Some people don't think Fulop plays ball enough to be a good city councilman, but I like it that he stands up and calls evil evil. At least someone on the city council has the decency to admit that we're being screwed.

Abatement deals for 3 projects get council OK
Saturday, November 11, 2006
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Jersey City continues to shower waterfront developments with tax abatements.

On Wednesday, the City Council introduced 20-year abatements for three projects that are either right on the waterfront or a stone's throw from the Hudson River.

As he voted against the abatements, Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop, who represents the waterfront area, pointed out that Mayor Jerramiah Healy campaigned on a platform that abatements were no longer needed to attract investment to the waterfront.

"This can't get any closer to the water without being in the water," Fulop said of a 269-unit condominium project slated for the foot of Second Street.

Healy's spokeswoman, Maria Pignataro, disputed Fulop's characterization of the mayor's campaign stance. "The mayor has always said he would take them (abatements) on a case-by-case basis, and is always looking to bring more ratables and investment into the city," Pignataro said.

During an editorial board meeting with The Jersey Journal prior to the November 2004 special election, Healy indicated that he did not believe abatements were necessary on the waterfront.

Besides the Second Street project, the council voted to introduce abatements for Monaco North and Monaco South, a development consisting of two 47-story towers with 541 market rate rental units at Washington Boulevard and Sixth Street.

The council voted 6-2 for those abatements, as well as for the Second Street development, with Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson joining Fulop in voting against them and Ward C Councilman Steve Lipski absent. The abatements will be up for adoption Nov. 21.

The council also introduced, by an 8-0 vote, a 20-year abatement for 100 Water St., a 112-unit market rate condo project slated for Claremont Avenue on the city's West Side.

The benefit of tax abatements as far as city officials are concerned is they don't have to share the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes negotiated with the developers with the school district or county government.

Opponents argue that abatements unfairly shift the tax burden to those without abatements and shortchange the county and school district.