One of the several absurd arguments offered by the "sleazy seven" who declined to introduce this overdue ordinance boils down to, "The money isn't really for us. We turn a lot of it over to worthy community groups who really need it."

Anyone recall reading Junior Maldonado's campaign finance filings from the 2005 election cycle? (Tris McCall posted them on his site at the time.) The reports provided a textbook example of how a city councilperson can collect big bucks from "the development community" and then redistribute some of the cash to little leagues and the like. It's just a slightly more palatable version of the game that's been going on in Hudson County for a century. "Let me, Joe Councilman, take care of you. Just remember me on election day."

I will remember every one of the sleazy seven, and I predict that every one will get the extended vacation he/she deserves in 2009! It's time to take back our city.

The mayor's weak argument speaks more to the need for public financing of elections than to the need to continue to allow developers to contribute.

His suggestion that Fulop turn down developer dollars while the competition rakes in their cash is unrealistic. I commend the councilman for proposing a set of rules that will set a level playing field for all candidates.

Healy's letter raises one important question, though. Will this ordinance leave the cadre of attorneys, engineers, architects, etc. who are part of the "development community" here free to continue contributing? If so, would this ordinance achieve the desired results? And beyond that, what would be in place to stop a developer's spouse, parent, child or best friend from writing a big fat check to the mayor's re-election kitty?

Congratulations to Councilman Fulop for bringing this proposal forward. It will take nothing short of a groundswell of public support to push this through. Send those e-mails!!

Amen.

This proposal deserves support. A measure like this is long overdue in Jersey City. Would it apply only to the actual developers or would it also apply to their associated attorneys, architects, contractors, etc? The developers themselves are just the tip of the iceberg when you review the campaign finance filings of some of our local officials.