Quote:

Where does Councilman Fulop live? I always forget.

On Jan, 23 2008 Councilman Fulop voted in favor of introducing ordinance #08-11 a 20 year tax abatement for a market rate residential condominium project to be constructed by the Warren and York Urban Renewal Corporation LLC, in the Paulus Hook section of Jersey City.

Jan 23rd Council Agenda.

I don't quite understand how a person who is 100% against tax abatements, votes in favor of introducing one in downtown on Warren and York?

Ordiance # 08-11

So why doesn't Manzo back Fulops initiatives?

I think Healy is a liar. Didn't he campaign on the promise that he would stop abatements?

Good going, Manzo.

This point has already been made here several times. (developer shill posts notwithstanding)

Manzo raps abatement 'abuses'

Thursday, March 20, 2008
By CHARLES HACK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Former state Assemblyman Louis M. Manzo ripped Jersey City yesterday at a hearing of the Assembly Budget Committee for the way the city continues to hand out tax abatements.

The committee, reviewing Gov. Jon Corzine's proposed 2009 budget, was hearing testimony on education, higher education and local government at the Liberty Science Center.

Manzo, who has opened an "Office for Public Advocacy," called the way tax abatements are used in Jersey City an "abuse" since developers no longer need incentives to build on the Gold Coast.

Manzo called on the state Department of Community Affairs to have closer oversight over how municipalities give out tax abatements and over those that are being renewed.

He said the new schools funding formula puts a burden on taxpayers who do not have tax abatements, because tax-abated properties do not contribute to local public schools and give a token amount to county services. But the incomes of the well-healed residents who live in the waterfront properties are taken into account in the school funding calculations, he said.

Since tax-abated property owners are also the highest-income people in the city, they should help pay for schools and county services, Manzo said.

Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, D-Jersey City, who sits on the committee, said that she understood that fewer tax abatements were being given out, and being targeted more to civic and nonprofit developments.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Jeremiah Healy said the entire city benefits from abatements and they help stabilize the budget because the city is able to keep almost all of the money raised through PILOTs.

Councilman Steve Fulop said that he is on a subcommittee looking into whether tax-abated properties should contribute to the schools. The committee was established after the idea was voted down, 8-1, by the City Council recently. Only he voted for it.