I have a lot of concerns with Fulop's so called "cancellation". Mainly because the reval is mandated by the State of NJ and was approved and signed off on both at the County and State level. So I am curious how he can just order it "stopped."

Curious as to the timing of the announcement as well. Making it while mayor-elect. Then when he becomes mayor, he will learn it can't be canceled and has to proceed.

Also, I read today in the JJ like 98% of the work has been completed and the firm has already been paid significant money. JC has a bad habit of having to do things two, three times. Sidewalks, Paving roads, etc. Let's stop this nonsense. The work is basically done and paid for.

What bothers me the most though is that all the "newcomers and interlopers" who Fulop courted in the election, you all just got denied meaningful tax relief - especially if you don't live in a luxury abated high-rise downtown.

Basically instead of having the reval be automatic, with the top third of the highest payers getting reductions (if you bought in the past 10 years you most likely are in this group) you now have to go and individually appeal your taxes. This is not an equitable process and the city won't deal with you in a fair manner as I found out. (disclosure, I appealed year before last, only got a quarter of what I proved I was over paying).

Jersey City needs significant tax relief and it needs to be automatic and apply to EVERYBODY. All I know is I am paying nearly double the amount of taxes that my next door neighbor is - and they have a bigger unit than mine. They bought their condo in the 80's and don't even live there - they rent it out. That is not tax fairness.

Meanwhile Fulop interviewed in Crains NY magazine saying he is going to give now "steeper incentives" to developers. This is unfair. But who were Fulop's big doners? Big developers.

So this will be interesting to follow and as I said when running for Ward E, this will probably wind up in the courts.

Fletch

Expect to see A LOT more up for sale.

People are going to be bailing on downtown because the Property Tax Revaluation is going to be taking place.

Fulop promised he would do "what he could" to "stop it", but the reality is, there is nothing "he can do" to "stop it".

And taxes for folks who have had property from the 80's and early 1990's are going to go through the roof.

Pay attention to what happens come July 1st. This will mean more empty store fronts... and less businesses... and folks bailing out because of obscene tax bills.

History is repeating itself.

F

Did everyone notice?

The GAP... Lady's Gap upstairs and i think Baby's Gap...

GONE. All Gone.

The Guy shop now going to be a Michael Kors store. The upstairs is going to be something else female oriented as well
I'm really starting to wonder what is up.

And to the previous poster, there are no toy stores. (they do pop up stores around Christmas and then they disappear).

No pet stores either.

I think they are trying to make Newport Mall for the 1% or something.

FG

That is absolutely not true Mr. Sucio.

I'm trying to look out for the Middle Class who is continually getting ramrodded by our government.

They talk about "affordable housing"... but then pass a 30 year abatement for something that is labeled "mixed-income, mixed use housing" that will have many units at market rate. Who has to make up that difference? The middle class.

The average income in Jersey City for the entire city is about $58-60K according to census numbers. I made just about that last year so I am speaking as an AVERAGE person. But unfortunately, I don't "qualify" for anything except to have to be burdened with extremely high and ever increasing property taxes while others get a free pass. That's not fair.

Next time you see me at the council meeting (as it sounds like you were there?) why don't you come and say hello and introduce yourself and we can chat and you can learn more about why I care. Because 75% of the registered voters of this fine city don't seem to care and didn't even bother to vote.

Fletch

Quote:

Just wanted to chime in.

Thanks to Yvonne for the words of support.

I wanted to come to last night's council meeting for a reason. I just knew there would be some post election surprise and drama and I was not disappointed.

One of the first pressing issues for the next administration that takes office on July 1 is going to be the budget.

The city has shown that its $16 million over already, and we're not even half way through the year yet. I fully expect that number to grow.

And, a lot of promises were made during the election on keeping taxes stable, to no tax increases, to also promises of stopping the tax reval that is looming.

I can't see how Fulop is not going to be able to NOT raise taxes. And unfortunately the Middle Class having already been abused by the Healy administration, just can't take any more tax increases. I think spending needs to be CUT.

With this very important issue taking prominence, I think it's important for Council-Woman Elect Osborne to be present at every meeting leading up to when she actually takes the oath of office. This way she will have some idea of what the issues really are. IT issues just are not a pressing issue at the moment. Sorry.

And Mr. Donnelly made this whole thing about affordable housing. Well, affordable housing needs to extend to everyone including the middle class and when you have out of control property taxes, that makes living here un-affordable for a lot of folks who don't "qualify" for affordable housing.

When the city council passes a 30 year tax abatement for a project described as (from the agenda) "mixed-income, mixed-use housing" that will have many units at market rate... well that is not fair to the Middle Class who has to shoulder this give-away.

Also, while they tout jobs - in particular Section 3 jobs for community, what came out in the conversation is only 30% of jobs are section 3 jobs in actuality. The rest wind up coming from elsewhere. We need an audit of where the workers are really coming from before the council grants any more abatements. And the length of the abatements is just too long. 10-15 years tops.

The Jersey Journal said that I should learn more about our government and try again in four years. I intend to do just that. And I will be attending council meetings regularly. And when I see those words "XX year tax exemption" you better believe I will show up and speak out.

See over the past four months, I talked to hundreds of folks in Ward E... and people are miffed that no one is looking out for the Middle Class. I hope to be that watch dog for the Middle Class.

Thanks

FG

Article HERE.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... _city_b.html#incart_river

Update as confirmed by Jersey Journal.

The number is $16 million budget gap. And confirmed, 7.9% municipal tax hike unless the budget is severely cut.

I know many here can't take a 7.9% tax hike.

Let's see what happens.

Oh and this is on top of the 4.4% County and 2% School Tax hikes we just got.

Just posted this on Facebook Ward E page.

Just got in from the City Council meeting. Very disappointed our Council-Woman Elect was not present. I realize she doesn't take office till July 1st, but she could have sat in the audience like me becoming acclimated with the current issues at hand. Hope to see her in June perhaps - as she is supposed to be "transitioning".

First up... And I knew it... SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE... Jersey City is way over budget... (either 16 million or $60 million - I heard 60) and unless Fulop reintroduces a dramatically cut budget, we're going to be looking at a municipal tax hike upwards of 7.9%. You should have seen Viola Richardson and Fulop screaming at each other. Meanwhile I went up and spoke out against tax abatements. I don't care who they are for. I am very middle class, and can't take any more tax hikes while JC gives away the store. How about a tax abatement for ME. I need affordable housing too Mr. Donnelly, and that means stable/lower taxes. Those 2009/2010 tax increases still have my property at a third of its value. YOU CAN"T JUST KEEP ON TAXING.

Just curious... what ever happened with the JC government push to have Back Flow Preventives / Check Valves installed everywhere.

I recall there was a backlash.

Guaranteed these will help with flooding problems.

During Hurricane Irene, my building got like 3 feet of water in the basement. You can still see the water marks.

Then Between Irene and Sandy, we had a water main pipe burst. While they were replacing that, my building also had a check valve put in at the same time to save money since they were already digging everything up.

Worked like a charm. Almost no water with Sandy.

If I were going to get a basement or even first floor apartment, I would want to make sure one of these contraptions has been installed.

Can anyone else can chime in here on the effectiveness of back flow preventers?

F

Did I really read this right? This can't be real.

Restoration and recovery alone is estimated to cost $1.3 billion.

Come on now. ONE POINT THREE BILLION? With a "B"

I don't think so. The PATH has like one signal repair person on stand by.

Something else is going on here. More funds diverted to the Freedom Tower I suppose.

F

Once again Teachers Unions looking out for THEIR jobs over our kids. And JC tax payers will be hit AGAIN. LIKE EVERY YEAR.

We need major education reform in New Jersey. I went to that show and tell hosted by the NJEA at City Hall a while back on how they want to reform... and that whole process is a joke to delay and stall any real reform.

FG

Did you notice how they positioned Fulop as a reformist?

That is a good thing because Jersey City is so corrupt. We need to get the nepotism and cronyism out.

Tax payers are tapped out. Can't afford any more tax increases. There needs to be significant cuts... one job per person, no sick days for life carry over.... and enforcing people show up for their "no show" jobs.

FG

This really, really bothers me.

Jersey City Property owners are tapped out and maxed already paying some of the highest taxes in the country. Where is the money going?

After the last tax increase, which brought about protests at City Hall, I think if Jersey City raises taxes yet again, there will be riots. WE ARE NOT YOUR ATMs! Repeat after me. NOT YOUR ATMs. Not your ATMs!

Meanwhile, having read the JC budgets, there have been ZERO cuts in spending. They just pick up last years budget and increase that without really looking seriously at it. I did a side by side comparison once.

Time for real leadership. Someone has to go in there and renegotiate these way to generous payouts.

Your average Joe Schmoe doesn't get nearly any of these types of benefits. Something has gone seriously wrong in Jersey City.

Sick days are for sick days. Use em or loose em. Sick days are not meant to be accumulated and then cashed out at your highest pay grade upon retirement. That is a scam and taxpayers are getting ripped off. It's borderline criminal.

Sorry. No tax increases until we see serious spending cuts in JC. Just my point of view.

FG

Hi All. I left a nice note on their gate to inform them this morning. They just moved in a few months back and the dog is new.

They probably didn't know the rules of the road.

And that is that a dog cannot be barking non-stop incessantly for 20 minutes or more. Especially at night.

I never leave my dog outside by itself. I am always home when the dog is out. When I am not home, the dog is inside.

Yes, sometimes my dog barks too, that's what they do, but I never leave it barking for 20 minutes - especially at night. And if it starts acting up I bring it inside.

Just sux that whomever sent the cops to my place. Like wiith a vendetta or something as the cops were real specific that they MY dog was the culprit. Hello... there are lots of dogs on this block. And their dog is a medium sized female dog that has a similar bark to my dog.

A dog shouldn't be out in this cold weather anyway, but they built it a dog house. And that won't fly in an urban environment.

FG

And I know you are on here.

FG

While my dog sometimes barks, I always go out and get her and know the 20 minute law.

There is a carriage house out back right behind mine. They just moved in and recently got a dog. They have been leaving the dog outside when not home (doghouse and everything, rain and cold the works).

I will try and speak to them the owners tomorrow if possible. I don't think they are home right now.

Thanks for calling the cops on me but you have the wrong dog.

Sincerely,

FG

I am sorry, but where is the outrage.

This stuff really pisses me off.

Did you read about the Chief of Police from Union City? Here it is. JC public employees have this game down pat.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... e_chief.html#incart_river

Sorry, Sick days are for SICK DAYS. No freaking carry over. Comp days for days you really have to work. Not comp days for freebies. And NOT carried over.

And vacations have to be used... these guys are liars.... you know damn well they are taking vacations... come on. But they don't claim them and then expect to cash out at top pay 20 years from now. SCAM folks. AUDIT TIME.

No one in the private sector gets this type of crazy. The best I ever got was two weeks vacation... three weeks after five years. And that happened just once and was short lived. And it was again, use em or loose em. Certainly not cash em out at Police Chief level, 20 years down the road cause I couldn't be fired cause of Union job security.

And I never could take more than one week at once... let alone three weeks at a time. and never got fake quasi holidays... MLK, Columbus, etc, etc.

As a tax payer... I am TAPPED FREAKING OUT.

WE THE PEOPLE have seen no cuts in spending while service declines and declines. WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING? Corrupt politicians and Public Union cronies.

I am SICK of paying for SICK days.

I AM NOT YOUR ATM. REMEMBER THAT? I will NEVER recover from Healy's 2009, 2010 tax increases. There is a reason I am UNDERWATER and it isn't Hurricane Sandy. Out of control BS like this stuff.

Time for a TAXPAYER REVOLT.

FG

Just a reminder, there will be a movie screening of "For the Bible tells me so." tonight at 7:30 at Grace Church Van Vorst.

Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?

This Sunday, 9/30 at 7:30 pm, please join us for a get-together and movie screening at Grace Church Van Vorst, 39 Erie Street, Jersey City (enter on Second Street). We will be viewing For the Bible Tells Me So, a film about the Bible?s treatment of homosexuality.

We hope you will join us for this viewing. This event is free, and open to all irrespective of orientation. Please spread the word.

You can view the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBR0dq0XXk

For more information about the film, visit http://forthebibletellsmeso.org

This Sunday, 9/30 at 7:30 PM

A long time ago at Grace Church Van Vorst, in downtown Jersey City, we had a thriving and solidified LGBT community and a ministry that was focused on the religious needs of the LGBT community at Grace. Alas that fell apart in the early 2000's.

After having announced its revival in July at our outreach service, the time has come to re-launch the Grace Van Vorst LGBT alliance.

This Sunday, 9/30 at 7:30 pm, please join us for a get together and movie screening at Grace Van Vorst.

We will be viewing "For the Bible Tells Me So." You can view the trailer here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBR0dq0XXk

I hope you will join me for this viewing. Not sure what to expect, or how the turnout will be, but hopefully you can take time out of your schedule to attend.

Thanks very much and hope to see you there. This event is free, and open to all irrespective of orientation.

Please spread the word as well to our Jersey City LGBT friends. Thanks.

Regards,

Fletcher Gensamer
Grace Van Vorst Parishioner
Celebrating 20 years of being Out.

Is talking Slick anything like Talking Jive was in the 70's? You know it really feels like we're doing it all over again. Gas crisis, Embassy's being stormed and what not. Obama is exactly like Carter...

Catch this clip from the movie Airplane.

http://youtu.be/fXSLcYQHqFQ

Crime is not down. There has been a rash of burglaries downtown... and my building is under front and inside door lockdown.

I even posted flyers around in Harsimus Cove that the JCPD put out.

And go to NJ.com. Every day there is another shooting or stabbing or something else.

Crime is not down. In fact... look around... Graffiti is way up and that means so is crime.

And where are the JCPD patrols. Barely ever see patrols.

Just saying.

FG

Be aware in Harsimus Cove area. I live on 2nd Street in an apt building and it looks like someone has tried to jimmy open our front door with a screwdriver.

Have also found menus wedged in the front door very strangely at eye level, which I have heard is a way for thieves to mark and track activity in your building. If a menu stays in the door for several hours, that means no one is home and your place is now a prime target for criminals.

Will be calling JCPD today to see if they can increase patrols on our street. But be aware folks.

If you SEE something Say something.

FG

Be aware in Harsimus Cove area. I live on 2nd Street in an apt building and it looks like someone has tried to jimmy open our front door with a screwdriver.

Have also found menus wedged in the front door very strangely at eye level, which I have heard is a way for thieves to mark and track activity in your building. If a menu stays in the door for several hours, that means no one is home and your place is now a prime target for criminals.

Will be calling JCPD today to see if they can increase patrols on our street. But be aware folks.

If you SEE something Say something.

FG

Best quote ever from that article that was just posted.

?You know, we?re always concerned about the bottom line here in Jersey City and you can?t hit the tax payers over the head all the time, so that was a concern,? Healy stressed.

Oh really? Bought my place in 2007 and got the double whammy.... real estate market collapsed, leaving me underwater, and Jersey City Real Estate Property Taxes going up dramatically just about every year, further depressing values.

Ughhh. Major FAIL. Concerned my ass.

FG

I voted. But at 12:40 this afternoon, only 20 people had voted in my district.

SHAME. SHAME. SHAME. Other countries fight for the right to vote... and here in America....

WHO CARES.

Well.... there you go folks. You get what you DON'T VOTE FOR.

FG

Just read this regarding Enterprise.

The moving schedule of the Space Shuttle Enterprise has been been revised, moving the hour that the shuttle will set sail from the Weeks Marine in Jersey City for the Intrepid Museum to Wednesday 10:15 a.m..

The shuttle will pass the Statue of Liberty around 10:50 a.m. and the World Trade Center at 11: 40 a.m. as it makes its way north on the Hudson River arriving at the Intrepid Museum at 12:30 p.m..

Upon arrival the shuttle will be lifted by crane onto the flight deck of the Intrepid and positioned to face the Hudson River, a procedure that is estimated to take three hours to complete.

Museum officials said that all times are estimates and that conditions of the weather and tide can delay or postpone the event to a later date.

Enterprise was moved by barge on Sunday to a shipyard in Jersey City from John F. Kennedy International Airport, where it arrived on the back of a jumbo jet on April 27.

Commemorating the end of the NASA shuttle program, Enterprise will be on exhibit at the Intrepid Museum beginning July 19.

All I know is that because I am a registered democrat, I could not vote for the candidate of my choice.

The only choice I had was Obama. Until I saw all the way over far away (as not to be seen), a column named PERSONAL CHOICE.

I selected that and then proceeded to enter in my favorite candidate. Mr. Newt Gingrich.

After 3 1/2 years of hoping the economy would turn around, even doing my part and starting a business - trying to make something from nothing (with NO support)... I could not honestly vote for Mr. Obama.

If you are a Democrat.... you do not have to vote for OBAMA. You can even vote for yourself.

(Probably would do a better job too.).

But YOU HAVE TO VOTE. It's your CIVIC DUTY.

FG

Hey Beach Guy. Gay folks don't vote for folks just because they are gay.

The only reason Obama did that gay marriage thing is because he is pandering to the gays. But the thing is, I think there is a BS factor. Obama isn't really for the gays.

If Team Healy have put Velazquez as Deputy Mayor, to get the gay vote I think they are kidding themselves.

All I know is my property taxes have gone up 38% since 2007. If Healy wanted this gay vote, he would have had real strict spending enforcements and balanced on-time budgets and would have reformed government by now.

FG

I need a good lawyer. Chase bank for the thrid time is denying me a refinance. Just last week they sent me a pre-approved letter. I'm working, sent in w2's, letter of employment. I even have my own FREAKING COMPANY and am putting people to work.

I'm livid right now and am going to sue them. Everybody and their brother got theirs in the 2008 financial crisis. I was out of work for a year and a half. Tried to refiance under the original TARP because I experienced hardship. NO....

Then they pulled this same shit on my last year charging me $395 and saying no, keeping the money.

And now this...

I need a really good lawyer. Please advise.

Thank you.

FG

I agree with what Bill463 said.

I moved here in Jersey City in 1993. Lived here for 7 years. Moved to Manhattan to be in relationship. Didn't work out, had an apartment for about two years, then guess what...

Moved back to Jersey City. And after two years, finally bought a place here and have settled down calling JC my home.

NYC is right there if I want it... and if you walk down to exchange place, you just can't beat that view.

FG