Civic JC
PO Box 248
Jersey City, NJ 07303-0248

Contact:

Daniel Levin, president, dlevin@civicjc.org

Andrew Hubsch, vice president, ahubsch@civicjc.org


Press Release

November 28, 2006

CIVIC JC ASKS ETHICS BOARD TO APPLY STATE CONFLICT
OF INTEREST STATUTE TO ALL MUNICIPAL BOARDS


Jersey City, NJ - Civic JC has submitted a two part request to the Jersey City Ethical Standards Board.

The first part of the request is for the Ethical Standards Board to determine if a specific vote of the Planning Board violated N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22 N.J.S.A 40A:9-22.5(d) which states:

?No local government officer or employee shall act in his official capacity in any matter where he, a member of his immediate family, or a business organization in which he has an interest, has a direct or indirect financial or personal involvement that might reasonably be expected to impair his objectivity or independence of judgment?

The second part of the related request is for the Ethical Standards Board to clearly determine whether the entire statute provision cited is applicable to all sitting city board members, and have an appropriate amendment added to all local board rules, which parallels the state statute for the purpose of clarity.

Daniel Levin, Civic JC president said, ?we must implement enforceable rules to prevent conflicts of interests that could distort municipal board decisions that especially in the case of the Planning Board are irrevocable and involve billions of dollars in development.?

Civic JC is a non-partisan, community-based initiative, designed to promote a comprehensive, positive vision for the future of Jersey City as a ?World Class City? and promote good government practices.

Civic JC's request to the Ethical Standards Board may be viewed here - civicjc.org