In case you missed it, Tuesday was Election Day in New Jersey's ostensibly nonpartisan municipalities. In two closely watched races, Jersey City's incumbent Mayor Jerramiah Healy cruised to a whopping 52% victory while Peter Cammarano and Dawn Zimmer will face one another in a runoff to determine which of the two will lead Hoboken.
Jersey City Mayor L. Harvey Smith Phillip G. Webb Louis M. Manzo Jerramiah Healy Daniel B. Levin Personal Choice Total
Last week, I attended a very special event at the Maureen Collier Senior Center here in Jersey City. It was the 102nd birthday of Earl Martin. Earl is a wonderful man, with an amazing spirit and - if his birthday party was any indication - a lot of great friends. It struck me that Earl has seen a lot over the past century-plus - from the Great Depression to the struggle for civil rights to Jersey City's many transformations as we grew to become one of America's most sustainable cities.
Former Jersey City mayor and current Board of Education member Anthony Cucci has launched a scathing attack against Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy's attempt to create a new "hybrid" model for the school board.
Speaking at Wednesday's City Council meeting, the 87-year-old Cucci blasted the mayor's "selfishness and deviousness" in pushing a plan that could change the board's composition without voter approval.
And so does this:
A resolution by Councilman Steve Fulop asking that voters still be given the final say was defeated 6-2 last night. Councilwoman Viola Richardson cast the only other vote for it.
Other City Council members said they voted against the resolution because it was not yet time for an up or down vote on the hybrid concept.
Yes, we don't want voters to tell us if they want democracy. And it isn't "time" yet for us to end democracy - too many people are watching. So it follows:
Another Fulop resolution, calling for school board elections to be moved from April to November to increase voter turnout, was also rejected 6-2, with several council members saying a November school vote would either be overshadowed by other campaigns or overly politicized.
Yes, we like our elections in April when no one is paying attention. It's easier to rig that way. God help us if people actually participated in an election!
The public safety of its residents is the number one priority of any government - local, county, state, and federal. And increasing the number of police patrolling our streets is one of the best ways to reach that goal. Over the course of the past four years, we've hired more than 250 new officers to keep our residents safe. I am proud to say that, this morning, we are in swearing in a new class of nine new officers. These brave men and women will work hard each and every day to keep our community safe and peaceful. They are not only our first line of defense, but are also our best resources to deter crime and keep our families secure.
We're also focused on creating sound public policy to make our city safer. Illegal guns are a scourge on our streets, and we are taking strong measures to get them out of the hands of criminals. Our "One Hand Gun a Month" ordinance to restrict purchases was unanimously passed by the City Council. However, recently, this ordinance was struck down by the New Jersey Superior Court and is currently on appeal. Although we are disappointed that the Appellate Court did not agree with our position that Jersey City has the right to legislate in the interest of public safety, I promise to continue the fight to remove illegal handguns from our city streets.
A former state legislator has no legal standing to seek the ouster of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy over a scuffle in Bradley Beach, a Superior Court judge in Monmouth County has said in dismissing the lawsuit.
So Lou Manzo isn't a three-time loser anymore. He's now a FOUR-time loser.
But the reasoning leaves me a bit put-off. Everyone understands that Manzo is only doing this to try and jump into office himself. But that should be immaterial to the legal reasoning. No one has said that Manzo is not a resident of Jersey City, and if a resident of a city cannot seek to remove their mayor from office through legal means, then who would have standing to do so? Would a citizen of Bradley Beach have better standing?
Or is the judge simply saying that only those in the backroom of the legal system can determine if and when an official can be removed from office?
It's been a long journey for those of us on Barack Obama's historic campaign, and it's been a privilege to serve as Co-Chair of his New Jersey State Campaign.
Together, we are all going to bring the change our families need at the polls today. I just wanted to share with you a short video we've put together which highlights the road we've taken.
This promises to be an historic night. And I hope you will join us at 8 p.m. at the Liberty House this evening for a Victory Party. The party will be at 82 Audrey Zapp Drive in Jersey City.
If you haven't already voted for Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Frank Lautenberg you still have time. The polls close at 8 pm. If you've already voted, please reach out to your friends, family and neighbors and remind them to do the same and vote for the entire Democratic Team.
Barack Obama inspires me, just as I'm sure he inspires you. And after 8 devastating years of the Bush Administration it's hard to believe Election Day is only 5 days away.
As Co-Chair of Barack Obama's statewide campaign, I want to invite you to an exciting rally this Saturday in Jersey City. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, New York Governor David Paterson and U.S Senator Bob Menendez will be attending, as well.
Barack Obama is the leader our nation needs at this important moment in time. And by voting for Obama and the entire Democratic Team next Tuesday, you can help bring the change our nation needs. You can help restore America to its rightful place as the respected moral leader of the free world.
As Mayor of Jersey City, I look forward to finally having a partner in the White House who understands our struggles and the needs of America's cities. Particularly, I look forward to working with an administration that will help combat the plague of illegal guns on our streets and can get our economy back on track.
But none of this will be possible if you don't come go out and vote. Let's not squander this precious opportunity to bring the change our families and our cities so desperately need.
This "vision" seems more forced by the administration. It is not an orderly process where the public has much say. It smells of the kind of Xanadu development that is occurring in the Meadowlands, where the mega-mall, backed by powerful politicians, was rammed down the throats of residents of the surrounding communities.
Back in July, I called out Jerramiah Healy for selling out residents who need affordable housing in favor of letting developers save their cash. Now I know why he was so worried - assessing developers fairly might have challenged his vision of turning Jersey City into Lower Manhattan.
By allowing developers to escape the 2.5% assessment on the expected $400 million development (uh - no way it comes in that cheap - think $40 billion as a more reasonable figure), the Mayor is depriving the city's residents of at least a million dollars worth of affordable housing funds. But then, the Mayor spent $40,000 just to get this far. The multibillion dollar project's exemption from funding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund - which the Mayor himself lobbied for, means that ultimately tens of millions of dollars will be diverted away from providing affordable housing.
Thanks to Ken Thorbourne at the Jersey Journal, we are getting wind of Mayor Healy's latest power grab: He wants to appoint one-third of the local school board. Oh, he thinks voters should be able to vote on an equal number of school board members - three. Then the state would appoint three more members from the pool of local college officials.
What's the justification for this? Is there any argument that it would improve the functioning of the school board or schools? No. There's only this:
"It is untenable to have the Board of Ed making up a budget when it's the mayor and City Council that has to send out the tax bills."
Well, I agree with that. It's just plain screwy. But my idea is to have the schools send out tax statements directly, rather than piggy-back on the municipality. Or to combine tax functions at the county level. I'd never think of simply yanking the idea of democracy away and letting the mayor stack the board with his cronies.
Look, one of the things that got JC schools taken under state supervision is run-away patronage. How is the mayor's plan going to change that? Answer: It isn't. It just lets the Mayor control the patronage.
And that, my friends, is the revelation of the principles of Jerramiah Healy.
Lou Manzo's new career as "Public Advocate" - which, as I have noted previously, is suspiciously limited to efforts at getting him into elected office - is running into a snag. Namely, his life as a deadbeat candidate:
Dannielle Leigh, a fundraising consultant on that campaign and a former aide to U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court in July alleging that Manzo refused to pay her $19,272 he owed her.
In the suit, Leigh said she signed an agreement with Manzo that entitled her to 12 percent of whatever she raised for the campaign between April 2006 and June 2007.
Her lawyer is Peter Tucci - who also worked for the Manzo campaign. Egads, I smell bad blood!
Manzo hasn't formally announced he's running, but when he does that will give us the choice of two deadbeat candidates and a drunken fool of an ex-judge whose judgment on matters of law is questionable.
Jason Fink of the Jersey Journal is reporting that Jerramiah Healy's appeal to the State Supreme Court has been denied. I applaud the Court on its common sense and beg the mayor to pay his damn fine and get on with his life.
The only thing more self-serving that the Mayor's misgbegotten legal question is Lou Manzo's attempt to throw the mayor out of office for being a drunken asshole when he's off-duty. A pox on both houses. Unfortunately, it's Jersey City that has the fever.
There's an interesting column in the Jersey Journal today that makes it look to me like Jerramiah Healy may regret making such a huge issue of his legal problems. For those who haven't paid attention, Jersey City's Mayor was arrested in Bradley Beach some time ago and convicted of obstructing justice. In response to Healy's charges against the BB police, grand jury testimony was released that showed Healy tried to intimidate the arresting officers into releasing him. When that didn't work, he begged. Even as his appeals have run out at the state level, he has pursued charges in federal court, claiming that his right of free speech was infringed upon by the police.
Lou Manzo, preparing to run for the Mayor's job next year, has now opened a "public advocate" office - and apparently the only interest the public needs advocacy on is removing Jerramiah Healy from office, because I haven't heard of him working on anything else. But here's the part that is going to save Jerramiah Healy, no matter what:
Whether the county prosecutor's office screens the municipal court cases or the municipal prosecutor directly handles charges filed in the municipal court, the decision to waive forfeiture must be made before adjudication of the case .
I'm not a lawyer, but it appears to me that for a decision of forfeiture NOT to be put before a judge, a waiver has to be filed. If no waiver was filed - and it seems odd that the Mayor would not have pranced around with it if it were available - then the forfeiture hearing MUST procede. That doesn't mean that Healy will automatically lose his seat, but it does mean that he'll be called on - most likely - to explain why he told officers to call their boss and to sweep everything under the rug.
I just wonder when Lou Manzo is going to use his "public advocate" position to speak up on something else - like maybe bullets flying around residential areas. You wouldn't want any voters to get hurt, would you, Lou?
I am disappointed by this week's Appellate Court ruling affirming a lower court's ruling against our "One Handgun a Month" program here in Jersey City. In 2006, I introduced and our City Council passed this ordinance with a clear and simple purpose: to prevent straw buyers from purchasing handguns in bulk and then turning around and selling them to criminals. It was a common sense measure to reduce the amount of gun violence in our city.
Not long after, the NRA swept into our city with lawyers and money, finding a local gun dealer to challenge the law in the state Superior Court on the grounds that it preempts state law on the matter. Even though our state lawmakers are currently working on passing similar legislation, the Appellate Court has decided to uphold the earlier, NRA-backed ruling.
My position on gun violence has always been clear. As mayor, I spend every day fighting to make our city safer for our residents and families. I am proud to be one of the 15 original members of the bipartisan "Mayors Against Illegal Guns," a group now comprised of 250 mayors that is helping to get illegal guns off the streets. This administration instituted "Operation Lifesaver" - a gun buyback and amnesty program which removed 897 guns off our streets.
So despite today's ruling, we will continue the fight. I know I can count on my partners both in government, such as Senator Cunningham, Assemblywoman Quigley, and Mayor Cory Booker, and in the activist community, such as Bryan Miller of Ceasefire NJ, to join me in this fight to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and keep our streets safe.
In Trenton, the state's "One Handgun a Month" bill has already passed the Assembly and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee. The passage of this law is vital to the interest of public safety in New Jersey. Please consider contacting your state Senator to push for action on this important piece of legislation.
George W. Bush came to New Jersey today - just a week after the collapse of some of our largest financial institutions. The President canceled fundraisers in Alabama and Florida, but still came into our state to raise money for Republican candidates in New Jersey looking to continue his third term and ensure his legacy. This is a slap in the face to every single working family in our state.
From sub-prime mortgage debt, to the collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. From the recent bankruptcies, bailouts and takeovers to last week's historic drop in the stock market. We are seeing the result of 8 years of bad decisions coming out of George W. Bush's White House. This is what happens when we have leaders looking out for big corporate interests instead of working families. I don't want another four years of Bush economics, and I'm sure you don't either. That's why I'm proud to support Barack Obama. As mayor, I need a partner in the White House committed to our cities.
On the heels of the recent financial news, George W. Bush's visit is especially offensive to those of us who live in Jersey City - where over 3,000 people work for Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch alone, with an additional 200 drawing a paycheck from AIG. So, while last week's news sent shockwaves throughout the country, we in Jersey City were deeply concerned.
For the past several years, Jersey City has undergone a real renaissance. For example, when I first took office, there wasn't a single world class hotel in the whole city. Today, we have four world class hotels with an occupancy rate over 90 percent. And in just a few weeks, we're going to be cutting the ribbon on a fifth. Our economic development has benefited every neighborhood in Jersey City by helping put more cops on the street that translates into our crime rate going down; with job training programs to help Jersey City residents take advantage of the new opportunities, helping fund parks and playgrounds and much, much more.
We've seen a real spike in firms moving to Jersey City's Gold Coast, and many of the businesses we've brought in are satellites of the nation's biggest investment firms. Our proximity to New York City and transportation options are obviously strong drawing points. In fact, here in Jersey City we have more office space than is found in cities like Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Our real estate is more affordable, and our city does all it can to create jobs that not only are for those in the financial markets, but also those that benefit from it. In Jersey City, we've successfully used both short and long-term incentives to catalyze smart, new development and bring in business. These incentives have dramatically revitalized distressed areas, expanded the tax base, and created new jobs and amenities. We've created new jobs, while attracting new residents and employees who have brought new spending power to support local businesses.
Jersey City is the economic engine that is driving the state. And our financial companies are a real economic engine for our region and our city. So, while it is bad enough that thousands may lose their job, it's made even worse by all those other local businesses that rely on the foot traffic. Even if those who lose their jobs don't live in Jersey City, they're still part of the fabric of our community. And our local businesses rely on them. It trickles down to Jersey City itself. The diners and coffee shops. The hotels and restaurants. The newspaper stands and taxis. The local stores. The effect on Jersey City's economy will be disruptive.
But I pledge to do all I can to continue promoting Jersey City's competitive advantage. And its not just big business we are focused on fostering. We care just as much for those who have businesses on Kennedy Boulevard and Bergen Avenue as those who make their living on Wall Street. We're encouraging local entrepreneurs to open new businesses that add economic diversity and new jobs, provide goods and services and build capital within our dynamic community.
The JC EDC already hosts the largest Urban Enterprise Zone Program in the State. Through the UEZ program, over 566 qualified business offer goods and services at a sales tax rate of 3.5% as opposed 7%. We also offer business incentive grants to companies that are re-locating to Jersey City. In the past few years, not only has financial services firms benefited from them, but also food manufacturing, distribution, and printing companies. Our EDC program has a global marketing campaign designed to inform and attract overseas companies on the benefits of relocating to Jersey City.
We also have a Community Lending and Investment Corporation that operates a revolving loan program fund and helps budding entrepreneurs prepare business plans. Over 31 businesses have been assisted by these loans. Especially in light of the events of the last several days, my administration re-affirms its commitment to business development across all sectors and at all levels of capital in order to retain and, in fact create more employment opportunities for our residents.
As Mayor, I'm fighting for a more prosperous Jersey City. This is a difficult task in light of years of Bush-McCain shell game economics. I know how hard it is for families to pay the bills while saving for their futures. So, I can't understand how John McCain can say, with a straight face, that the fundamentals of Bush's economy are strong. Then again, I guess that can be expected since McCain and Bush share the same economic philosophy - that is to give more to those with the most and hope prosperity trickles down. That's not what I want.
I want a government and leaders who fight for our cities and for our families. I am supporting Barack Obama because he is fighting for us and looking out for us. He will be a terrific partner in the White House.
So now Jerramiah Healy is claiming that his right to free speech was infringed when he was arrested for not allowing police to interview two people involved in a domestic dispute. His claim is pretty stupid. Carried to its logical conclusion, it holds that any random citizen (remember, he claims he was not acting as an elected official) has the right to force a police officer to stop what they are doing and listen to the ramblings of that random citizen. Regardless of whether or not that citizen is drunk or not.
I don't want to deal with the Constitutional issues here - first, it's ridiculous on its face; and second, you can comment at NJ Voices if you want. I want to focus on the underlying attitude(s) at work here.
As exciting as it was to bring Barack Obama to Jersey City this past January, it was even more exciting recently, in Denver, when I was fortunate enough to witness history in the making at the Democratic National Convention.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be among tens of thousands of fellow cheering supporters as Barack Obama accepted the nomination to carry our party's message of progressive change in this year's Presidential election. As one of Obama's earliest supporters here in New Jersey and as co-coordinator of his statewide campaign, it was an especially heartening moment.
It might be hard for the cynics to understand, but all of us truly are fired up and ready to go. And I'm sure you are, too.
Barack Obama reaches out to bring people together, and he doesn't care who gets the credit. He understands our struggles and the needs of America's cities from his work with the community on the South Side of Chicago. So much of Obama's credibility comes from his own experience of having worked hard to overcome the challenges of his own life. Like all good leaders, he's focused on real solutions - not the political gimmickry that sadly, and far too often, is the case in politics from the national level all the way down to our local communities.
Barack Obama speaking in Jersey City in January
I first had the privilege of meeting Barack Obama about a year and a half ago. I spent a half-hour in his office down in Washington, D.C. There were only three or four people in the room and we connected immediately. This past week, I had a good laugh when it struck me that my first meeting with our next President lasted about the same amount of time that John McCain sat cumulatively with Sarah Palin before naming her as his running mate. And Jersey City has a slightly bigger population than Wasilla, Alaska. Not that I'm offended or anything about not being picked for Vice-President, because I'm focused on making Jersey City greener, cleaner, safer and more prosperous.
During that very first conversation with Barack Obama, I was quickly convinced he was the right person to get past the old politics and restore our nation to its rightful place as the respected moral leader of the free world. I knew right then and there that I would support him and do all I could to help him be our next president. Because Barack Obama shares the same values I do. He will end the partisan bickering that has dominated D.C. and bring real results for our families and our cities.
Last May, I proudly stood alongside Barack Obama and my good friend Mayor Cory Booker in Teterboro. Together, we called for the creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to rehabilitate and construct brand new rental housing in areas near job opportunities and public transportation. Today, far too many low-income families find themselves priced out of the housing market. Obama's proposal would build up to 14,000 new affordable units each and every year in mixed income neighborhoods all across the country. This would also provide a much-needed economic boost for our cities here in New Jersey. This push is just one of many important initiatives that Barack Obama will bring about to help revitalize our cities. Particularly, I look forward to finally working with an administration that will help combat the plague of illegal guns on our streets.
I am proud to be one of the 15 founding members of the bi-partisan "Mayors Against Illegal Guns." Today, the group has grown to more than 250 mayors nationwide - all committed to ridding our city streets of illegal guns. But, the truth is that I wish such a group was not needed. However, in the glaring absence of leadership from the Bush White House, those of us at the local level are stepping up to lead this fight. In Jersey City we launched "Operation Lifesaver" - a gun buyback and amnesty program - which eliminated 897 guns from our streets. We also passed two city ordinances aimed at reducing the number of illegal guns on our streets. The first requires gun owners to report a handgun lost or stolen within 48 hours and I'm pleased that the State of New Jersey enacted legislation paralleling our law. The other ordinance would restrict handgun purchases to one a month. Unanimously passed by the City Council, this initiative was struck down by the New Jersey Superior Court. We're currently on appeal and will continue to fight the NRA on this matter. Nonetheless, the State Legislature is poised to adopt this legislation, making it the law of the entire state.
What we're doing in Jersey City is clearly working. Last year, crime was down nearly 12% from the prior year - including a 40% decrease in homicides. There were also fewer burglaries and motor vehicle thefts than Jersey City has experienced in fifteen years. I'm proud of what we've accomplished. But I also know our job would be a whole lot easier with a partner in the White House who is committed to cracking down on crime and illegal guns. I look forward to a day - not too far off - when we have a President who will support our efforts to end gun violence and to look out for the less fortunate.
Barack Obama inspires me, as I am sure he inspires you. He is the leader our nation needs at this important moment. And he has the skills and vision for our country that, frankly, the opposition does not. John McCain is trying to fool the voters into believing he's a reformer and a maverick. But, his actions speak quite differently. The truth is that John McCain has stood side by side with President Bush for these past eight years. And he would only bring about the equivalent of a third term of Bush-Cheney.
I know that Barack Obama will fight for our families and our security. He'll fight for our cities and for all our future. And I also know that every Democrat all across the country - and especially here in New Jersey - is fired up and ready to go over these next two months.
The Star-Ledger editorial board wants Jerramiah Healy's job. The comparison is with Newark City Councilperson Dana Rone, who was removed for office for misconduct that "touched on her office". I think it's a bad comparison and the Star-Ledger is barking up the wrong tree.
There are some similarities in the cases. It is now coming out that Mayor Healy did try to get out of his arrest by telling the officers who he was. The difference, however, is pretty clear. Rone was standing in a city where she was elected, so her claim to power as a city councilperson was valid. Healy was elsewhere, so his claim to power as mayor of another city is pathetic and laughable.
Also, just as important, Rone was caught on tape. Healy was not. A grand jury found Healy's version of the event to be unbelievable and sided with the police. But I think that the competing testimony is compelling enough to take forfeiture of office off of the table.
And I'm no friend of Jerramiah Healy.
But it also needs to be said that Jerramiah Healy is the one to blame for this still being an issue. Not only has he still not paid the fines he was assessed, but he is appealing the conviction to the state's Supreme Court. Oh, and despite the fact that a grand jury refused to indict the officers in question and despite a unanimous appellate decision against him, he is now filing federal charges against the police officers that arrested him.
Once again, ladies and gents - the apologist goon squad...
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy not only refused to butt out when cops told him to during a call to a domestic dispute outside a Bradley Beach bar two summers ago, he also tried to throw his weight around and get his arrest swept "under the rug,'' bombshell testimony revealed in today's Jersey Journal Political Insider column alleges.
Cue the apologists with their personal attacks for me simply pointing out what is reported in the newspaper...
Or you can make the jump and see excerpts from the record.
Back in July, 
