OottaBahr wrote:
Healy said. ?I view New York City as a big brother. If New York City does well, Jersey City does well.?

If that's the case, why is NYC generally clean and JC is filed with garbage?

Annod wrote:
New York Times
April 10, 2009
By David W. Chen

Bloomberg Backs Jersey City Mayor for Re-election

Who says that New York and New Jersey can?t make nice?

Sure, the two have their rivalries in sports. Sure, the two have quarreled bitterly over all sorts of economic and political issues, as exemplified by a sovereignty battle in the 1990s over Ellis Island, during which former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani declared that his father, an Italian immigrant, had had New York, not New Jersey, on his mind.

But these days, when it comes to New York City and Jersey City, at least, the relationship is quite good. So good, in fact, that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is holding a $1,000-a-head fund-raiser for Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy of Jersey City on Thursday at Mr. Bloomberg?s Upper East Side townhouse.

Mr. Bloomberg doesn?t throw open his townhouse for political fund-raisers all that often. But Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey described Mr. Healy as a common-sense politician who had shown an early appreciation of the value of regional cooperation on issues like transportation and economic development.

?He is certainly supportive of Mayor Healy?s re-election, and he?s offered to campaign for him if asked,? Mr. Sheekey said.

It is the first time that Mr. Bloomberg, an independent who is hoping to run for a third term in November as a Republican, has held such an event for Mr. Healy, a Democrat who is heavily favored to win re-election on May 12. But it is hardly geographical proximity that has made the mayors allies: they were part of the original coalition that launched Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and Mr. Healy was one of the few politicians outside the city to support Mr. Bloomberg?s congestion-pricing plan.

?He is in his own way a maverick,? Mr. Sheekey said of Mr. Healy.

The two have traveled across the river to promote anti-gun initiatives; Mr. Healy went to Gracie Mansion in 2006, and Mr. Bloomberg headed to Jersey City?s City Hall in 2007.

In an interview, Mr. Healy said he was flattered by Mr. Bloomberg?s support: ?I think Mike?s doing a terrific job. I?ve been a huge fan.?

Mr. Healy also said he would enthusiastically do whatever he could to help Mr. Bloomberg win in November, even against a Democrat

?Anything that Mike asked me to do, I?d do, whether he?s a Republican, Democrat or independent,? Mr. Healy said. ?We certainly have similar philosophies.?

Their bonds are not just political, either.

Mr. Bloomberg?s mother grew up in Jersey City and attended Dickinson High School. Mr. Sheekey has strong Jersey City roots, too: His parents were close to Mr. Healy?s family, and some of Mr. Sheekey?s relatives worked for Jersey City?s legendary (and controversial) mayor, Frank Hague.

?Many of my predecessors viewed New York City as a competitor, but I couldn?t disagree more,? Mr. Healy said. ?I view New York City as a big brother. If New York City does well, Jersey City does well.?