in Jersey City."

Hyman stands to get his original $3 million for the property.

Jersey City owes $500K in back rent for the Hub...which sets off sniping!

Which is why we're here isn't it? For the sniping?

Jersey City owes $500K in back rent on the Hub, the shopping center on MLK, which they really had no choice but to pay, which set Ward E Councilwoman Candice Osborne on the attack back to when Jerramiah Healy (remember him?) was large and in charge:

“It seems like someone with the past administration tried to artificially lower taxes by not paying a $500,000 bill.”

Ruh ro, Jerry Healy isn't going to like that:

“We paid our bills when we had to and if we needed extra time to pay our bills, we sought that extra time.”

So you can blame whom you want to, as one commenter at the link said current Mayor Steve Fulop had to be aware of this mess as a former councilman, so there's plenty to go around. The bottom line? Cool City is out $500K.

The Hub in action