T-Bird has drilled down the real issue here. Where the rest of the $42million deficit coming from? Brace yourselves people to open your wallets again.

JERSEY CITY COUNCILWOMAN NIDIA LOPEZ
HOME IS HERE, OR IT'S THERE?
Friday, July 10, 2009
By AMY SARA CLARK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Officials in, Fla., Hudson are trying to sort it out

Less than 24 hours after casting her vote on the Jersey City Municipal Council, Ward C Councilwoman Nidia Lopez was back in Florida yesterday, trying to convince an Orlando reporter that the Sunshine State is her home.

"Up until March of 2008, Orlando has been my real home," she told Rich McKay of the Orlando Sentinel, who caught up with her yesterday at her four-bedroom home there.

She said medical problems and her marriage to Hudson County director of Family Services Ben Lopez prevented her from traveling back and forth, so she made Jersey City her permanent home. "But this is my home, too. All my clothes are here," she added, according to the Sentinel.

But Lopez told The Jersey Journal she was "misquoted." She declined to explain what she said, or answer other questions, saying it was better for her to keep quiet during the litigation. Jimmy King, who came in second to Lopez in the Ward C election, has filed a lawsuit in Hudson County Superior Court challenging Lopez's Jersey City residency.

Lopez is apparently trying to walk a very fine line between New Jersey and Florida.

She has to prove to Orange County, Fla., officials that the Sunshine State has been her permanent home in order to qualify for the thousands of dollars in "homestead" tax exemptions she's claimed since 1997.

But she has to prove to Hudson County officials that she has lived in Jersey City for at least a full year before the May 12 municipal elections, according to her attorney, William Northgrave.

Lopez broke her silence briefly at the City Council meeting Wednesday by denying a Jersey Journal report that she voted in Orlando in 2003 while also voting in Jersey City every year between 2001 and 2009.

"I never voted in Florida in 2003," she said. Lopez said Orange County records are wrong. Orange County election officials confirmed again yesterday that their records show that Lopez voted there in the 2003 election.

Meanwhile, Mayor Jerramiah Healy broke his own silence to defend Lopez.

"In no way should Councilwoman Lopez step down," Healy said Wednesday.

"This has and continues to be a case of sour grapes on the behalf of Mr. King who is looking only to tarnish the image of our first-ever elected Latina councilwoman."

Tuesday, July 07, 2009
By AMY SARA CLARK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Should city brace for a tax hike?

The Jersey City City Council is scheduled to vote on a new tax rate for the next two fiscal quarters at tomorrow night's meeting. But officials yesterday were mum on how much taxes will go up - if at all - if the measure passes.

The council is being asked to approve a $170 million tax levy for the fiscal year that began July 1 - $17.9 million more than last year's tax levy.


But whether taxes go up will depend on the amount of new ratables and other revenue coming into the city, officials said.

Jennifer Morrill, a spokeswoman for Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, said yesterday she didn't know if taxes are going up. Calls to Business Administrator Brian O'Reilly and Tax Collector Maureen Cosgrove were not returned.

Even City Council members seemed to be in the dark.

Ward D Councilman Bill Gaughan and Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop said they didn't know what to expect at tomorrow's vote.

A City Hall source said Jersey City is heading into the new fiscal year with an expected $62 million less in revenue than last year.

This special meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 280 Grove St.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009
By AMY SARA CLARK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Florida official: Lopez has broken voting laws

Newly sworn Jersey City Councilwoman Nidia Lopez has violated two Florida laws by being registered to vote in Orlando at the same time she's registered to vote in Jersey City and by voting in both places in 2003, Florida officials said yesterday.

Voters who submit false voter registration information or cast their ballots knowing they're not qualified to do so are guilty of third-degree felonies, said Jennifer Krell Davis, a spokeswoman for the Florida Division of Elections.

Third-degree felonies are punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and/or up to five years in prison, according to the Florida statutes.

But Krell said it would be up to police officials in Orlando to enforce these voting laws. Those officials could not be reached last night.

Lopez did not return a phone call for comment. Her attorney, William Northgrave, declined to speak about the subject, noting: "I'm not an expert on Florida law."

Lopez has been registered to vote in Orlando, Fla. - where she owns a four-bedroom home - since 1997. She only voted in Orlando once - in a special mayoral election in February 2003, when she voted by absentee ballot, Florida officials said.

In 2001, she married Ben Lopez, Hudson County's director of Family Services, said Northgrave.

That same year she registered to vote in Jersey City and has voted in every primary, general and municipal election since, according to a spokeswoman for the Hudson County Superintendent of Elections.

In 2003, Lopez voted in Jersey City in June and November after voting in Florida in February, officials said.

Last week, The Jersey Journal reported Florida officials are investigating whether or not Lopez improperly received tax exemptions for her Orlando home.

The investigation came to light after Jimmy King, who finished second to Lopez in May's municipal election in Ward C, filed a lawsuit in Hudson County Superior Court challenging Lopez's Jersey City residency.

Former council candidate claims councilwoman-elect is a Florida resident

By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

Nidia R. LopezAn unsuccessful Jersey City council candidate claims that his former opponent is actually a resident of the Sunshine State.

Jimmy King, who lost an election for Jersey City council for Ward C in May, has filed suit against the ward?s winning candidate, councilwoman-elect Nidia Rivera Lopez, alleging that she has a residency issue that should keep her from serving.

King said that Lopez, who owns a house in Orlando, Fl. that is currently up for sale, very recently claimed property tax exemptions that required her to cite Florida as her primary residence. He also said she has a Florida driver?s license.

?In order to accept that you had to be a resident of Florida and a homesteader in Florida. She collected over 10 of them,? said King, who hired a private detective to investigate Lopez.

Property tax records available online show that Lopez, who used to have the last name Boehringer from a previous marriage, claimed a homestead exemption of $25,000 for 2008 on the 13-year-old Orlando home that was deeded to her by her ex-husband in 2000. A tax bill from November shows that she saved $277.09 from the exception.

Florida law requires homeowners who take the exemption to be permanent residents.

Lopez is set to be sworn in at tomorrow afternoon?s reorganization meeting, making her the city?s first Hispanic councilwoman. She will replace Councilman Steve Lipski, who opted not to run again after he was arrested for urinating from a balcony onto a crowd of spectators at a Washington, DC concert.

King said that his attorney, Alex Booth, has filed the complaint, but that he has not heard whether any date has been set for a hearing.

?I think she deceived me and deceived everybody around her by running. If she didn?t run, I would have been the winner, and I think she took advantage of me because I?m a senior citizen,? said King, who at 66 is seven years older than Lopez. ?I?d like to see her knocked off, obviously? and if she did commit a crime in Florida, she should face penalties like any other citizen.?

Lopez could not be reached for comment.

Matt Friedman is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at matt@politicsnj.com.

http://www.politickernj.com/matt-frie ... hnically-florida-resident

Council to vote on developer's request to reduce payments
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
By AMY SARA CLARK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City Council is set to vote tonight on whether the developer of a luxury condo tower on the Jersey City waterfront can revise its PILOT agreement with the city due to slow sales.

According to James C. McCann, an attorney for Fisher Development Associates, the developer of Crystal Point, who came to Monday's City Council caucus to defend the request, only 24 of the eventual 269 condos have sold since going on the market a few months ago - despite a 30 percent price reduction. The 42-story building is located at 2 Second St.

Fisher is asking to extend the length of the PILOT, or Payments in Lieu of Taxes, agreement from 20 to 30 years and reduce the percentage of annual gross revenue paid from 16 to 11 percent for the first five years, with 13 percent payments for the next five years, and 16 percent payments for the final 20 years.

Jersey City's Tax Abatement Committee recommended approval, despite a memo against it from Al Cameron, deputy director of the city's Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce, arguing that the change would cost the city millions of dollars.

At Monday's caucus, Downtown Councilman Steve Fulop argued that the risk taken by the developer should not be shifted to the "backs of taxpayers" and that the building will sell if prices are lowered far enough. He also said that if the council gives Crystal Point a break due to the economy, every development project in the city will ask for the same.

"I would urge you all to consider that this would be a very dangerous precedence," he said.

Greenville Councilman Michael Sottolano and City Council President Mariano Vega, who serves on the Tax Abatement Committee, argued that if the project doesn't go forward it could affect the value of a city-owned site directly across from it.

"We know that the economy is not very strong right now and we want to continue growing the development in our city," Vega said in an interview yesterday.

Fulop has the backing of the New Jersey Policy Perspective, a think tank that is due to release a study on Jersey City's tax abatement policy next month.

"We're really concerned about the precedent Jersey City is setting," said Naomi Bressler, a policy analyst at NNPP who worked on the study. She said Jersey City's policy seems to be "a tax giveaway" for "any or all developers."

I think I should go ask the City Council to lower my property taxes so its easier for me to sell my house.

Who is with me?!

Yes, no, maybe. Council debates legislation for Downtown tower, animal control and car booting
by Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter Staff Writer

The Jersey City Council at its Wednesday meeting introduced three ordinances that provoked debate: relaxing the tax abatement for a condominium tower, the creation of a new Animal Control Committee, and how soon parking violators may get their car tires booted.

The first ordinance amends the tax abatement for the downtown Jersey City condo tower known as Crystal Point, located at the foot of Second Street overlooking the Hudson River. The 42-story, 269-unit building has a 20-year abatement with a 16 percent service charge (a percentage of annual gross revenue paid to the city in lieu of taxes.)

The amendment would increase the time to 30 years, and reduce the service charge percentage to 10 percent for the first five years, 12 percent for the next five years, then 16 percent for the final 20 years.

The building, still under construction, will have units ranging in size from 800 to 1817 square feet with prices starting in the mid-$400,000 range. The developer of Crystal Point, First Development Associates, asked for the change on April 29. According to the developer?s attorney, James McCann, in the past seven months the developer has sold only 24 of 269 units, a reflection of the tough economy.

The ordinance was introduced by a 7-2 vote. Councilpersons Steven Fulop and Viola Richardson both took issue with a condo project on the highly-desirable downtown Jersey City waterfront looking for a tax break.

Councilpersons Michael Sottolano and Bill Gaughan, while voting to introduce the ordinance, both want the abatement to revert back to its original terms when economic conditions are better.

City Council President Mariano Vega explained after Wednesday?s council meeting why the abatement should be approved.

?What would it look like if we have a prime piece of real estate on the waterfront and it went belly up?? Vega said.

The other two ordinances evoking questions included one for the creation of a citizen committee to oversee the city?s Division of Animal Control, and another establishing a policy requiring three parking tickets before a boot is placed on a car.

The ordinances introduced at Wednesday?s council meeting will be up for a second reading and public comment before receiving a vote at the next council meeting, scheduled for June 17 at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 280 Grove St.

Not everyone?s pet issue

The council introduced, by a thin 5-4 margin, an ordinance establishing an Animal Control Committee to develop standards for the division, ensure compliance with city and state laws, and to study the responses of animal control officers. Councilman Fulop proposed the ordinance to create a supervisory body as the result of problems the public has had with Animal Control.

This ordinance had been postponed for a vote at two previous City Council meetings. Some members want the ordinance overhauled to eliminate some of the committee?s duties, such as evaluating the job performance of animal control officers, and to reduce the number of commissioners.

Such changes would deal with legal and administrative issues brought up in past council meetings that the committee would supersede the role of the state in overseeing the Division of Animal Control.

However, Councilman Fulop, who designed the ordinance and voted for introduction, said there is no ?downside? to the measure and no problems with its legality. He said he has worked with City Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis to make changes in the ordinance, including reducing the members from 19 to 13.

The committee would consist of two members of the public appointed by the Mayor, six members appointed by the Council and five members including the Mayor, City Council President, the Police Chief, the Director of Health and Human Services and Chief Animal Control Officer, and would allow each member to designate someone on their staff to sit in for them. The committee is to last one year, until June 30, 2010.

City Councilman Bill Gaughan opted not to vote for introduction, saying the ordinance was ?flawed? and to ?support his friend? Harry Melendez, the director of the city?s Department of Health and Human Services, who has voiced his opposition in a letter provided to the council, stating the committee ?is not required.?

Fulop and Gaughan then exchanged words when Fulop claimed that Mayor Jerramiah Healy made ?some calls? to council people, including Gaughan, urging them to oppose the committee.

Three strikes, then you get the boot

Another ordinance introduced makes several changes to Jersey City?s resident parking policy, including preventing Jersey City residents from getting a ?boot? on their vehicle for a first parking offense.

The boot is a steel contraption locked around one of the tires of a person?s car, making it impossible to drive, for violations such as parking without a residential permit for the right zone. The Jersey City Parking Authority (JCPA) issues an additional $42 ticket when they boot a car. In order for the boot to be removed, a driver has to call an automated collector and pay the $110 fine over the phone.

Residents are currently booted for parking for more than two hours on a street zoned for two-hour parking. The new ordinance would boot them only if three such tickets aren?t paid before their deadline date.

Also, if someone is found not guilty of the offense that resulted in the boot, they would be refunded fully by the Jersey City Parking Authority for the fine they had to pay to have the boot removed.

City Council President Vega expressed concerns about how much revenue would be lost to the city if the ordinance was approved and implemented. Vega after the meeting estimated $2 million in the first year might be lost. He wanted more discussion.

Fulop, who designed this ordinance, said the city was not following its own law. Except for the zone around Jersey City University, booting can only be applied to vehicles with three outstanding tickets.

Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonrreporter.com.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009
By AMY SARA CLARK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Two ordinances, one to bar the city from booting illegally parked cars unless the owner has three unpaid parking tickets, and the other to create an Animal Control Committee, will be introduced at tomorrow night's Jersey City City Council meeting.

Both ordinances are proposed by Councilman Steve Fulop.

"We're still booting on the first offense," said Fulop.

At last night's City Council caucus, Mary Spinello, who recently stepped down as Ward B councilwoman to take the helm of the Jersey City Parking Authority, said the city boots 100 to 200 cars a week.

The parking ordinance would also require the JCPA to refund money to drivers who are found not guilty of the parking violation by a municipal court judge.

In addition, it would allow residents to use their residential parking permits anywhere in the city except Zone 8, which is in the vicinity of New Jersey City University, at the request of Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano. Currently, residents' permits are valid only in their home zone.

The ordinance creating an Animal Control Committee would replace a stalled ordinance that would create an Animal Control Commission.

Jersey City's legal department had argued against the commission, saying it would usurp power from the director of the city's Department of Human Services, which oversees the Animal Control Division.

The new ordinance, which was approved by the city's attorneys, makes clear that the committee will only serve in an advisory capacity. It also reduces the number of members from 19 to 13, and creates the committee, initially, for just one year.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009
By AMY SARA CLARK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Claiming slow sales, the developer of a luxury condo tower on the Jersey City waterfront is asking to revise its PILOT agreement with the city.

"The developer is really losing his shirt," said James C. McCann, an attorney for the Fisher Development Associates, the developer of Crystal Pointe. "This is a question of survival or failure."

According to McCann, who came to last night's City Council caucus to defend the request, only 24 of the 42-story tower's eventual 269 condos have sold since going on the market a few months ago. The building is located at 2 Second St.

Fisher is asking to extend the length of the PILOT, or Payments in Lieu of Taxes, agreement from 20 to 30 years and reduce the percentage of annual gross revenue paid from 16 to 10 percent for the first five years, with 12 percent payments for the next five years, and 16 percent payments for the final 20 years.

Jersey City's Tax Abatement Committee recommended giving approval, despite a memo arguing against the change from Al Cameron, deputy director of the city's Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce.

Cameron estimates the deal could cost the city almost $20 million over the next 30 years, but McCann argued that the city will get more from abatements in the final decade of the extended contract than it would from conventional taxes

Councilman Steve Fulop argued against allowing the change, saying that if the break is granted to this building, every other developer in the city would soon be asking for a revised deal.

He added that if the city is going to start granting better tax rates due to slow sales, "why shouldn't all homeowners trying to sell get the same deal? There are nearly 2,000 apartments for sale in Jersey City. To me there is no difference between (Crystal Pointe) and the person who is looking to sell on Mercer Street and is struggling to sell because of high taxes."

The ordinance will be introduced at tomorrow night's City Council meeting.