Register now !    Login  
Main Menu
Who's Online
165 user(s) are online (143 user(s) are browsing Message Forum)

Members: 0
Guests: 165

more...


Forum Index


Board index » All Posts (rajmukherji)




Re: Jersey City swears in 27-year-old lobbyist as new deputy mayor
#1
Newbie
Newbie


What?s up, guys? since you invited me to respond to these questions and comments, I?m happy to oblige. (To be clear, I arrived at City Hall at 7:45am and won?t leave until it?s dark, and I write while eating a late lunch and from a personal laptop.) If my responses are insufficient to satisfy your curiosity ? or if you ever simply require assistance with any constituent issue or just want to get a beer ? feel free to call me on my cell at (201) 222-3300 or at the office at (201) 547-5275.

First, I am grateful that all of you are participating in political discourse. If more people were as civic-minded and involved in or watchful of their government as the commenters on JCList, perhaps I wouldn?t be facing as many challenges in my new job.

Let?s start with the juicy stuff and get it out of the way. The allegations were untrue, and the criminal charges were ALL DISMISSED with the SOLE exception of a single, misdemeanor charge of possessing a fake ID that omitted my age when I was 19. As to the charges that were dropped, the underlying allegations were total bulls**t and were brought long before anyone (law enforcement or otherwise) interviewed me or the relevant witnesses or reviewed the evidence. Also, some of the media coverage inaccurately reported the dispositions and a retraction was issued. Anyone who needs to consider my background should review my actual criminal history (it?s public record) and the underlying documents, not news reports (many of which were just reprinting allegations from the initial inaccurate report; falsus in unus, falsus in omnibus). I don?t knock them for that. I have tremendous respect for folks in print media, but they often have a limited amount of space to recite extensive details. Also, when charges are pending, defense lawyers don't let their clients speak to the press (or even to the cops) to share their side of things.

The reason I agreed to take on this role, knowing my name might be dragged through the mud (regardless of the falsity of the bulk of the decade-old allegations that might resurface), was because of the passion I have always had for public policy and shaping it. That?s what led me to start my lobbying firm, to serve at the Housing Authority, and to take on this new role.

As to the misdemeanor fake ID, I am deeply remorseful for my isolated, youthful lapse in judgment while a teenager who was serving as a Marine reservist. I?ve matured considerably in the near-decade since that time; I?ve started and built the state?s third largest lawyer-affiliated lobbying firm, accumulated valuable economic development experience, earned an Ivy League masters degree and am almost finished with law school, and have served with distinction at the helm of the Housing Authority as detailed more fully below.

?shadrack?: They didn?t incorporate my entire quote from Kung Fu Panda (leaving out the best part!). It?s actually, ?Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift? that's why it's called the present.? My contribution to Mayor Healy isn?t that unique; I?ve contributed to many candidates and officials who are not mentioned in the article who have never appointed me to anything (some I?ve never even met? but I supported a viewpoint of theirs or shared some ideal that led me to donate). I?m a political junkie with a deep-rooted passion for public policy. It shouldn?t be surprising that I participate in the electoral process through fundraising and other means.

?neverleft?: No, I was never paid for my volunteer service as JCHA Chairman. No, this isn?t a fake-out; I will not suddenly get a raise in a few months to $110K from a dollar a year. I am declining the salary during my tenure as Deputy Mayor, period. Your suspicion is fair given the other situations you cited. Nevertheless, the business endeavors I started have thankfully done well enough to obviate the need for me to be on the public payroll while trying to attract capital investment, create jobs in a struggling economy, and improve municipal services to make life just a little better for all of us in the great city we share a fondness and appreciation for. Let me debunk the conspiracy theories right now: $1/year means $1/year.

Also, I don?t understand all this commotion about the ceremony being hush-hush. I am advised the press office sent out a press release on that day, and between 100 and 150 people attended my swearing-in. I think it is being shown on JC1 TV. In tribute to Dr. Seuss? birthday, I delivered my speech in rhyme.

?coronalime?: Sun-Tzu is awesome. That quote rules. As to the cynicism about lobbyists, I can?t blame you. Mostly a bum rap though. The profession is full of honest people that are passionate about the issues they represent and policymaking and aren?t influence-peddlers selling their souls. There are a few bad apples, as in every profession. But for every ?evil? agenda being pushed by an empty suit, there are well-intentioned people (even lobbyists) pushing back on the ?good? side and seeking to educate policymakers about the umpteen sides to every issue. I have been selective about the issues I?ve taken on as a lobbyist and am proud of my track record. I think it will be helpful to me as Deputy Mayor in getting the help we so desperately need from our partners in the state and federal governments. For example: as a lobbyist, I have worked with the NJEDA and the Business Action Center in successfully advocating for job creation and tax credit incentives; successfully brokered or facilitated complex transactions, including the sales of a nursing home and hospitals; facilitated labor negotiations; secured millions in grants or appropriations for hospitals and nonprofit clients and advocated to expand charity care for the underprivileged; while representing the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, successfully advocated to expand its powers to develop professional football training facilities for an NFL team as well as legislation revising horse racing regulations in New Jersey, etc. etc. etc.

During the time I?ve chaired the Housing Authority, and I say this humbly because I have an excellent staff that made all this possible, our reforms at the JCHA led to improving the agency?s annual Section 8 management score from HUD to the 3 highest performance ratings in our history for the past 3 consecutive years (and in 2 of those years, the highest score in the State among large municipal PHA?s). We received acclaim for our new anti-crime and social services initiatives; for using stimulus funds to create a ?Green-hab Crew? to renovate units using green technologies; for undertaking a $9 million energy efficiency investment that spanned 7 of our complexes; and for the HOPE VI-funded A. Harry Moore revitalization and beginning the $300 million transformation of the Montgomery Gardens-McGinley Square corridor (both of which led to visits from U.S. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan and $10 million in combined federal grant awards). Even the JCHA?s critics who were initially concerned about my nomination for some of the reasons you expressed are pleased with the reforms and the direction in which we are headed, and a few of them showed up on Friday.

I hope my tenure in this new job will similarly be marked by progress. Only time will tell. You all will have an opportunity to measure that. I?m only trying to do my small part for a great city. Call me anytime and stay involved (perhaps send in a resume and apply to volunteer on a board or commission).

Posted on: 2012/3/8 20:14
 Top 



TopTop






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