Quote:

Yeah, but that's the kind of thing that got Bill Clinton in trouble.

NOTHING happens in Kabul, Baghdad, or Jersey City without extortion.

So the Lawyer handles the bribes then?

Don't listen to people here. As someone who got a zoning variance with zero bribes involved, it is very possible.

You need to talk to a lawyer who has done this many times in JC. You can find the agendas and minutes for the Board of Adjustment meetings going back a couple years here:

http://cityofjerseycity.com/agenda.aspx?id=1264

Notice that attorney is listed for every project coming in front of the board. There's your list of potential lawyers to hire. Good luck.

I recommend buying a bound notebook and dating/writing every encounter you have with the city related to this topic if you decide to move forward. Who you spoke to, time of day, how long it took, the works. Then if you encounter challenges, contact the State of New Jersey Consumer Affairs and tell them what you are trying to do and explain how you are recording all the details of your request.

Is that drawer that opens at both ends in the Mayor's office still around ?

Hah, I admit that I was not around when the news broke. In all seriousness though, corruption or no, I've been told by several people that the process can be drawn out over several years and be incredibly expensive.

For the sake of business, I'd have no problem offering a few handouts here and there - it's done pretty much everywhere from the pharmaceutical industry on - but I have a feeling that it's not feasible.

Has anyone actually tried doing this? Or looked into it? I called the development board last Friday and some woman actually laughed at me on the phone and said "Honey, Hoboken is full!" Pretty encouraging, really.

The response is the same going back as long as anybody can recall. And unless the voters start to take politics seriously it will always be. JC came by it's reputation legitimately.

I wonder what the responce in this thread would have been prior to the 44 being arrested ?

Someone's gotta be filling in for Vega, etc here. Healy can't possibly be living off $98k/year salary. I would guess with all the hoopla, it shouldn't cost you more than $6 or $7k to get that variance. Just set up a "lunch" out of town and hand over some "coupons" you have in an envelope and it'll be variance schmariance....

Hey Johnny,

Another suggestion to accompany the envelope, offer to hire the sister, granny, & throw in that you'll even hire their dog too, you'll have your business up and running in no time.

Quote:

How right you are NewHeights. Johnny is not up to speed on the local greed.

Johnny

have you not seen whats gone down in JC recently. There is only one real way to get a variance and I wouldnt go there right now. wait til things cool off....capiche?

An envelope stuffed with cash should do the trick

Does anyone know how difficult it is to obtain a variance? I am interested in changing a residential four-story into a commercial property. The building will largely remain unchanged. Is this something that typically is granted in downtown Jersey City?