Register now !    Login  
Main Menu
Who's Online
66 user(s) are online (61 user(s) are browsing Message Forum)

Members: 0
Guests: 66

more...


Forum Index


Board index » All Posts (DanL)




Re: A New Study Revives the Debate Over Property Tax Abatements
#1
Home away from home
Home away from home


actually, all that was necessary was for the Board of Education to approve the necessary funding and raise the school tax levy which in the turn put the onus on the administration to deal with a huge overall tax increase and using ARP (American Rescue Plan Act) funds offset the increase by reducing the local levy. It works for this year, but we will see if sustainable.



[quote]
val7101 wrote:
A lot of people think the tax abatements and PILOT agreements went on way too long. Jersey City was a hot location and developers were dying for projects here, there was just no need after many years.
It's also interesting that after months of listening to doom and gloom over the the gap in the school budget that over $60 million was

Posted on: 2021/7/30 1:09
 Top 


Re: A New Study Revives the Debate Over Property Tax Abatements
#2
Home away from home
Home away from home


I believe you are referring to what was known as Crystal Point at the foot of 2nd Street. The building was completed and the developers came back to city council to sweeten the tax abatement due to poor sales during the great recession and the council did it.

Quote:

caj11 wrote:
I can't recall any exact details of it here but there was one condo project in Jersey City that received an abatement some years ago when it was first built, then the developers asked for an additional abatement quite some time after the agreement had already been signed because the individual units in the project weren't selling fast enough. Whether or not they received the additional abatement or not I don't remember but the fact that the city even took this request seriously just blew my mind. Did anybody here not understand the basic economic concept of supply and demand? If the units were not selling fast enough, did the possibility of LOWERING their prices ever occur to the developers?

Maybe I'm the idiot here, to think that any developer Jersey City should be required to take some RISK when there is a potential REWARD, rather than pushing the risk onto to the taxpayers and collecting the reward for themselves. The economics class I took in high school and business classes I took in college must have been total bunk. Our previous President, in his days as a businessperson was all about capitalist profits and socialized losses, after all.

Posted on: 2021/7/30 1:03
 Top 


Re: Spotlight On: Affordable housing
#3
Home away from home
Home away from home


Does Upzoning Boost the Housing Supply and Lower Prices? Maybe Not. - https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/01/z ... nt-gentrification/581677/

?Build More Housing? Is No Match for Inequality - https://www.citylab.com/equity/2019/05 ... inequality-cities/588997/

In the past, for profit developers built small row and frame homes for the working class and tenements for the poor. there has always been money to be made from servicing the low income.



Quote:

brewster wrote:
Quote:

DanL wrote:
in theory, the market works, in practice developers and investors build only luxury or top of the market housing both here and elsewhere without subsidies and government restrictions/requirements.

What is the data you base this claim on the effect of loosened zoning over a whole region? I have not heard of it being done. The effect of redevelopment zones is NOT what we're talking about, but of allowing as of right 4-6 floor midrise density anywhere we currently have R-1.

But even were I to concede you are correct, if enough was built it would have the same effect. Inventory at the top would relieve the downward pressure of gentrification. Jane Jacobs said the tradition ecology of cities was that housing was built for the wealthy and handed down to those less well off as it got tatty, ending up as slums. No one ever built housing for the poor until the era of public housing projects, a dismal failure of the ideas of Le Corbusier and his compatriots.

Zoning and rent control interrupted this "natural" process. There was never enough built postwar to relieve the shortage, and then rent control doomed large numbers of prewar apartment building to destruction because it was not worth maintaining them for the rents allowed. Today it seems illogical that there was a shortage of housing and vacancy rates never fell at a time when apartment buildings were being abandoned, but that is the history. The NYC vacancy rate never rose above the 5% level to stand down from a "rent emergency".

Posted on: 2019/6/6 12:13
 Top 


Re: Spotlight On: Affordable housing
#4
Home away from home
Home away from home


in theory, the market works, in practice developers and investors build only luxury or top of the market housing both here and elsewhere without subsidies and government restrictions/requirements.


Quote:

bodhipooh wrote:
Quote:

Yvonne wrote:
How can you have affordable housing when taxpayers paid $909 million to the county, school, and city governments in 2018? The way affordable housing is done is by passing off low income housing taxes onto the general tax paying homeowner who does not have a tax abatement. But that makes housing more expensive for that group of property owners. It is the equivalent of having a restaurant and charging one group a lower price, then inflate the price for another group to cover the group who had the reduced meal. Down the road, someone will pay the tab.


As usual, you find yourself out of your depth, but that doesnt stop you from spewing an uninformed opinion. You are conflating subsidized housing with the concept of "affordable housing". Affordable housing is about ensuring that there is enough supply to meet demand, so that prices are not driven up exuberantly because of competition for what little is available.

Affordable housing is about ensuring that a majority middle class is able to afford to live locally, and the working class is able to reside in relative proximity to where they work. So, instead of having $5,000 rents for a 2+ bedroom apartment, you end up with something lower. If instead of 1,000 units for 2,000 people you had 2,000 units for 2,000 people, competition is lowered and prices would not skyrocket. Encouraging the city to loosen zoning rules and limitations, along with approving development that helps alleviate the situation, is the smart thing to do: it is not subsidized, and it would allow us slow down the frenetic rent increases of recent times.

Posted on: 2019/6/6 0:29
 Top 


"Jersey City mayor would build more housing for gentrifiers, call it ‘affordable’"
#5
Home away from home
Home away from home


Headline alone says it all.

"Jersey City mayor would build more housing for gentrifiers, call it ?affordable? | Editor's"

https://www.nj.com/opinion/2019/05/jer ... affordable-editorial.html

Posted on: 2019/5/22 19:31
 Top 


Re: Jersey City council pay would nearly double under new plan
#6
Home away from home
Home away from home


Newark while paying more and they just recently upped it further is part time, meaning they can have another job or outside employment.

https://www.nj.com/essex/2019/03/105k- ... hemselves-big-raises.html

Quote:

caj11 wrote:
Quote:

tbo wrote:
Newark Council members receive around $100,000 per year.

Jersey City Council members receive around $35,000 per year.

Both serve populations of ~270K / 280K residents.

Jersey City residents deserve a strong full time Council that can focus on the business of the City and that get paid accordingly.


I agree with you completely, but does this increase in pay mean the council members with multiple public positions will resign from one of their other public positions? Will they truly put in more work into being a council member? Not saying they should put in twice as much time on twice as much of a salary, they were underpaid for their work, but I really despise the fact that people can hold multiple public positions in New Jersey, and part of the aim of this salary increase should put an end to it. Holding a separate private sector job or running a business is far less of an issue and common with locally elected officials around the country.

Posted on: 2019/5/2 17:54
 Top 


Re: Jersey City school board votes to allow members with conflicts of interest to vote on teachers union
#7
Home away from home
Home away from home


again, agree, the racial implications and inequity of delaying the reval barely made a blip on the city's consciousness as is its failure to act on the Croson study and remedy the disparity in the city's contract and procurement process.

however, gone are the old days of board of education candidates winning elections with 2,000 votes give or take.

this past November, Marilyn Roman had 26k votes and all the winners were over 20k votes. The previous year, Amy DeGise has 19k, and in 2016, Angel Valentin and Suhan Thomas with 16k.

We'll see if anything changes as we get closer to paying 50% of our school's budget. Doubt anything until the next recession.



Quote:

bodhipooh wrote:
Quote:

brewster wrote:
Quote:

DanL wrote:
while I believe that this decision is not in the best interest of the education system and conflicts of interest come with a heavy cost, however, Jersey City teachers are NOT among the highest paid in the state. They make more than 88%, not 98% of districts. Median salary is $75,760, ranked 80th in districts in NJ, 3rd in Hudson behind, Hoboken and Harrison.

Ah, I misremembered, it's actually >93% of, as I said, equivalent districts. But since when is more than even 88% "NOT among the highest paid in the state."???

Per Pupil Ranking Within Group (2017-18 budget): 91|98
https://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/csg/18/csg.pl

Quote:

bodhipooh wrote:
it bears repeating that JC residents have shown incredible apathy to these issues because they are shielded from the spiraling school costs as a result of our budget being mostly shouldered by the state. If for every $1 increase we only pay 16 cents, people just don't have enough of an incentive (or don't feel enough pain) to complain and demand accountability.

This actually bears a striking resemblance to how insured Americans have been indifferent to skyrocketing healthcare costs. I still don't fathom how the state returned control when we're so obviously spending out of control, and how they didn't rein it in over the >25 years they had control.


You are SO right in drawing that analogy with healthcare: for those of us who are covered by an employer plan, healthcare costs have always been an abstract subject. About five years ago, my company switched from paying 95% of the monthly cost of employee's health insurance to 80%, which of course spurred a lot of people to examine what was being paid for and what was offered or included. And, since that first change, a small (but, very vocal) group insists on negotiating of new rates, even if it entails switching plans. If the company ever switches to paying just 50%, I am SURE that most people would be VERY invested in how the plans are negotiated and what is covered or offered.

The irony is that if you ask most people on the street, they would tell you that our taxes are too high. When the reval was completed, a sizable portion of DTJC was up in arms about the new taxes, and there was no reasoning with those people. They insist they are being unfairly singled out. When it is pointed out to them that school taxes are too low and will inevitably go up in the next few years, people absolutely, positively lose their $hit and go on tirades about the unfairness of it all, this despite being told that we are only paying 16% of our budget, while other NJ residents are paying the rest. Tripling the local school tax is about the fairest thing that could happen, but people would be up in arms. The thing is... sooner or later, it will have to happen.

Posted on: 2019/3/12 12:07
 Top 


Re: Jersey City school board votes to allow members with conflicts of interest to vote on teachers union
#8
Home away from home
Home away from home


while I believe that this decision is not in the best interest of the education system and conflicts of interest come with a heavy cost, however, Jersey City teachers are NOT among the highest paid in the state. They make more than 88%, not 98% of districts. Median salary is $75,760, ranked 80th in districts in NJ, 3rd in Hudson behind, Hoboken and Harrison. https://www.nj.com/education/2018/09/d ... the_median_salary_in.html https://www.nj.com/education/2018/09/t ... re_teachers_make_the.html https://www.nj.com/news/2017/11/the_to ... _in_each_county_that.html Quote:
brewster wrote: Quote:
Stringer wrote:

Jersey City school board votes to allow members with conflicts of interest to vote on teachers union pact

JERSEY CITY ? The school board voted Thursday to allow its members who were supported by the local teachers union to vote on the new union contract, which could be finalized later this year.

The approved measure is known as the doctrine of necessity, which is invoked when a quorum of the board has conflicts of interest that prevent it from voting on a specific matter. Absent Thursday?s action, only four board members would be able to vote on the teachers union contract because the other five have conflicts. The contract expires in June.

Thursday?s measure was approved with little discussion by a 7-1 vote, with Matt Schapiro voting no. He is one of the non-conflicted members.

https://www.nj.com/hudson/2019/03/jers ... -teachers-union-pact.html

The foxes are voting on who should be allowed in the henhouse. You can't make this shit up. We pay our teachers more than 98% of equivalent NJ districts. Why is that?

Posted on: 2019/3/11 12:12
 Top 


Re: For six years, Jersey City schools chief was at center of conflict
#9
Home away from home
Home away from home



based on our experience in JC, and with the schools, I agree with both of your assessments, and with the looming school funding crises, I don't think we are prepared for it.

parent and community organizations are working and lobbying for funding sources and solutions to eventually fully fund our children's public district school education along with addressing facility deficiencies, yet those in charge, be it the school board or city, are not prioritizing and focusing on the problems.

tone and professionalism, a culture of treating everyone with dignity and respect, will not pay the bills or fix buildings or the water supply, but goes a long way to creating a constructive framework to work on and solve the problems and issues. unfortunately, we do not appear to have it in Jersey City.

also, agree with brewster about the reval delay, who from the beginning questioned and opposed it.



Quote:

brewster wrote:
Quote:

tern wrote:
Terrible that the Teacher's Union gets to dictate how the school system is run, but me and most of the other parents in Jersey City weren't there tonight, and 150 teachers were, until enough of us make it a priority to oppose them, they get to run the show.

Robin.

Good point, but since she was a lame duck not much interest in this battle. But to your larger point, I find the entire schools issue to be impenetrable. As far as I can tell all the conflict is over who gets to pillage the system, the teachers or the admin, not over how can they do a better job.

I'd love to know more. If only there was some Journalists who would actually report in depth on the issues facing the $600m/year JC system and the implications of the factions fighting, rather than just the blow by blow. But this is what you get when Newsrooms are gutted. Big stories like the implications of the reval delay and the schools crisis simply can't be covered since most of it isn't a couple of paragraphs on "what happened today".

Posted on: 2019/2/1 13:34
 Top 


Re: JC Public Schools is short $70 million
#10
Home away from home
Home away from home


Jersey City is only 80th on this list - Here's the median salary in every N.J. district

Posted on: 2018/9/11 12:32
 Top 


Re: The Rivet
#11
Home away from home
Home away from home


Is it ready?

Rivet, a new residential bulding at 23 University Place Blvd. in Jersey City, suffered damage in a fire Thursday night.

https://articles.nj.com/hudson/index.s ... _of_5-story_jersey_ci.amp


Posted on: 2018/8/22 12:32
 Top 


Re: Boonton Reservoir
#12
Home away from home
Home away from home


what is unreasonable about reviewing the study of impacts performed by the Open Space Institute before giving away the access for nothing. And with no benefit to the residents of Jersey City and Hoboken who rely on this resource.

what is reasonable is what an online petition asks - https://www.change.org/p/help-protect- ... ly-from-recreational-uses

that:

* the Jersey City Environmental Commission be consulted on the proposal;

* the MUA Board be consulted on the proposal, and charged with conducting their own review of the proposal;

* the Open Space Institute study, if there is one, be released for public scrutiny;

*a concerted set of public hearings be held, at which residents be both informed about the proposal, and be given every opportunity to provide input.

what is the hurry to move forward on this?

Posted on: 2018/8/14 2:38
 Top 


Re: Hatfield and McCoy's on Astor Place!
#13
Home away from home
Home away from home


great, because you are twisting it around to again smear other groups. of course, I read the article. but instead of using as a counter to illustrate the many groups that get it right, you use to smear bonafide community groups. the one in the article which portrays mostly good people who lost it and took things way too far, is an example of a group that is not well organized, does not do outreach, nor draws people in with sound by-laws, elections, term limits etc.

so you don't advocate then for pro-development because you have our current "pro-development" mayor, who defeated a "pro-development" opponent and previously defeated and succeeded a "pro-development" mayor, who succeeded a "pro-development" mayor, who succeeded a "pro-development" mayor .... not sure it means that our government's actions are solely good. and people should not organize to express a different vision or dissatisfaction or feel that their best interests are subservient to development interests.

it is a good thing (in my mind) that these groups that you continue to smear, are among the most transparent organizations in the city. and I am grateful that there are people in our city that organize and advocate honestly for what they believe in.


Quote:

dr_nick_riviera wrote:

I'm done with this thread after this reply. If you bothered to read the originally attached article, you can see the leader of the NA abused her power to smear and intimidate the very residents they claim to represent. This obviously goes both ways.

And no, I have no ties to developers or have any developer interests. I simply understand how economics and supply/demand works, which many people who run these groups and claim to be outraged by increasing costs of living do not. To say the general public would not buy in - our supposedly "pro-development" mayor won with almost 80% of the vote along with a strong city council majority. The general public made it clear which side the argument they support. You lost in a landslide, perhaps it is, in fact, possible *your* ideas are way out of step with the general public.

Once again, another smear perpetuated by these groups against people who dare disagree - anyone in favor of density must be a real estate shill. Let's not forget that by limiting the housing supply, property owners who run these groups benefit from the high property values resulting from it. And I'm not even going to get into parking.

Posted on: 2018/8/11 3:34
 Top 


Re: Hatfield and McCoy's on Astor Place!
#14
Home away from home
Home away from home


why should anyone give you a break. you smear groups that you may not agree with it. these groups have earned credibility as being representative by organizing, having by-laws, rules, protocols, elections, terms (and some term limits). many are run better than our government (and they are mere volunteers.) there is nothing in law that gives them any power or authority. they earn it.

you can do the same and start a pro-development organization by making a commitment and doing the work. my guess is that you have a vested interest in development (but I could be wrong, I could even know you.) and the general public would not buy in.

it should not be surprising that people who mostly like their neighborhood the way it is and only wish to see moderate development and growth would commit the time to participate and work together to that end.


Quote:

dr_nick_riviera wrote:

Gimme a break, I'm not the only one here questioning how these groups operate. NIMBYs just don't like being told they are not the gatekeepers of all wisdom. Of course one of biggest NIMBYs, and also one of Jersey City's biggest losers in electoral history would be in favor of groups of self appointed know-nothings. And no, neighborhood groups are not representative democracies. That's why we have elections and vote for the city council and mayor. You of all people should know that.

Posted on: 2018/8/11 1:40
 Top 


Re: Hatfield and McCoy's on Astor Place!
#15
Home away from home
Home away from home


that is pretty funny, the guy/girl who posts as a Simpsons character is calling for transparency. only in Jersey City.

those that participate, get a say, that is how representative democracy works. you want to be represented, go to a meeting. if it take three to six months for minutes to show up on a website, so be it, that is better than most including our city at times.



Quote:

dr_nick_riviera wrote:
Quote:

Yvonne wrote:
Brewster, when did I say, "we like it as it is, it works for us, nothing should change, ever". I lived on Van Vorst Park for 40 years, some good things happened and some bad things happened. Here is the bad thing: having dogs barked 3:00 am in the morning when you are trying to sleep because people consider the total park as a dog park. Another bad classic, dog owners exercising their dogs at night on the equipment and sometimes the dogs relieves themselves on the equipment. It was the reason my children did not use the playground equipment in Van Vorst Park. Some of these classic bad things came from new neighbors.


You say that in regards to just about every issue Jersey City faces, be it parking, development, the Kaytn statue, street trees, bike lanes, millennials, new businesses, mass transit etc. etc. etc.

It also looks like my post struck a nerve, the VVPA website got updated for the first time in months today. Hey VVPA board members (they 100% read this forum), maybe start posting meeting minutes again and start being transparent with your community!

Posted on: 2018/8/10 0:39
 Top 


Re: Boonton Reservoir
#16
Home away from home
Home away from home


from a friend I respect and has expertise.

The City's plans to open our Boonton reservoir to public access and I'm concerned that this may impact the quality of water and the City will not have direct control over protecting and supervising public access to our water supply.

On July 25th Mayor Fulop confirmed that an agreement was in place for the Morris County Park Commission to develop and manage a trail around the Boonton Reservoir, which has been the primary water source for Jersey City since 1904. Fulop told the Daily Record that, "We've been working on this now for two years in Jersey City, and we're at a place where we think it will be in front of the council first week of September."

It is not clear to me who has been working on this deal for 2 years because key stakeholders like the people of Jersey City, the Jersey City Environmental Commission, and other community groups have not been engaged. Apparently, the hope is to push this through while folks are busy with summer vacations.

Although the Open Space Institute (OSI) has been engaged to conduct a study of the impacts to the reservoir, the study has not yet been released or reviewed by our Environmental Commission or the board of the Jersey City MUA. Despite this, the Mayor will be asking the City Council to approve the deal that will allow recreational access for 40 years at a cost of only $1. Yes, he is selling recreational access to our water supply for $1 with no benefit to the people of Jersey City.

Opening the reservoir area to recreational activities would require the construction of access roads, parking areas, pathways, etc., all of which would impact the already fragile and very limited protective vegetative cover. Runoff from rain and snow carries chemicals, sediments, pesticides, excess nutrients and many other pollutants from the land to the water. Maintaining a buffer strip of native vegetation along our reservoir plays an extremely important role in protecting water quality.

The native trees and plants around the reservoir minimize soil erosion and act as a filter that keeps contaminants from entering the water. Some areas along the Boonton Reservoir are highly susceptible to erosion and greatly depend on existing trees and plants to help minimize the rate of erosion. Any development of reservoir lands for trails, parking, or other recreational facilities will damage the ecosystems ability to protect our water supply, which may result in an increase in pollutants entering the reservoir and increased treatment costs.

A similar plan was dismissed after the terrorist attacks of September 2001 when it became clear that our water supply would be vulnerable if it were open to public access. Today, the risk of an intentional attack to compromise the water supply of the people of Jersey City still stands. Whether intentional or not, our water supply will be more vulnerable to further degradation if this plan proceeds.


and our own Environmental Commission states their concerns here - https://www.documentcloud.org/document ... at-Boonton-Reservoir.html

Posted on: 2018/7/31 2:25
 Top 


Re: 'What is this, Russia?' Jersey City property owners fight developer
#17
Home away from home
Home away from home


no, it is closer to 15-20% of the state average which makes sense for our demographics, special needs and ESL. With the current budget it will drop to around $21,886, less than 10% over average. our budget and cost per pupil only grew under state control.

we are not even among the 50 schools that spend the most per pupil.

https://www.nj.com/education/2017/05/t ... pend_the_most_per_pu.html

now, back to the topic at hand.

Quote:

JCGuys wrote:
Quote:

Monroe wrote:
JC schools spend 25% more per student than the state average so calling them ?starved for cash? is misleading g, especially since JC funds such a tiny amount of the cost.


Bingo! The problem is an administrative one. I kinda wish the State would take back full control of JC schools until costs are under control.

25% more per student than state average is ridiculous, especially when you consider the level of service being provided... It's not as if our schools are 25% better than the state average.

The one way to force the issue is for the state to stop sending a ridiculous amount of money to JCBOE at the expenses of other school needs in the rest of the state. That would force JC schools to get their budget in order.

Posted on: 2018/7/11 16:34
 Top 


Re: 'What is this, Russia?' Jersey City property owners fight developer
#18
Home away from home
Home away from home


Mostly agree, but! At present the city gets (at the expense of the schools and county) more money from most, but not all abatements than if a project was taxed conventionally. But with two caveats, the amounts are fixed or adjusted by contract whereas ratables will generate more tax dollars as the rate is increased AND some abatements actually do pay less, ie. 1 Journal Squared which pays $1200-$1500/yr per apartment.

In the short term, a dollar is a dollar, but as time goes on "rateables" are more valuable because they are "rateables." Abatements distort our local finances and allowed our city budget to balloon while claiming taxes are flat (the rate but not the amount) and our schools are starved (and feeling it.) The payroll tax will help, but will not fully replace the monies that our city "stole" from our schools.

Oh, and I absolutely do not believe that we should be trying raise tax dollars by taking people's residences via eminent domain. We have numerous examples of redevelopment plans that have taken decades to be built (partially built), Liberty Harbor, Colgate, Whitock Cordage, Hotel on the Square etc.






Quote:

bodhipooh wrote:
Quote:

HeightsNative wrote:
Quote:

bodhipooh wrote:
Quote:

Yvonne wrote:
If property is tax abated, it does not help, that is a contract and the city spends that money as fast as it receives. If it is not tax abatement then it is a ratable, which stabilizes the tax base and the county, schools will get their fair share.


You have NO IDEA what you are talking about, but that has already been established! Ratable or abatement, it is still money to the city. Whatever money the city gets from an abatement, it represents actual "income" which means the city needs to raise less money via regular taxation.

And, of course, there is that little pesky fact you choose to ignore: the abatement payments actually add more money to the city coffers than if the property in question was paying regular taxes. Why don't we talk about that??


Bodhi, you know I am a fan, and it pains me to say this, but Yvonne's point is very valid. Yes, abatements add to the city's coffers, but at the expense of the schools. It works as long as the state never realizes they're overfunding the district and the state aid continues unchanged, or increases.

Right before our very eyes, we're seeing the house of cards situation unfold. The state now recognizes it sends way too much money to Jersey (those paying property taxes post reval will have one of the lowest property tax rates in the state), and are pulling the funding. If you had less abatements, the city would be better prepared to absorb the tax increase that will result from the state pulling the aid. Instead, they're going to levy a corporate tax. And when that option runs out, guess who pays? The rateable portion of the city. Fulop will stop at nothing to keep from raising municipal taxes to fund the schools, because he has a streak to protect, but that day WILL come. And it's going to be ugly.

Abataments definitely have their place. I'm not anti abatement. But, abatements in JC help any sitting mayor fund pet projects that win votes. When abused, you create a massive fiscal issue, just like the 30 year delayed tax reval.


Yes, abatements don't get shared with the county (except for a paltry 5%) but the city still contributes to the school budget! The school does not rely on just direct taxation and contributions by the state and federal governments. The city government also sends a chunk of money to the BOE.

The part that drives me nuts about Yvonne's selective presentation of information is that she conveniently leaves out that the city collects MORE money through the abatements than it would under regular taxation. That larger amount translates to lower taxes. Ultimately, the budget is essentially a fixed amount (call it X) and it is made up of several sources of revenue, mostly taxes, PILOTs (abatement payments) and things like fines and fees. If the PILOTs were to go down, then the revenue has to be made up elsewhere, and since you can't force fees and fines high enough, fast enough, the only viable solution is to increase revenue from taxation. That means taxes would have to go up to make up the decrease from revenue generated through abatements, and go up by a larger overall amount than the one paid through the PILOT to make up the effective difference.

Posted on: 2018/7/11 14:44
 Top 


Re: 4th of July in JC @ Exchange Place - Featuring Snoop Dog
#19
Home away from home
Home away from home


Everything around here seems ass backwards, the headliner should have just performed after the fireworks. jc make it yours!

Quote:

brewster wrote:
Quote:

Like I said earlier... why would anyone be surprised that a headlining rapper shows up late for a concert... whoever booked him is a real dope.

And if that comment by Fulop is accurate, it really demonstrates his inability to honestly assess a major screw up with a city sponsored event that had his name and face prominently displayed in the media campaign.

The main event was the fireworks not some egocentric rapper... or a mayor's statewide political asspirations.


I can't believe it, I agree with your post 100%! As for who brings kids to a loud concert, many apparently, but many also chose one of the plentiful shoreline spots NOT at the concert from which to view the fireworks. What we got was the tail wagging the Dogg, Snoop was an opening act for the fireworks, not the main event. Can you imagine a headliner waiting an hour for their opening act to finish?

Posted on: 2018/7/8 2:05
 Top 


Re: Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza Expansion
#20
Home away from home
Home away from home


I think Jersey City of late keeps muddying and commingling the idea of a plaza and open space with a park and green space. exchange place with or without the memorial statue is being changed from a plaza (town square) to park space. I think they are different and serves different purposes ...

Posted on: 2018/7/2 16:40
 Top 


Re: Plan to limit public comment at Jersey City council meetings draws Fulop's ire
#21
Home away from home
Home away from home


this summed up the value of not limiting 2nd reading comments and I hope you will express this again to our council members. I have already, but par for the course only received one acknowledgement out of 9.

Quote:

OneSkirt wrote:
While some people may over use this right, we need to keep it as is. I've spoken recently re: the McGinley sq. Redevelopment Plan which went on for almost 3 hrs. It was extremely productive for the residents to have this time (and we were organized) as we got to ask the City Planners and developers a lot of questions before the council. In doing this, we exposed a lot of problems with the plan and a lot of lies and contradictions the developer had been telling during that meeting, and before. President Lavarro did a great job keeping speakers on topic. If we didn't have this open time limit to hash out details and make our case, the residents wouldn't have gotten any wins out of this deal. We won a few solid points, most notably abolishing the four large video screens the developer wanted to go on the building and secure money from them towards building the new park at the square.

Posted on: 2018/7/1 18:53
 Top 


Re: Plastic bag bans coming to Hoboken, Jersey City
#22
Home away from home
Home away from home


This makes a whole lot more sense than a ban on plastic bags.

funny, how things finally come around - http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/ ... es-would-not-be-affected/

Quote:

user1111 wrote:
By Michael Sol Warren mwarren@njadvancemedia.com,
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

In the midst of Trenton's swirling budget debate, New Jersey drew one step closer to becoming the first state to impose state-wide fees on single-use plastic and paper bags.

On Thursday night, state lawmakers approved a five-cent fee for every bag handed out at chain supermarkets and retailers. The measure applies to both paper and plastic bags. The goal of the fees is to discourage the use of single-use plastic bags and push consumers towards reusable bags instead.

"Most stores have made the change and now provide more environmentally friendly bags for customers," said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), the sponsor of the Assembly bill. "This bill encourages more stores to get on board and move away from using the bags that are harmful to the environment."

The bill now heads to Gov. Phil Murphy's desk.

"Governor Murphy will carefully consider any legislation that aims to protect the environment in New Jersey," said Dan Bryan, a spokesman for the Governor.
https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018 ... 2box_nj-homepage-featured

Posted on: 2018/6/22 19:12
 Top 


Re: Jersey City has big plans for 100 acres on West Side along Hackensack River
#23
Home away from home
Home away from home


unfortunately everything.

as per the article, the city already owns 40% of the site but may owe Honeywell $25m, and at $1m per acre only has $15m value into the site. so the question could be how to leverage JC Together's affordable housing objective?

there were two downtown projects on Marin Blvd that received state EDC tax subsidies that averaged $500k per affordable unit with an additional long term tax abatement. that is a bitter pill for the average tax paying homeowner to swallow.

so, my thinking, whether the city attempts to take this is on or just subsidize private developers (for both), what is an acceptable level of subsidy per affordable unit?

can the subsidy be in the land and zoning (height and density.)


Quote:

bodhipooh wrote:


What could possibly go wrong with the city acting as the master developer?


Posted on: 2018/5/24 16:09
 Top 


Re: JC Landmarks Conservancy Awards
#24
Home away from home
Home away from home


A little more info -

Now in its 18th year, the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy is holding its preservation awards ceremony on Thursday, May 31 at 6:30pm at the landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre. It's hard believe that this grassroots organization is nearing the the end of its' second decade.

This is one of the magical evenings in Jersey City. Enjoy the majestic Loew's Jersey Theatre, hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine, and desert, with recognition for historic preservation efforts in Jersey City. Following the ceremony there will be a tour of the historic Loew's.

If you have never been to the Loew's, this is a great opportunity to see it, if you have, this will be a relaxing evening to take in the best of Jersey City.

For tickets and information, please see this link - Awards Ceremony






Quote:

RebeccaS wrote:
JC Landmarks Conservancy Awards

Hi all, here is information for this year's JCLC Awards event.

Please help us honor people and businesses who help steward the heritage of Jersey City's building, culture, and character.

http://www.jclandmarks.org/events/annual-preservation-awards/

Posted on: 2018/5/24 15:51
 Top 


Re: Okay, so who here thinks the Katyn monument needs to go?
#25
Home away from home
Home away from home


During the ''pro-old-timers'' term of Mayor Anthony Cucci of Jersey City, it was decided to put at Exchange Place a monument to the 1940 massacre of Polish soldiers in the Katyn forest. The 17-foot statue, a cavalryman with a bayonet through his back, is in the middle of what planners call ''the view corridor,'' framed by the World Trade Center Towers. That placement is itself a sort of memorial to the bygone strength of the old ethnic groups.

https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/15/nyregion/on-the-waterfront.html

Posted on: 2018/5/4 16:05
 Top 


Re: Democratic Party lobbyist Removed From Port Authority
#26
Home away from home
Home away from home


and 5 years after our mayors election, his fans are still obsessed with Healy.




Quote:

CatDog wrote:
Quote:

iGreg wrote:
Good Lord!, I certainly hope Hillary has made that comforting
phone call.



#Special
1.5 years after the election and you're still obsessed with Hillary. Goodness.

Posted on: 2018/4/26 2:06
 Top 


Re: JC Public Schools is short $70 million
#27
Home away from home
Home away from home


I do not think anyone disagrees with your excellent analyses and assessment and yes, their first recommendation, "no further cuts to adjustment aid in districts spending below adequacy" supports the JCEA.

But the remaining 4 recommendations all ask for Jersey City to pay more ourselves; raise 2% cap (and increase levy), increase local levy, fair share of future local PILOTS and require local contribution to make up for or adjust for existing PILOTS.

Personally, I am by no means happy about additional taxes after our property taxes will increase increase 50% post reval and health insurance went up 30%, but the alternative, starving our schools is worse.



Quote:

stateaidguy wrote:
Quote:

ecinjc wrote:
Here?s a good overview of funding issues from Rutgers Edlaw. It?s a complex issue and will need more than just a portion of abatements to fix. But it?s good to understand that we are not overfunded based on the number of disadvantaged, eel,and special needs kids we serve. http://www.edlawcenter.org/assets/fil ... _School_Funding_Case_.pdf


This is b******t.

First of all, that's not from "Rutgers." It's from the Education Law Center, which has no formal connection to Rutgers.

The Education Law Center is an entity that gets a third of its budget from the NJEA and does whatever the NJEA wants it to do. It isn't an independent group at all.

Even if the ELC were an independent group and even if it were from Rutgers, so what? People from a university can be biased and/or wrong.


Second, you do not understand SFRA based on your description of what that report even says.

All that report points out is that Jersey City is below SFRA's (inflated) definition of Adequacy, a fact that no one disputes, but that normal people point out is due to Jersey City's refusal to raise its school taxes in any way proportional to its increase in wealth.

The report blames this all on the tax cap, but the JCBOE hasn't even consistently raised taxes at 2.0%, has never used banked cap, and has never considered a referendum on a higher levy.

The SFRA formula already accounts for the number of economically disadvantaged students a district has. There is no accounting for "eels," but students who are English Language Learners have an extra weight as well. Special ed classification actually doesn't have a weight in the SFRA formula (for any district.)

Because the Jersey City Public Schools have a high FRL-eligible rate and a high rate of students who are ELLs, it has a much higher Adequacy Budget per student than the average budget.

HOWEVER, SFRA isn't so simple as to solely give a district money based on its demographics because tax base is a factor in appropriate state aid too.

NJ's aid formula, like the formulas of all states, intends to give state aid in inverse proportion to a district's wealth.

Jersey City is not a "rich" district in terms of tax base, but it is an average district. Yet, despite being average in tax base, Jersey City's state aid per student is actually in the top 20 in New Jersey.

Although SFRA doesn't differentiate between residential and non-residential property, Jersey City also has about double the proportion of non-residential property of the average NJ town.

SFRA calculates a Local Fair Share for Jersey City (like it does all districts) of $370 million for 2017-18. SFRA calculates an Adequacy Budget for Jersey City of $630 million.

The difference between that $370 million that Jersey City is economically capable of paying is Equalization Aid, Special Ed aid, and Security Aid.

Jersey City, however, pays nowhere near its full Local Fair Share and it relies on Adjustment Aid to keep a low tax rate that will hit 0.42 in 2018-19, or one-third of the state average.

Although Jersey City's tax base is by far the state's largest (for 2018-19 it will be $180 million larger than the next largest district's (Hoboken's) Jersey City's tax levy is only the 16th largest in NJ, and is higher than poorer and smaller towns like Newark, Cherry Hill, West Orange, and Clifton.

Because of of the state's chronic budget problems, the state has nowhere near enough money to fairly or fully fund its many towns that have growing enrollments and shrinking tax bases.

Some districts are underaided (by the state) by $9000 per student.

Because the state cannot make the pie large enough to fully fund every district, it has to divide that pie more evenly.

http://njeducationaid.blogspot.com/20 ... enter-jersey-city-is.html

Posted on: 2018/4/3 13:48
 Top 


Re: JC Public Schools is short $70 million
#28
Home away from home
Home away from home


Jersey City is nowhere near the top of this list, last I looked about 10-15% above average. Iin Hudson County, less than Hoboken, Harrison and Union City -

The 50 school districts that spend the most per student in N.J.

The most ? and least ? expensive school districts in New Jersey

Quote:

stateaidguy wrote:
Quote:

newbie100 wrote:
BTW how many students does JC have and what is our per student spending?


New Jersey has three different ways to account for per student spending.

As another poster said, the Taxpayer Guide to Education Spending lists JC as spending $22,751 per student for
"Total Spending Per Pupil."

That amount includes pensions, construction spending, Social Security, and Post-Retirement Healthcare, plus spending from federal aid. It is the most inclusive, and most accurate, number for what any NJ school district's spending is. It is also 90% more per student than the national average.

If you are doing interstate comparisons, you should use Total Spending Per Pupil.

There is also "Budgetary Cost Per Pupil," which includes things that are directly under the BOE's control, essentially opex spending.

A district's Budgetary Cost Per Pupil is about $4000-$4500 per student less than its "Total Spending Per Pupil." JC's Budgetary Cost Per Pupil is $18,154 per student.

The state average for Budgetary Cost Per Pupil is about $15,000 per student.

HOWEVER, is is a third, most exclusive, number for spending that is used in the School Funding Reform Act. It only includes Equalization Aid, Sped Aid, Security Aid, the local tax levy, and Adjustment Aid. It excludes federal aid and all of the state's numerous indirect streams of aid. This third and lowest calculation of spending is called "Spending as Defined."

By this number Jersey City only spends $527,389,023 for 30,753 students, or $17,149 per student.

Since "Spending as Defined" excludes so much of Jersey City's spending, and because the School Funding Reform Act has a sky-high Adequacy budget for Jersey City, Jersey City is legally about $3100 per student below Adequacy even though its spending is well above NJ's average and dramatically above the national average.


Posted on: 2018/4/3 13:14
 Top 


Re: N.J. city shuts down burlesque show, citing obscenity laws
#29
Home away from home
Home away from home


He is NOT Councilman Solomon.

And this hoopla seems pretty orchestrated, but to what end? Does the mayor wish to distract from bad news, does he want to ride to the rescue and save the day? I guess we'll see.

The corporate council is appointed and reports to the mayor, serving at his/her pleasure. He would not go in a different direction publicly.

I do feel bad for both the performer and bar to be placed under pressure and the spotlight. Hopefully, they will eventually benefit from the publicity.


Quote:

JCGuys wrote:
Hey JCVoter, you're that Solomon guy right? Please do something about it now that you have the power.

Posted on: 2018/3/30 16:42
 Top 


Re: JC Public Schools is short $70 million
#30
Home away from home
Home away from home



Yes, over-aided, but under-funded.

For those interested, good outside perspectives are -

http://njeducationaid.blogspot.com/

and

https://civicparent.org/



Quote:

brewster wrote:
Has anyone ever run across a line item comparison of how JC spends vs other NJ districts? I have no trouble believing it's wasteful, but I have no idea in what way.

Also, Stateaidguy says we're overaided, but I don't recall hearing what our appropriate aid should be. It's surely not Zero.

Posted on: 2018/3/30 16:31
 Top 



TopTop
(1) 2 3 4 ... 39 »






Login
Username:

Password:

Remember me



Lost Password?

Register now!



LicenseInformation | AboutUs | PrivacyPolicy | Faq | Contact


JERSEY CITY LIST - News & Reviews - Jersey City, NJ - Copyright 2004 - 2017