I don't know why these men were standing outside an auto body shop on Fairmount Avenue with $4,500.00 cash. However, I will give them the benefit of the doubt and not jump to conclusion that they are criminals in possession of cash from illegal sources because they are from the "wrong side of the tracks". I will also consider that aside from the auto body shop on that street there are also auto repair shops on the same block and maybe the customers of these businesses don't have the credit ratings that many of the posters here have and must deal in cash.

With that said, and what I find quite interesting, is the fact that the report of this robbery has already generated TWELVE COMMENTS mostly negative which I believed are based on racial stereotypes.

Recently Tom Moran of the New Jersey Star Ledger wrote an article regarding the "baggage" Mayor Fulop has accumulated in his quest for his gubernatorial ambitions, in that column Moran wrote: "The worst case, if proved true, could be a misuse of city funds. In that one, the city granted a contract to a firm affiliated with a prominent political player in Middlesex County, then canceled it, and then reinstated it a month later".

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/06/post_124.html

A columnist from a major statewide news organization reports that the Mayor of Jersey City might have committed a crime, AND it was posted on this site and it only generated SIX COMMENTS. Yet residents in a blue collar neighborhood on the "other side of the tracks" report they were held up at gunpoint and there have already been TWELVE COMMENTS on this site in where they are the target of all kinds unsubstantiated innuendo, amazing!!!

Crickets...........

Former Fulop Chief of Staff Akil under cover of his "More than a Race" (MTR) whose non-profit status was revoked by the IRS solicited donations on the MTR letterhead and asked those donations be made out to the " Jersey City Youth Foundation" and mailed to the seventh street address of Fulop campaign treasurer who coincidently oversees the Jersey City Youth Foundation". Terrence McDonald, why are you letting this go by unchallenged? Were the 2014, solicitations by Akil sent to the same firms that have been doing business with the city, specifically the JCMUA? Was MUA Board member John Thieroff ((former Fulop mayoral campaign manager) still a trustee of MTR when Akil's MTR made his solicitations in June 2014.

In Post #142 on this thread, the Bio's of "Jersey City Youth Foundation" Chairwoman Veronica Park and board member Ellissa Fulop were pasted onto the posting from the website. Since that posting several days ago Ellisa Fulop who had referenced her management position at Merrill Lynch has taken any reference to Merrill Lynch out of her BIO. The deletion of Merrill Lynch from the BIO that had been posted on the "Jersey City Youth Foundation Website is very interesting.

The BIO's as they appeared last week are attached directly below.

Veronica Park Chairwoman of Jersey City Youth Foundation:

Veronica Park lives in Jersey City with her 3 children who all attend PS #37. She is actively involved in her community with fundraising, consulting and connecting individuals for the common benefit of all. She is passionate about our city and has led the Mayor?s Backpack, Turkey and Toy Drive efforts for the past 4 years. She is a Board Member for the Jersey City Medical Center, Advisory Board Member for Bareburger, and Business Consultant for Yo Mon Yogurt. She was also the Finance Director and Inauguration Committee Chair for Mayor Steven Fulop.
Veronica Park continues her journey at Starbucks Coffee Company as a business, operations and market development leader with over the 20+ years. She is a high-integrity, results-oriented entrepreneurial master known for her ability to develop, replicate, strengthen and scale operations on a regional, national and international basis.


[b]Board member Ellissa Fulop of West Orange:

Elissa Fulop has over twenty years of marketing and advertising experience within financial services. Elissa has demonstrated the ability to drive results, lead and build effective cross-functional teams, create innovative product and marketing opportunities and manage key relationships both internally and externally. She is currently the Vice President of Digital Marketing at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In this role, Elissa is responsible for partnership in defining strategies and aligning priorities for the Institutional Retirement business.Elissa graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Finance and currently lives in West Orange with her husband, 2 daughters and bulldog named Mugsy.

Mayor Fulop's Chief of Staff Muhammed Akil's has used his "More than a Race" foundation in order to solicit funds from firms doing business with the city, Akil did not solicit these firms into making donations to his MTR Foundation but instead asked donations be made out to the"Jersey City Youth Foundation" (JYF). JYF is managed by Veronica Park, Ms. Park is Mayor Fulop's long time campaign treasurer/financial overseer.



http://www.ml.com/media/49828.pdf This is the link to the ethical guidelines all Merrill Lynch employees must abide by, page 4 attached below is of particular interest because it particularly references participation of employees in "non profit organizations"(such as the Jersey City Youth Foundation). Merrill Lynch requires the following conduct from their employees:

#1- Merrill Lynch directors and employees must avoid engaging in any outside business or other activity that might create a conflict of interest, create a perception of impropriety or jeopardize the company's integrity or reputation. A conflict of interest occurs when your personal interest interferes ? or even appears to interfere ?with the interests of Merrill Lynch. Every Merrill Lynch person must avoid activities, interests or associations that might interfere, or even appear to interfere, with the independent exercise of good judgment in the conduct of his or her duties or with the best interest of our company, our clients, or our shareholders.

#2- Merrill Lynch employees must report all outside business activities to their managers and to the Office of General Counsel so a review for potential conflicts of interest and other concerns can be conducted. Outside business activities and interests include among other things: serving as a board member, trustee or officer of a non-profit organization, such as a charity, foundation, or university.

#3- To comply with applicable regulations, most outside activities and interests must be pre-approved. Additional information concerning employee outside activities and investments can be found in the ML & Co., Inc. Policy Manual and business group policies.



PAGE 4 of MERRILL LYNCH ETHICS REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES:

Conflicts of Interest

Avoid conflicts of interest in performing your duties and seek advice of management and the Office of General Counsel when any actual or potential conflicts arise.

Merrill Lynch directors and employees must avoid engaging in any outside business or other activity that might create a conflict of interest, create a perception of impropriety or jeopardize the company's integrity or reputation. A conflict of interest occurs when your personal interest interferes ? or even appears to interfere ?with the interests of Merrill Lynch. Every Merrill Lynch person must avoid activities, interests or associations that might interfere, or even appear to interfere, with the independent exercise of good judgment in the conduct of his or her duties or with the best interests of our company, our clients, or our shareholders.

While it is impossible to foresee every potential conflict that could arise, all Merrill Lynch persons must be sensitive to potential conflicts, bring them to the attention of management, the Office of General Counsel or the Board of Directors and avoid them where possible. If a conflict cannot be avoided, it must be managed in an ethical, responsible manner and so as not to create the perception of impropriety.

Employee Outside Business Activities and Interests

Merrill Lynch employees must report all outside business activities to their managers and to the Office of General Counsel so a review for potential conflicts of interest and other concerns can be conducted. Outside business activities and interests include among other things, participating as a partner in another business, ownership of stock in a privately-owned business, holding limited partnership interests, serving as an officer in a family-owned corporation, acting as an outside director of another company, or serving as a board member, trustee or officer of a non-profit organization, such as a charity, foundation, or university. The appropriateness of a Merrill Lynch employee engaging in these and other types of outside business activities, interests or investment opportunities depends upon many factors, including the nature and extent of the outside interest, the potential for conflicts of interest, and the relationship between Merrill Lynch and the outside entities and the duties involved.

To comply with applicable regulations, most outside activities and interests must be pre-approved. Additional information concerning employee outside activities and investments can be found in the ML & Co., Inc. Policy Manual and business group policies. For example, service by any Merrill Lynch employee as a director, officer or employee of any other corporation or business must be authorized in writing by the Office of General Counsel. Unless approved in writing as provided in the ML & Co. Policy Manual, no Merrill Lynch employee may serve as a director of a publicly traded company.

Employees must keep their manager apprised of these activities and provide updated information on the Compliance Disclosure form on the Employee Activity Review System (?EARS?) at least annually. The EARS information will be monitored by the employee?s manager and by compliance personnel.

Directors of Merrill Lynch should inform the Corporate Secretary prior to accepting appointments to the boards of directors or advisory boards of any public or privately held company. The disclosure requirements and other possible conflict-of-interest issues involved must be analyzed and discussed with the Office of General Counsel.

In a June 2014, solicitation letter from Akil's "More Than a Race (MTR)", he solicited funds in the name of MTR which had its tax exempt status rescinded by the IRS. MTR asks checks be made out to the "Jersey City Youth Foundation" and mailed to 230 7th Street, Jersey City N.J.
This letter is sent under cover of MTR which is indisputably under the control Mayor Fulop's Chief of Staff Muhammed Akil, the correspondence is signed by MTR Executive Director Richard Moon. The solicitation letter does not ask checks be made out to MTR but that checks be made out to the "Jersey City Youth Foundation", which is essentially a political arm of Mayor Fulop, the letter also claims donations would be tax deductible, whether or not that is the case will certainly be uncovered. http://jcyouth.org

Two of the Board Members of the "Jersey City Youth Foundation".

The Chair of the "Jersey City Youth Foundation" is Veronica Park who is the chief fundraiser coordinator for Mayor Fulop and has been for quite some time. As per her BIO, Ms. Park is also on the advisory board of the Jersey City Medical Center, a position Mayor Fulop had appointed her to by way of a 4/16/2014 letter. The letter of solicitation from Mayoral Chief of Staff Muhammed Akil's MTR asks that donated funds be sent to the residence of Ms. Park and made out to the "Jersey City Youth Foundation". In her BIO Ms. Park lends credibility to her competence by putting forth her work at Yo Mon Yogurt and Starbucks as an operations and marketing developer.

Another board member on the "Jersey City Youth Foundation" is Elissa Fulop a close relative of the mayor whom is the only board member that acknowledges living out of town. Prominent in her Bio is the fact that she works as a Vice President in Digital Marketing for Merrill Lynch.

As to the rest of the members of the board, a quick review will reveal that all but one are long time Fulop operatives.

I only wonder, if this mangled mesh of finances go south, how happy will Starbucks, Yo Mon Yogurt and Merrill Lynch be that their good names have been involved by their employees.

BELOW ARE THE BIO'S FOR BOARD CHAIR VERONICA PARK AND BOARD MEMBER ELISSA FULOP (ELISSA FULOP IS INCLUDED TO DEMONSTRATE THE STRONG CONNECTION THAT HE HAS WITH THIS ORGANIZATION, AN ORGANIZATION THAT HIS CHIEF OF STAFF IS ATTEMPTING TO SOLICIT DONATIONS FROM FIRMS DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY).


Veronica Park Chairwoman of Jersey City Youth Foundation:

Veronica Park lives in Jersey City with her 3 children who all attend PS #37. She is actively involved in her community with fundraising, consulting and connecting individuals for the common benefit of all. She is passionate about our city and has led the Mayor?s Backpack, Turkey and Toy Drive efforts for the past 4 years. She is a Board Member for the Jersey City Medical Center, Advisory Board Member for Bareburger, and Business Consultant for Yo Mon Yogurt. She was also the Finance Director and Inauguration Committee Chair for Mayor Steven Fulop.
Veronica Park continues her journey at Starbucks Coffee Company as a business, operations and market development leader with over the 20+ years. She is a high-integrity, results-oriented entrepreneurial master known for her ability to develop, replicate, strengthen and scale operations on a regional, national and international basis.


[b]Board member Ellissa Fulop of West Orange:

Elissa Fulop has over twenty years of marketing and advertising experience within financial services. Elissa has demonstrated the ability to drive results, lead and build effective cross-functional teams, create innovative product and marketing opportunities and manage key relationships both internally and externally. She is currently the Vice President of Digital Marketing at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In this role, Elissa is responsible for partnership in defining strategies and aligning priorities for the Institutional Retirement business.Elissa graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Finance and currently lives in West Orange with her husband, 2 daughters and bulldog named Mugsy.

On the Hudson County View expose of Akil and his More Than a Race (MTF) there is some other interesting donations listed in both 2012 and 2013.

In 2013 H & P Consultants contributed over $1,800.00 to Akil's MTF and was also sent a letter by Executive Director Richard Moon that erroneously represented that the donation was tax exempt when in fact MTF'S tax exempt status had been revoked by the IRS. H & P Consultants is run by Ray Ferraioli who is Mayor Fulop's primary professional fundraiser.

In 2012, John and Wendy Neuvia contributed $5000.00 to MTF VIA THEN COUNCILMAN STEVEN FULOP. Coincidently, this was the year that Councilman Fulop supported Diane Coleman for Councilwoman in Ward F, Muhammed Akil was Councilwoman Coleman's campaign manager.

Below is the link from Hudson County View.

http://hudsoncountyview.com/radical-p ... med-akil-raise-questions/

On July 12, 2012 Terrence McDonald of the JJ wrote an article regarding the secret meeting that Councilman Fulop had organized with Commissioner of Education CERF and select members of the Board of a Education that Fulop hand picked. The "secret meeting" was held on Arlington Avenue with Fulop reminding all participants to keep the gathering confidential.

The owner of the Arington Avenue home in which this meeting occurred at is Richard Moon. Richard Moon who aside from being an Arlington Avenue homeowner is also the Executive Director of Muhammed Akil's "More Than a Race (MTR). Akil and Mr. Moon represent MTR as being "A NON PROFIT" when in fact the IRS revoked its non profit status.

Below is a link to Terrence McDonalds 2012 article detailing his investigation into the secret meeting.

http://hudsoncountyview.com/radical-p ... med-akil-raise-questions/

Below is the link to the Hudson County View expose on the Akil "Non Profit" "More Than a Race"(MTR). In August 2013, 3 months after the mayoral election, letters were sent out by MTR to multiple donors who gave very large donations to Akil's MTR. Although Akil's MTR had it's "Non Profit" status revoked by the IRS, MTR told the contributors that it had tax exempt status and donations were tax deductible. Among the donors were:

1) The Decoitis law firm: over $7,000.00 contributed. This law firm subsequently secured up to a $500,000.00 contract with the Jersey City MUA.

2) MCE, an engineering firm: over $3,700.00 contributed. This firm subsequently received a contract from the Jersey City MUA worth several hundred thousand dollars

3) "25 Senate Place": contributed a $1,000.00. Shortly thereafter it received a tax abatement.

John Thieroff the former campaign manager for Mayor Fulop is a trustee of Akil's MTR and he is also a commissioner on the Jersey City MUA.

Gerald Balmir is a Hudson County Freeholder and is also the Chairman of the MUA. Akil was Balmir's campaign manager during his recent run in the democratic primary.

Richard Moon is the Executive Director of More Than a Race (MTR). Mr. Moon is also the owner of the house on Arlington Avenue in which the "Secret meeting with CERF" was conducted by then Councilman Fulop and his hand picked BOE Members. Interestingly, when Mr. Moon was asked if he had attended that secret meeting he told Jersey a Journal Reporter Terrance McDonald he "could not remember".

http://hudsoncountyview.com/radical-p ... med-akil-raise-questions/