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.
Showing posts with label jennifer morrill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jennifer morrill. Show all posts
Monday, November 20, 2017
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Left hand meet right hand, economics the Fulop way
Two things this morning, we're going to discuss the abject lack of common sense at 280 Grove St. but also check in with Jersey City's Most Pitiable Official.
First off, back in 2105 Jersey City discussed selling a parking lot on Academy Street next to the municipal court. Ward D Councilman Michael Yun (Or just Michael now to the media from Fulop's press agent, not the courtesy of Councilman or Councilman Yun) said that would be a bad idea, court workers and residents will need those spaces. Since the court is not scheduled to close why inconvenience residents he asked? But sell it the city did and now it comes to light was going to rent 30 parking spaces on Academy Street from Vaishno Ma Academy LLC, controlled by Raj Gupta of Gupta Development.
Who does this? Sell it so you can rent from it? What about the residents who used to park there? In Johnny's best Lewis Black voice, "Wait, there's moooore."
This part sure pricked up Johnny's ears when he read it (And there has never been a better Jersey City beat writer than Terrence T. McDonald, it's why he wins awards) and it obviously did with someone close to Mayor Fulop too:
As part of the deal, Gupta said he would provide free parking spaces to the city for 18 months.
The Guptas have had a past business and personal relationship with Tom Bertoli, an expeditor who was at one time a Fulop political strategist. The mayor and Bertoli had a falling out around September, when Fulop decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for governor next year.
"Unless the courthouse was going to disappear in 18 months, only a moron would make a deal for only 18 months," Bertoli said. "It doesn't make any sense."
Exactly, you have what Gupta wants to buy, get those spots in perpetuity, negotiating 101. You're still taking away from residents and some court employees but you have something. The court isn't closing. It's not slated to. You don't sell your house so you can rent it back out.
This plan seriously flirts with the Underpants Gnomes on South Park and their understanding of business:
They city's response? Jennifer Morrill said Michael Yun doesn't live in Jersey City. A claim she's tried twice this week when met with fair criticism of Fulop's policies or seeming lack thereof. As we discussed here yesterday, giant abatements for an area already heavily abated going against what the mayor ran on is fair game. Councilman Yun, again, Michael to Morrill, did that. This deal that once it came to light seems destined for the scrap heap of "Somebody turned on the lights" ideas is also fair game. The Ward D councilman did that and again, "Michael doesn't live here."
Johnny sometimes so pities Morrill. Let's look beyond the fact she's making a claim that's not fully substantiated about Yun not living in Jersey City. Morrill backed Healy on any question of former Ward C councilwoman Nidia Lopez's address (mea culpa Johnny met with Lopez four times when he lived in Ward C) and was pretty darned quiet when Lopez ran on Fulop's first mayoral ticket (and lost). She's OK with Lopez possibly being a Floridian but her first inclination is to be nasty and condescending to Councilman Yun calling him simply Michael. Is that really where the city has sunk to? The mayoral spokeswoman makes nasty digs at Fulop as Healy's employee and turns around and says nasty things about Healy as Fulop's charge. It's too bad we as a city can't get more mature and issue focused comments from the mayor's office. Snipe, slap, slag, swing, it gets old and really starts to insult the citizens of Jersey City.
Pity.
First off, back in 2105 Jersey City discussed selling a parking lot on Academy Street next to the municipal court. Ward D Councilman Michael Yun (Or just Michael now to the media from Fulop's press agent, not the courtesy of Councilman or Councilman Yun) said that would be a bad idea, court workers and residents will need those spaces. Since the court is not scheduled to close why inconvenience residents he asked? But sell it the city did and now it comes to light was going to rent 30 parking spaces on Academy Street from Vaishno Ma Academy LLC, controlled by Raj Gupta of Gupta Development.
Who does this? Sell it so you can rent from it? What about the residents who used to park there? In Johnny's best Lewis Black voice, "Wait, there's moooore."
This part sure pricked up Johnny's ears when he read it (And there has never been a better Jersey City beat writer than Terrence T. McDonald, it's why he wins awards) and it obviously did with someone close to Mayor Fulop too:
As part of the deal, Gupta said he would provide free parking spaces to the city for 18 months.
The Guptas have had a past business and personal relationship with Tom Bertoli, an expeditor who was at one time a Fulop political strategist. The mayor and Bertoli had a falling out around September, when Fulop decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for governor next year.
"Unless the courthouse was going to disappear in 18 months, only a moron would make a deal for only 18 months," Bertoli said. "It doesn't make any sense."
Exactly, you have what Gupta wants to buy, get those spots in perpetuity, negotiating 101. You're still taking away from residents and some court employees but you have something. The court isn't closing. It's not slated to. You don't sell your house so you can rent it back out.
This plan seriously flirts with the Underpants Gnomes on South Park and their understanding of business:
They city's response? Jennifer Morrill said Michael Yun doesn't live in Jersey City. A claim she's tried twice this week when met with fair criticism of Fulop's policies or seeming lack thereof. As we discussed here yesterday, giant abatements for an area already heavily abated going against what the mayor ran on is fair game. Councilman Yun, again, Michael to Morrill, did that. This deal that once it came to light seems destined for the scrap heap of "Somebody turned on the lights" ideas is also fair game. The Ward D councilman did that and again, "Michael doesn't live here."
Johnny sometimes so pities Morrill. Let's look beyond the fact she's making a claim that's not fully substantiated about Yun not living in Jersey City. Morrill backed Healy on any question of former Ward C councilwoman Nidia Lopez's address (mea culpa Johnny met with Lopez four times when he lived in Ward C) and was pretty darned quiet when Lopez ran on Fulop's first mayoral ticket (and lost). She's OK with Lopez possibly being a Floridian but her first inclination is to be nasty and condescending to Councilman Yun calling him simply Michael. Is that really where the city has sunk to? The mayoral spokeswoman makes nasty digs at Fulop as Healy's employee and turns around and says nasty things about Healy as Fulop's charge. It's too bad we as a city can't get more mature and issue focused comments from the mayor's office. Snipe, slap, slag, swing, it gets old and really starts to insult the citizens of Jersey City.
Pity.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
We don't hammer on people's personal issues here as a rule but this can't be overlooked
Jersey City Councilman Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal was arrested and charged with driving drunk last night after according to witnesses he blew through a red light and t-boned a cab forcing it into another car at West Side Ave near Communipaw. The Jersey Journal's Terrence T. McDonald gives more details including one very troubling one:
Ramchal, 39, was traveling southbound on West Side Avenue in a 2013 Ford Explorer when he collided with a taxi cab heading west on Communipaw Avenue, and then the cab spun out of control and hit a third vehicle, witnesses told police.
Ramchal had a blood alcohol level of .15, almost twice the legal limit, the report says. The vehicle Ramchal was driving had emergency lights that were on at the time of the accident, a witness told police.
We don't know if Ramchal was driving a personal vehicle though it sure sounds like he wasn't. Ramchal also works as a Hudson County Improvement Authority enforcement officer. Could it have been a county vehicle? We'll soon know more as the Explorer was impounded.
Ramchal is a supporter of Mayor Steve Fulop whose spokesperson Jennifer Morrill had this to say:
"appropriate consequences will be immediately issued" after the police complete their investigation.
Mr. Ramchal, the person Johnny knows you to be isn't a bad person. You care about your city and involve yourself. That being said Johnny was run down at age 17 on his bike by a drunk driver so his tolerance for those who do drive inebriated is pretty low and it's then quite easy to get on his shit list. If this charge is true you admit to it and take your medicine. There are a LOT of options for rides in Jersey City where you were enjoying the libations.
Ramchal, 39, was traveling southbound on West Side Avenue in a 2013 Ford Explorer when he collided with a taxi cab heading west on Communipaw Avenue, and then the cab spun out of control and hit a third vehicle, witnesses told police.
Ramchal had a blood alcohol level of .15, almost twice the legal limit, the report says. The vehicle Ramchal was driving had emergency lights that were on at the time of the accident, a witness told police.
We don't know if Ramchal was driving a personal vehicle though it sure sounds like he wasn't. Ramchal also works as a Hudson County Improvement Authority enforcement officer. Could it have been a county vehicle? We'll soon know more as the Explorer was impounded.
Ramchal is a supporter of Mayor Steve Fulop whose spokesperson Jennifer Morrill had this to say:
"appropriate consequences will be immediately issued" after the police complete their investigation.
Mr. Ramchal, the person Johnny knows you to be isn't a bad person. You care about your city and involve yourself. That being said Johnny was run down at age 17 on his bike by a drunk driver so his tolerance for those who do drive inebriated is pretty low and it's then quite easy to get on his shit list. If this charge is true you admit to it and take your medicine. There are a LOT of options for rides in Jersey City where you were enjoying the libations.
The other shoe has fallen in the 'Invasion of the Park Snatchers' caper
As you well know if you've been within a half mile of Johnny this week what took place in what we'll simply call PADNA Park. Developer BLDG thought they had approval to dig up a city park because they got some input from some people in the neighborhood and sent plans to the Jersey City zoning department. BLDG (Previously referred to as Lloyd Goldman's building - which it is) TOLD zoning they'd just go ahead on this in early March.
Isn't that something? TOLD a city department. That''s cute. This obviously came as surprise to Johnny who has been following this issue since long ago and who knew Ward E Councilwoman Candice Osborne expected a full city planning and city council review. City planning sure thought they'd be taking a look at the plans as well. So yes, Johnny is the whistleblower here and he contacted the office of Councilwoman Osborne who got to the bottom of this pretty quickly and acted absolutely in the best interests of the city. While we wished Mayor Fulop had commented on this personally he sent out city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill to address the issue from the city's point of view. Terrence T. McDonald, stand back with that notepad because here it comes:
"We are disgusted with their actions," Morrill said. "This developer will see hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs and losses at his building, as it will now remain vacant until we feel his actions have been corrected."
Ouch. No certificate of occupancy until the residents needs are met on the park? How about that Jersey City? The plans that were out there can be improved upon with public commentary (Johnny thinks the dog park part was pretty skimpy size-wise but then again he loves pups) and city planning assistance we'd hope. Maybe new plans arise, perhaps it's a hybrid. The important thing is that the city acted and acted fast and yes, stood up and told a big developer we don't do business the old way in Jersey City anymore. It's not just a shrug and a nominal fine.
We're giving the famous Jersey City Desk last word to Councilwoman Osborne on this because of all her GREAT work:
"The law means everything in Jersey City," Osborne told The Jersey Journal. "Developers and their professionals who brazenly ignore the law here will suffer the consequences."
Isn't that something? TOLD a city department. That''s cute. This obviously came as surprise to Johnny who has been following this issue since long ago and who knew Ward E Councilwoman Candice Osborne expected a full city planning and city council review. City planning sure thought they'd be taking a look at the plans as well. So yes, Johnny is the whistleblower here and he contacted the office of Councilwoman Osborne who got to the bottom of this pretty quickly and acted absolutely in the best interests of the city. While we wished Mayor Fulop had commented on this personally he sent out city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill to address the issue from the city's point of view. Terrence T. McDonald, stand back with that notepad because here it comes:
"We are disgusted with their actions," Morrill said. "This developer will see hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs and losses at his building, as it will now remain vacant until we feel his actions have been corrected."
Ouch. No certificate of occupancy until the residents needs are met on the park? How about that Jersey City? The plans that were out there can be improved upon with public commentary (Johnny thinks the dog park part was pretty skimpy size-wise but then again he loves pups) and city planning assistance we'd hope. Maybe new plans arise, perhaps it's a hybrid. The important thing is that the city acted and acted fast and yes, stood up and told a big developer we don't do business the old way in Jersey City anymore. It's not just a shrug and a nominal fine.
We're giving the famous Jersey City Desk last word to Councilwoman Osborne on this because of all her GREAT work:
"The law means everything in Jersey City," Osborne told The Jersey Journal. "Developers and their professionals who brazenly ignore the law here will suffer the consequences."
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