LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR &
NEWS ARTICLES - JC
IN YOUR OPINION
JC Voters need Picture IDs',
published 6/21/2007
In
this post 9/11 world, you can’t enter an office building in Manhattan or the
JC waterfront without a picture ID.
Most office buildings take your photo on the spot for your temp ID, which
you must wear. You can’t get on a plane
without showing a government authorized picture ID. My mom who lives in a
small, rural town in PA couldn’t buy a
CD at a new bank without a picture ID so she got a state issued
Identification Card! Banks have to comply with the
government’s “Know Your Customer” rules. You can’t cash a check without a
picture ID usually a driver’s license.
You can’t buy investments on-line without a government ID. You can’t start
a corporate job without showing documentation
including a photo that you’re a citizen or a Green Card holder. You can’t
rent a car without a picture ID if your license
doesn’t have one. You need 6 points of ID to get a NJ digital drivers
license.
How is it you can walk into
any polling place in Jersey City with 250,000 people and vote without
showing any ID?
I’ve been voting at the main library for the past 24 years. On Tuesday 6/5th,
I didn’t know one person handling the
books and I always do. I always vote. I applied to the County to be a poll
worker and was turned down. They said
they have plenty of local, seasoned workers at the downtown polling
places. Where were they on the 5th? I pointed
out my name, signed and no one scrutinized my signature.
My neighbor was a Challenger at School 3 in Downtown and several times during the day, guys walked in impersonating
people he knew. Luckily he stopped them but what about the other impersonators? I’m sure this was repeated many
times on the 5th. I got an email regarding 2 women at a major condo building in Journal Square who went to vote in
their building but found someone else had voted using their names! A friend voted at Grace Church in downtown and
said not one poll worker spoke a word of English. How can they challenge if they don’t speak English in a
predominately English speaking gentrified neighborhood?
I still get sample ballots for tenants who moved out 3-5 years ago. Every time I send them back with a note that
they’ve moved. I still get them. Maybe the issue is people are voting under their names? Tens of thousands of new
residents have moved into JC plus JC like Hoboken has a huge annual, turn-over rate. I don’t know half my neighbors
anymore. In a low turn-out election, especially a primary, this could easily impact who wins. Elections have been won by
a 1 vote margin. We’ve seen election fraud at the federal level. This is Hudson County, notorious for fraud! You can’t open
a paper without reading about some scam.
We already have issues with the computerized voting machines that lack a paper trail. Our democracy is based on fair
and honest elections. Anyone who has lived in Jersey City for some time has heard of all the “street money” changing
hands on Election Day. We’ve met people who sold their vote for $20. Now with all the new faces, it couldn’t be easier
to steal votes. Elections cost hundreds of thousands of dollars here so what’s a few more to get the hired guns to vote
multiple times under other people’s names…
Folks it’s time for us to move into the 21st century and protect our democracy by insisting that everyone show a government
issued picture ID. Our democratic system is at risk. Legislation must be passed requiring picture IDs’ to vote in any
election. New York has it.
Mia Scanga
Jersey City
Talking Politics.net
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Endorsement of Lou Manzo for State Senate, never published
In the 24
years I have lived in the 31st District, few politicians have been as
responsive
as Assemblyman Lou Manzo. Even if you don’t agree with him, he’s open to
hearing other
opinions and getting educated on the issues. Also very important he’s
accessible and
wants to help. He’s been on my TV show several times and has never declined an
invite
to speak about the issues unlike Sandra Cunningham, a no show, and Dr Charles
Epps.
Lou is a worker unlike most of his predecessors. We have many difficult
issues facing
us and the state has been grossly mismanaged like Jersey City. It’s time people
stop
voting in automatic pilot for the Hudson County Democratic Organization like a
bunch of
zombies. It’s the person’s record who counts, as in any job, and I strongly
urge people
to split their vote. We’re in the mess we’re in due to the stranglehold of the
HCDO.
Vote for Lou
Manzo for State Senate, B1, a proven, effective legislator who works hard for
his constituents. For State Assembly, I’m impressed with Nick Chiaravalloti,
B2. He’s smart,
an attorney and has years of economic development and legislative experience at
the
local level under his belt. Here’s the split. My other State Assembly
endorsement is
Tony Chiappone, A3, who never should have lost to Dr Charles Epps. The talk 2
years
ago was if elected, Dr Epps would get us more state school aid but ironically
we’ve had
our aid reduced the last 2 years. Dr Epps has become the poster boy for abusive
Abbott
District school spending which has infuriated the suburban legislators to cut
our aid.
Keep in mind million dollar, tax abated condos do not pay school taxes.
Tony
Chiappone initially sponsored the bill that convicted pols in office would
forfeit their
pensions. That’s the only way to stem the rampant political corruption which is
costing us
taxpayers tens of millions in higher taxes. Once Tony left the Assembly the
bill died but
has just recently been re-introduced.
My impression
of Jay Cassidy, B5, the incumbent County Sheriff, has been very favorable.
He seems effective and deserves another term.
If you’d like to see and hear more from some of these candidates, you can see them on
Mia Scanga
Executive Producer - Talking Politics
Jersey City
( NEVER PUBLISHED BY THE JJ )
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|
What to do If
Increasing the chances a lost pet will be found
Friday, December 15, 2006
By VIVIAN KIGGINS
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL O ur pets love us too much to run away, but sometimes they get lost. And no matter how careful we are, or how many precautions we take, one day they may find something so compelling (maybe those tasty looking squirrels next door) they manage to get loose and follow their ancient hunting instincts. But when our pets become confused and disoriented, they can lose their way trying to get home. Every year, an estimated 10 million dogs and cats are brought to shelters across the country. Many of these dogs are strays, often abandoned for being are overly aggressive, or for having serious health problems. Sometimes - as terrible as it seems - people simply tire of their pets. And then there are the pets that simply get loose chasing after some squirrels or running down the blue Mustang that just went down the street. I wish I could say that the shelters get all these dogs back to their owners. I wish I could tell you that the reunions we see at our shelter every day are how it always works out. I wish I could, but I can't. The sad reality is that thousands of unwanted animals are euthanized in shelters across the country every day. Under local laws, most shelters in the United States (including ours) can keep animals a few days. Limited space doesn't allow for shelters to keep animals any longer than that. As animal lovers ourselves, it's heartbreaking for us to see beloved pets separated from their people. It's especially sad, because it would be easy to bring them together if all pets owners did just a few simple things to greatly increase their chances of being reunited with their dogs and cats. A dog can't tell us where she lives, but an identification tag on her collar can tell anyone - shelter, animal control personnel, police officers, and friendly people everywhere how to get in touch with you. They're very inexpensive, and many pet shops can make them for you. Microchipping ID is a permanent way to identify your animal family members. In this procedure, a microchip about the size of a grain of rice is injected between your pet's shoulder blades. After the injection, your pet's identification number and other information is entered into a national da tabase. Lost pets without tags can be scanned in most veterinary clinics. We scan every pet coming into our shelter. If a chip is there, all the information it carries can be retrieved. Although this costs more than a simple ID tag, it's been proven an effective way to get pets back to their human families. Photograph your pets and keep current photos on file. These photos can be used to create "animal lost" posters, posting lost or found reports online, and/or visiting shelters and other animal facilities. Preparation is excellent, but - as we know - many treasured animals go lost every day. Here are some things that can help you get your pet back home. Contact your local Animal Control office or the police. In Jersey City, the Animal Control office can be reached at (201) 547-4888. Visit your local shelters and animal control facilities within a 20-mile radius of your home. Remember, as dogs and cats are found every day, return to the shelters frequently. If possible, bring a photo with you to leave with the shelter staff. Put "Lost Animal" posters up in your neighborhood. Make sure you use a photo that is recent and not blurry. Use descriptive information when describing your pet, highlighting distinguishing features. Visit pets911.com and post a report or search to see if anyone has found your pet. Contact local vets and animal hospitals. Your pet may have been injured and may be receiving treatment. But don't rely on office staff to identify your pet; it's far better to visit the facility in person. Nobody knows your pet as well as you. Post many flyers about your pet within a one-mile radius of where she was last seen. Flyers can be very effective is used correctly. Don't put your name or address on any flyer; your phone number is sufficient. Use a clear photo, in color if possible. State when the pet was lost, along with information on age, sex, breed, colors, etc. Don't forget to replace damaged flyers frequently. In an ideal world, there would be no stray or unwanted animals. In the real world, however, protecting family pets works best when shelters and pet owners work in partnership. Everyone has a responsibility, and everyone must pitch in. VIVIAN KIGGINS is the executive director of
Liberty Humane Society. |
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PJP land fill controversy
Janine
Natale’s, “We don’t need another park”, well meaning comment that the taxes from
the AMB warehouse will lower taxes
may be logical but never has applied in Jersey City. No amount of
building whether offices, condos or warehouses has lowered
Jersey City’s taxes because the more you give the politicians, the more
they squander. Look at all the building we’ve
experienced in the last 10 years and the city still has an annual deficit in the
tens of millions.
This past
January 2006, I attended the public hearing for the city’s budget, which started
July 1st, 2005! In my 20 years or
so of attending budget meetings, it’s always when the year is 50% to as late as
75% over that the council is approving the
budget so the money has already been spent. You’d think a new administration
facing a huge deficit would be ordering cut
backs like any prudent business or household would.
How did the
new Healy administration handle it? Everyone got raises and they added tons of
new people. For example,
departmental salary increases included the “Mayors Action Bureau” at 35%,
Mayor’s Office got a 32% increase, Office of the
City Clerk got 16%, Dept of Recreation-Director’s office got 10%, Health & Human
Services got 13%, Architecture got 17%,
Cultural Affairs got 35%, Fire got 9%, NIDs’ got 59%, Traffic & Transportation
got 48% etc. The response I got on the 73%
increase in the Business Administrator’s office salaries was the addition of
messengers & security guards to that budget but
to the tune of almost $800,000? I was at the podium for an hour and the
Business Administrator’s response was always the
same, we added more people. Spending was up $32 million for one year alone!
You’d need 32 AMB warehouses to cover that
increase alone! The bottom line is the Healy administration raised taxes 18%
and refinanced city bonds to the tune of costing
JC taxpayers over $139 million in additional interest charges, wasted money!
There is no shame here any more.
Historically
when a new administration comes on board they fire the patronage from the
previous administration. Not the Healy
administration, they just added their layer of patronage on top of the
Cunningham and Schundler pork. You can watch this
budget meeting, Jersey City Budget, streaming off my website,
www.talkingpolitics.net.
As for
Natale’s statement on the yuppies, I attended and filmed the August 10th
public meeting between Mayor Healy, the
AMB Warehouse people and the residents who live near the PJP landfill. They
want ball fields for their kids. When did that
become a bad thing? This city, with a sky rocketing crime problem particularly
among juveniles and gangs, has added zillions
of new housing units but no new swimming pools, ball fields or courts. People
select places to live based on location, schools
and recreation for their families. That meeting, PJP Landfill Controversy,
is also streaming off my website and is
currently
broadcasting on Channel 51. See my website for show schedule. You’ll see that
the crowd was in their 30s’, 40s’ and 50s’,
yuppies? No one asked for a golf course and I’m sure those same residents will
fight anyone who tries to swap a golf course
for ball fields for their kids.
I agree that Jersey City
needs more blue collar jobs but I’ve seen plenty of times over the years where
warehouses and factories
have been “redeveloped out” by the city’s Redevelopment Plans for more upscale
but tax abated uses. Remember that developers are the major contributors to the
mayor’s and city council campaigns and they always come first until the people
wise up and vote the bums out.
The old saying is, it’s not
how much you make but how much you keep. But in JC politics, it’s the more they
tax, the more
they squander. By the way, the council unanimously approved the pork barrel
budget with the 18% tax increase and $139 million
of additional interest.
Mia Scanga
Executive Producer, Talking Politics
www.talkingpolitics.net
9/11/2006
( yet to be published )
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The Jersey Avenue extension is back....
Ten years
ago a small group of us formed CRAJAE,
www.hartwheels.org, to fight the Schundler administration
against the Jersey Avenue extension to connect Jersey Avenue with Liberty State
Park. After a considerable
amount of research and meetings, we put together the pieces of the puzzle and
got a handle of all the
development planned for that immediate area. We were stunned.
It included
a new medical center with 360 beds, which is open. Recently opened Schools 3 &
4 with over 1300
elementary & middle school children and several hundred teachers & support
staffs are here. The Liberty
Harbor North Development with several hundred residences is currently under
construction. HBLRT lite rail
trains crossing Jersey Avenue by the medical center ever 3-4 minutes all day,
every day, has been here. Now it’s
all in plain sight.
But guess
what? The extension of Jersey Avenue is on the radar screen again and is an
option under discussion
by the city through their new consultants doing the Downtown Traffic Circulation
Study. The public reads the articles
in the Jersey Journal about bus drivers and autos running lights and slamming
into lite rail trains. Does no one
from the city or the consultants walk around and look at the area? We’re amazed
that after 10 years those of us
still here are back to fighting this highway extension issue which could kill
people.
Your article
“Fixes due for light rail” is timely what with all the accidents. HBLRT can
have all the fixes in the world
but bad planning by the city will circumvent it. This proposed Jersey Avenue
extension is a great example of sheer
stupidity and bad planning by the city. It’s obvious that the area is
over-developed with major projects. A highway
will make things worse.
More people
need to get involved to fight this highway extension before we have casualties
at Jersey Avenue by
Grand Street. The next public meeting by the consultants is September 21st
at 6pm at the Caucus Chambers in
City Hall. Help us put a final end to all this nonsense of a highway running
into trains, school children, hospital visitors
and patients. See my old website
www.stopbretschundler.com/JA.htm for more details.
Mia Scanga
Executive Producer – Talking Politics
www.talkingpolitics.net
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Tax Increase
Recently, taxpayers received a letter from
Mayor Healy with the second quarter tax bill. Mayor Healy told taxpayers, “You
will
be pleased to find that your taxes for the second quarter should be close
to that of last year.” That statement is untrue! When
I checked the second
quarter of 2005, and compared it to the current 2006-second quarter, my taxes
went up exactly $343.99
for that one quarter. Mayor Healy continues to state,
“…the same should hold true for your third and fourth quarter municipal
tax
rate.” While I don’t have those tax bills I also doubt if that statement is
true because the municipal portion went up by 18%.
It is becoming apparent that property
owners, who receive tax bills, are becoming second-class citizens. We receive
an
increase of 18%, not including raising water bills while tenants in
rent-controlled buildings (five units or greater) can only
receive an increase
of 3.8% this year. Tenants on the waterfront as well as low-income housing are
not affected by raising
property taxes due to tax abatements.
The mayor and this municipal council do not
worry about property owners because they can appeal to the voters who are not
affected by rising property taxes.
If we had a municipal income tax instead of
property tax and Mayor Healy sent a letter to tenants in low income housing
stating
taxes are the same as last year, I seriously doubt he would be a
contender for re-election.
I believe if you have the privilege of
voting then you should have the responsibility of paying for government. No one
should be
exempt! It is time for a change.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Once again the public turnout at the city's
budget meeting was disappointing but then again in the 18 or so years of budget
meetings I've attended it's never been scheduled for 5 p.m. Even the City
Council President Mariano Vega didn't make it.
Wasn't he quoted in The Jersey
Journal as looking for suggestions from the public? Is the Healy administration
sending a
message?
You've got to have a job to pay the 14
percent tax increase in the February 2006 quarterly bill. At the public meeting,
I didn't
get the impression that the City Council really scrutinized the budget.
How can they raise taxes and allow massive salary
expense increases. Examples of
departmental salary increases include "Mayors Action Bureau" 35 percent; Mayor's
Office
32 percent, Office of the City Clerk 16 percent, Dept. of
Recreation-Director's office 10 percent, Health & Human Services
13 percent,
Architecture 17 percent, Cultural Affairs 35 percent, Fire 9 percent, NIDs' 59
percent, Traffic & Transportation
48 percent, etc. The response I got on the 73
percent increase in the city Administrator's office salaries was the addition
of
messengers and security guards to that budget - but to the tune of almost
$800,000? Distressed companies cut salaries
and expenses not go hog wild like
the Healy administration.
As for the revenue side, the 18 percent
parking tax revenue is going down in 2006. It's a $5.2 million line item and the
city
hasn't audited a lot in more than 15 years. The reasoning given by the
Business Administrator is most lots are computerized
and they fill out the
forms! Hello - it's a cash business! Most companies are computerized but also
get audited. It's obvious
that internal controls and audits are not concerns of
the city finance personnel. As for tax abatements, again the city never
audits
them but the salary budget for "Abatement Management" is up 10 percent.
Then there's the $6 million reduction in
2006 revenue from the Municipal Utilities Authority that the City Council
accepted
while the MUA raises our rates annually and the city adds hundreds of
new housing and commercial units but the taxpayers
don't see a dime.
As for the bond refinancing, it appears the
additional cost to the taxpayers will be about $139 MILLION! It's the same old
gimmick, push off the principle bond payments to the next administration. Many
of the bonds have been refinanced so many
times they've lost their tax exempt
status.
What about that early retirement the Healy
administration had? Many of the same people have been rehired on an hourly
basis.
Now the same people collect two checks! What was the savings for the
taxpayers?
Gov Corzine comes into office and starts
cutting positions as he faces a state budget crisis. Mayor Healy comes in and
adds
his patronage and incompetence on top of all the prior administrations.
There is no shame anymore!
MIA
SCANGA - JERSEY CITY__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vega avoids taking blame
This letter is in response to Mariano Vega's letter. Mr. Vega
responded to comments made by the Jimmy King's Civic
Association.
Councilman Vega's letter tries to justify the tax increase as
though city government has no control over certain costs. For
instance, he lists
$13 million increase in debt service and $6 million increase in the cost of
pensions. Why didn't Mr. Vega
include the cost of the police promotions? That is
a budget line item that the city could control. I believe those promotions
were
made so retiring officers could enjoy higher pensions. Let's not forget Mayor
Healy said 190 officers are retiring this year.
The pensions cost is not a surprise. All municipal and county
governments expected that increase. It was a budget gimmick
by former Gov.
Whitman. Prudent governments put money aside for die expected increase.
Then Councilman Vega states that the City Council is able to
find a way to restructure the city's debt service. Again, this is
not a new
item. How many times has Mr. Vega voted to refinance the city's debt? The debt
has been refinanced so many
times that it has lost its tax-exempt status.
Vega states Jersey City will receive additional revenue through
prepayments of taxes from Gold Coast developers. That is a
fancy way of saying
the city , will allow developers to prepay their tax abatement bill this year;
however, that means next year
the city will not receive any revenue! Our city
has been practicing this gimmick for years — a reason for unstable taxes every
year.
Next, the councilman comments on the water bill. He states he is
not happy with the increases, but users must keep up with
rising cost. He failed
to say that we, not United Water, have bonded tens of millions to improve the
water system. The bonds
are paid for by taxpayers, not United Water. If the
public is paying for the improvements as higher taxes in the form of bond
indebtedness, then why are we paying higher water bills?
Many Hudson municipalities are plagued with high taxes. They
must pay three budgets: county, municipal and board of
education. Ironically,
Jersey City should be one of the lowest tax municipalities because it only pays
13 percent of the school
board cost which has been fixed for 17 years.
Neighboring Hoboken and Bayonne pay 63 and 54 percent, respectively, of their
schools' cost.
So why are taxes higher? Because our city government has
continued to give tax abatements. Abatements are not ratables,
they are
contracts. Only ratables can stabilize the tax rate.
YVONNE BALCER
- JERSEY CITY___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Manzo extends his jurisdiction
Regarding the Heights Hope Block Association meeting with
Assemblyman Lou Manzo which appeared in the March 18 Jersey
Journal:
At the meeting Manzo made a statement regarding the preschool
proposed for the site on Summit Avenue where Stop & Shop
wants to build their
mega store. He suggested moving the proposed preschool to a site between Hoboken
and Ogden Avenue
just behind Christ Hospital.
Although I'm a lifelong Heights resident, I had a hard time
locating this site on a map. Once I finally found it, it was no wonder
why I had
such a hard time. The site is not actually in the Heights! I have a question.
Does Lou even knows where the site is?
He is proposing to put a Heights
preschool in the Downtown section of Jersey City —the industrial area of the
city. Stop &
Shop's new store is better suited for that site then a preschool.
Keeping in mind Mr. Manzo's family school bus business,
I hope he isn't making
this suggestion for his own benefit and self interest.
The Heights is in dire need of better schools. The site on
Summit and Jefferson is not in Lou Manzo's jurisdiction and in case
he has not
noticed, he wasn't elected mayor of Jersey City at the last election.
He is overstepping his boundaries on this issue which is
insulting to our current mayor, Jerramiah Healy, and other elected
officers. Who
does Lou Manzo think he is sticking his nose where it doesn't belong? Parents
with children in the public
school system are watching you Mr. Lou Manzo.
PETER GIGANTE -
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Parks planning needs all views
In December, T&M Associates consulting engineers and landscape
architects, were hired by the City of Jersey City to create
a citywide parks
master plan. It was my understanding that one of die criteria used in hiring T&M
was that they involve the
community in their master plan process. My concern is
whether T&M will adequately reach out to die community and
incorporate their
input into a comprehensive parks master plan.
T&M introduced themselves at thepublic meeting hosted by
Pershing Field Garden Friends (PFGF) on March 23 for Wards C
and D. It was the
first of five public meetings to gain insight into the needs of the city
residents in regard to their parks and
public spaces. The first meeting
was extremely well attended. In addition to the one public announcement that was
placed in
The Jersey Journal, me turnout was mainly due to me numerous letters,
e-mails and phone calls generated by PFGF and its
affiliated block associations
and community groups. The meeting was also well attended due to a concern over
the fate of
Reservoir 3, one of the most valuable pieces of open space in this
city today. However, the Jersey City Reservoir Preservation
Alliance was not
contacted directly by T&M or their liaison from the City of Jersey City to
attend this most important meeting.
The members of PFGF recently completed their park master plan
process for die renovation of Pershing Field, which began a
year ago. Their
talent, dedication and hard work was instrumental in making this project a huge
success. This process began
with a series of community ballots asking local
residents how to make Pershing Field a more inviting public park. Hundreds of
residents participated in die same community empowerment voting process that had
been used in the successful renovations of
Van Vorst Park in 1999 and Ercel Webb
Park in 2002. Once the results of the balloting were compiled, the members of
PFGF
formed committees to develop and design the different functions and areas
in Pershing Field. The four committees, Athletic,
Landscaping, Memorial and Play
Area, have created a master plan that was presented to die public, the City of
Jersey City
and T&M at the March 23 meeting.
This is a most crucial time. As the city embarks on this process
to create a master plan for its open space, it is incumbent
upon the public to
come out and voice their opinion. It is also incumbent upon the governing body
of Jersey City and its division
of architecture, working hand in hand with T&M
in organizing these meetings, to go the extra mile. Every block association in
every ward should be contacted. Every park group, including the Jersey City
Parks Coalition, which represents 10 parks
throughout four wards, should
be contacted. Every councilperson and all organizations that use our parks
should be contacted.
T&M*s ultimate responsibility is to the people of Jersey
City wild are paying them through their tax dollars.
LAURA SKOLAR
President, Pershing Field - Garden
Friends
Secretary, Jersey City Parks Coalition
Jersey Journal - April 5,2006
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We need aggressive approach to crime
In light of Chief troy's letter last Feb 2, I think this is an
important topic to continue. The truth is that this discussion is not only
about
murders as the chief would have one believe. In order to not misconstrue my
rationale for my request of the chief's removal,
it was not based solely on the
murder increase but it was based on an increase in most of types of violent
crime such as rape,
burglary, robbery, auto theft etc. The FBI crime statistics
do not lie. They show Jersey City with an increase in crime, since
Chief Troy
has taken charge, of 11 percent. When comparing these numbers to other
municipalities, Newark had a much
smaller increase, while New York City showed a
decrease of .5 percent and even Camden showed a decrease in violent crimes.
Furthermore, in the last year, Jersey City has dropped several
spaces in the widely regarded Morgan Quinto rankings of
safest cities. To me,
our poor performance not only jeopardizes the safety of our residents, it
jeopardizes property value, and it
jeopardizes our standing in the region. Now,
if we agree that there is an increase in crime, which I think is fairly
difficult to
dispute, then the question that needs to be addressed is WHY and
who is accountable?
I have heard many times the chief's excuses for the increase in
crime. I can't subscribe to the theory that the increase in crime
is solely
based on manpower because our police force numbers are relatively the same from
the previous two administrations
to Chief Troy—if anything, we have we have
hired more police officers but there still seems to be less visibility.
Furthermore,
I can't subscribe to the excuse that crime is increasing everywhere
in New Jersey because if you look at statistics of our
neighboring cities, as
cited earlier, several have shown a decrease.
To me, the issue is based in deployment changes from
management. Chief Troy has taken many police out of uniform and
placed them into
plain clothes; further-more, he has pushed for massive police promotions last
year despite tax increases
facing the city. As the Jersey Journal has cited in a
recent editorial, it seems we have a very high number of supervisors to
officers
now. This is a pure management issue that the chief is responsible for. It is
certainly never easy to put pressure
on someone's job but the first priorities
are too correct a wrong situation and have accountability.
In the last week since my request, Chief Troy has held more
commander meetings. Furthermore, he has returned several
walking posts, he has
moved additional police details to night shifts that previously were not, he has
shown up at several
community meetings, and the police visibility has increased
overall in many parts of the city. Although it has only been one
week since
pressure mounted, I think this is a step in the right direction.
Finally, when Chief Troy assumed his position in late 2004, he
stood at the podium next to Mayor Healy and said "I've
always believed in doing
the right thing and being held accountable." We need to address crime
aggressively in this city
without excuses, and I wholeheartedly believe that
mediocre performance in any government department is unacceptable.
STEVE FULOP - Jersey City
Councilman
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Tax Increase
Since Mayor Healy knew this $40 million hole existed then
he should not have spend taxpayers’ money on promotions in the
police
department. The police and fire account for 70% of the city’s budget. Those
promotions cost taxpayers a great deal of
money.
Mayor Healy also states that the city has added 152 police
to the force. Historically, our city normally hires additional police
through
grants, not taxpayers’ money. If Mayor Healy hired the new officers without
grants, then our city did not serve its
citizens well, if the city hired the new
with grants then that should have been in the letter. Without that
clarification – taxpayers
will think that the increase in taxes is related to
the new hires.
Several years ago, Councilman Healy voted to extend the ADP
abatement for 10 more years. Since the property was paying
conventional taxes,
this move cost taxpayers $800,000 dollars. It is this kind of action that put
a financial burden on taxpayers.
This financial strain is evident with United Water and the
MUA. Our government has decided to accept less revenue from
those institutions.
We are losing $6 million? Why, water rates have increased? Furthermore there
are more buildings, which
means more water customers. The city’s budget should
be flushed with water revenue. It is unacceptable that the mayor
accepts less
money from United Water/MUA while passing on a tax increase to taxpayers.
Instead of accepting less money,
the mayor should urge the State Attorney
General to investigate the irregularities of those institutions.
Yvonne Balcer
Jersey Journal- March 2006
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Do we have enough condos?
After moving to Downtown Jersey City less than 18 months ago, I
have been dismayed by the pace of redevelopment. On the
one hand, I cannot keep
track of the numerous new towers rising in the skyline. On the other hand, the
modest homes on my
street are being renovated, rejuvenated and often condominionized.
Despite being a property owner, I worry that we are at a*
tipping point When it is too much development? Is it too much when a
developer
wants to demolish our last hope for open space in Harsimus Cove? Do we really
need condos more man we need
fresh air, and perhaps a few trees?
Steve Hyman has already started what he hopes to finish -
demolition of the Siyth Street Embankment structure, an historic
landmark and
precious patch of nature in the heart of an urban center. In the coming years,
Jersey City will have more than
enough condos.
But will we have a place for our children to play or to meet
with our neighbors as we walk the dog? Will our elected officials
listen to the
communities they represent and ensure that the Embankment is preserved as open
space for all? Don't just hope -
write a letter, make a call, take a stand -
whose neighborhood is this anyway?
CATHERINE TOWNSEND - Jersey City
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Go after Tawils, not just small fry
I read with great interest, and some disgust the article in the
Jan. 23 edition of The Jersey Journal regarding the arrest warrants
against
landlords for violations of the Jersey City building and housing codes and the
failure of these landlords to appear in
court to answer the charges of
violations written against them for buildings they own in various parts of
Jersey City.
What a fiasco! Owners of buildings with violations are arrested
and had to post bail, 11 people in all with a total bail amount
of $19,960,
while the Tawil Family avoids paying its taxes, fines and buildings violation
costs and other charges totaling
millions of dollars. What a travesty of
justice. Small property owners arrested while the wealthy go 'scott free.' The
$19,960
is an infinitesimal amount compared to the millions the Tawil Family
owes Jersey City. Is that fair? You bet it isn't!
A recent letter I wrote which was published in The Jersey
Journal called upon Jersey City officials to make every effort to
collect the
unpaid and long overdue taxes, fines for building violations, water bills and
other charges that the infamous
Tawil Family owes but flagrantly ignores. No
arrest warrants are issued for this landlord whose buildings are a disgrace to
the Journal Square area, while 11 small property owners faced arrest and
confinement in jail if they did not pay the bail. Again,
is this justice? I
don't think so.
With property taxes on the rise in Jersey city - first quarter
tax bills have already been sent to home and business owners
reflecting a more
than 13 percent increase - water use charges skyrocketing and crime rampant in
all sections of our fine city,
the Jersey City warrant squad went out to issue
summonses to 11 people. But not one for the Tawil family. It's great to have
people with influence in high places. In this case a state legislator whose law
firm is representing the Tawil Family against the
legal action, still not
initiated, by the City of Jersey City. This astute legislator has many friends
in high places in government
here in Jersey city and other communities
throughout the state. His influence reaches far and wide. Why not? He's a great
fund raiser for the Dem-3n County. When will our City Fathers get up the courage
and gumption to go after, aggressively
and vigorously, the law defying Tawil
family.
Collecting the fines owed by the Tawil family real estate
conglomerate could go a long way in reducing the increased tax
burden placed on
our residents. The $40 million projected deficit in the municipal budget could
be substantially reduced
if the Tawil Family paid the millions owed.
Members of the Jersey City City Council, do your sworn duty to
uphold the laws of the City of Jersey City. send the
warrant squad to
arrest the Tawil family!
James King - Jersey City
Jersey Journal - January 9, 2006
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TAX ABATEMENTS ARE PAY-TO-PLAY
I want to commend the Jersey Journal for their articles on
“abatements.” As a frequent speaker at council meetings,
I always speak against abatements.
First abatements are not “ratables.” Ratables are the tools the county uses to
strike the budget. Abatements are contracts.
If they were ratables, then the dollar amount the city needs to raise for taxes
would drop. Our present rate is over $46.00 per
thousand. It could be in the $30.00 range if developments were not abated.
Secondly, politicians always say they are building
affordable housing and uses abatements as a process. Since the
city is also using money from state/federal grants, then the city must accept
citizens from other cities/states. This does
not help the citizens from Jersey City who needs housing. They lose out in
housing in a similar way workers lose out on
construction jobs.
Additionally, affordable and luxury housing impact the local school district.
The district is always looking for available space to
add to the growing number of students. Local taxpayers will feel this impact
when the state “takeover” ends. Some state
funding will evaporate. However, local taxpayers are obliged to pay the funding
for the students whose families took advantage
of the programs. Affordable/Luxury housing build with abatements do not pay
board of ed taxes. Jersey City just pays 13%
of the cost, which is low compared to other communities.
The city should build affordable housing without abatements. The city can start
a program where the housing costs are
limited to 1%, instead of market-rate. Additionally, the city should never
build luxury housing with abatements.
Another consideration is open space. Jersey City has approved some large
developments with abatements. During the
ordinance, I ask, “Where is the open space?” My question is always ignored.
Ironically, Councilman Lipski, a proponent of abatements, now wants to turn
Reservoir 3 to ball fields. Left as it is,
everyone can use, but made into ball fields, then it would be reserved for
teams.
The bottom line is abatements are rewarded to developers. It is another
tool of “pay to play.” It doesn’t address the
issue of open space, stable taxes, local jobs for residents, or affordable
housing for its citizens.
YVONNE BALCER
Jersey Journal - November 25, 2005