HAH! Well, I guess you are naive or I am jaded. Find me a ballot from the last 22 years where the incumbent and/or his slate are below the second line and I will write out the check to St. Lucy's.

Fail. If you think the random drawings for placement are random, you have no business discussing JC politics. http://www.gracevanvorst.org/ministries/article39917c290881.htm

My name is Otis Ball. If you had bothered to read the thread you are commenting on, you would know my name and my history.

As to the ballot lines, you must be well aware that whomever is on Healy's team will almost certainly be listed first for their position.

As for dinner, you can donate the cost of my meal to the Grace breakfast program. http://www.gracevanvorst.org/ministries/article39917c290881.htm

Tickets always run on the same line. Healy will almost certainly be top line. So why would you say Dan would run on a different line?

Also, why won't you identify yourself? What are you hiding?

I didn't catch your first name, Mr. Rogers. What ward do you live in?

Also, your information is incorrect.

In a perfect world, I would love it if he could run as an independent and win in a clean sweep. In a perfect world, he would. But in a corrupt land where patronage and money rule the game, he doesn't stand a chance.

I understand the rage at his decision. If I didn't know him personally, I would feel the same way. But I do know him. Dan ran two campaigns that way. He has been backed into the corner of running another losing campaign or putting his name on a ticket that must be killing him, but might actually put him into office, where he can finally make a difference.

What would you do?

Hey cocpele,

I thought I had explained this, but I will go over it again.

Dan Levin has run for both council and mayoral positions, albeit unsuccessfully, twice. He has put his time and money into both runs. He has ended up in debt.

I have known Dan for over 20 years. Dan is not a wealthy man. He is doing this because he has that rare call to serve that very few of us actually follow up on. And yet he has not folded. I had enough after two years on the board of my neighborhood association. Local politics in general is a headache and heartache. Dan Levin still perseveres.

He could run another campaign as an independent, be listed on the bottom of the ballot and lose. As someone who knows him, respects him and wants him to win, well ... the best intentions etc.

Here's how it works. He joins the Healy ticket and he's likely on the top line of the ballot. Which is a HUGE deal. He might even get some HCDO money. What little there is.

If you think Dan Levin has compromised any of his positions for this, you don't know Dan Levin and you aren't following local politics. The HCDO is near collapse. This is how politics works.

I know it's been said, many times, many ways, but politics make strange bedfellows. I know Dan Levin. I want him to represent me in any capacity he cares to. 22 years in Ward E and he is the only candidate that I trust implicitly. I don't expect people to take my word for it. They shouldn't. But if you take this strategic positioning as a political or moral collapse, you don't know Dan Levin.

How am I contradicting myself?

Also. "your" should be "you're". Your level of education is clear.

Hey, James Beard! I don't see any James Beards in the local directory. What is your legal name?

A whole lot of anonymous people want to jump in on this. You have to wonder who they are and what their intentions and/or paychecks might be.

What?

OK, Clueless Troll. Dan has run for office twice and ended up in the hole. Yet he is still running again. He has never held a government job. His Healy connection is about ballot placement. You are either a political neophyte or a paid "clueless troll".

To reiterate, I am Otis Ball. I served two years on the VVP Neighborhood Association as a member-at-large and a treasurer. The politics at that low end level were far more than I could stomach. But Dan Levin has endured.

I have lived in the same building on Mercer St since 1990 and I have worked on the ground in Ward E for 15 years. Anyone involved in local politics knows who I am. If you would care to dispute this and/or argue my credentials, tell us who you are.

At this point, I have made my case. I want the machine destroyed. As does Dan. It will not be fast or easy. It will probably be generations to unwind this monster. If you want a candidate that will walk in and dismantle it on day one, tell me how that plays out.

I have no financial interest in Dan as my councilman. I just want to start cleaning up this century-old mess.

Vote your heart, by all means. But PLEASE! If you intend to cast a ballot, know the issues and know the candidates.

If you think he's drinking the kool aid, I suggest you interact with him. The great thing about local politics is that you can actually have conversations. Dan Levin is my vote for any position he runs for. I have endorsed him with my votes and my pocketbook and I will continue to do just that. I would suggest that anyone who doubts his intentions look up his One Jersey City Facebook group.

I may not be a heavy poster, but I have identified myself and I have been here for almost 8 years. If you think Fulop hasn't compromised, you aren't paying attention. He started on the Glenn Cunningham ticket. I'm not in love with Fulop, but he is the best mayoral candidate in my 22 years in JC. I will happily vote for him. But to raise Fulop high and damn Levin? They have both compromised. Welcome to the machine.

You clearly don't know Dan and you clearly don't know JC politics. The fact that you are joining this discussion as your second post on this site confirms that.

Given the recent school board negotiations and power broking among the HCDO, I find it laughable you would call out Dan for his decision to put himself on a ticket. His candidacy, or anyone's candidacy, is dead off ticket. You are either stumping or oblivious to Hudson County politics.

I have known Dan Levin for over two decades. I donated real money to Dan's mayoral campaign, knowing the odds were long. I spent two years on the VVPA board. I follow JC politics closer than most of you do. Dan Levin wants to make a change. Dan Levin is also quite aware of how the system works in Jersey City. The political machine was invented in our city. Anyone who thinks this is anything other than working the game is not paying attention. Anyone who thinks this is anything other than Dan seriously weighing his options for his best bet at holding office to finally make a real difference after all he has done and all the fighting he has done, is not paying attention. But don't take my word for it. Dan is very easy to find. If you think this is some grab for power, talk to Dan Levin.

Dan Levin is the best thing that could happen to Ward E. I look forward to the day that all his work pays off and we can have a mayor who is concerned with nothing but what is best for Jersey City. Anyone questioning Dan's motivation clearly does not not Dan.

My name is Otis Ball and I absolutely approve of this message. If you don't know who I am, then you are not involved in Ward E.

Jersey City animal shelter files harassment, defamation suit against Facebook critics

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... y_animal_shelter_fil.html

HAA is an advocacy organization. They do not take in animals. But Pets Alive is a "no kill" shelter. Are you saying they might be sending out dogs to be euthanized?

Hey GP! All great ideas! I volunteer at the shelter every Sunday. Why don't you come on by and I'll introduce you to everyone. You can tell them your ideas for helping out all the animals. I'm sure they'd be happy to hear out of the box ideas to end the homeless animal population problem and find great homes for all the animals.