HEALY NEEDS TO GO! He is not capable of running Jersey City.

Seconded: Go Steve!

Is there really a difference between accepting a bribe in person and having someone accept one for you? Our mayor may be cagier than Hoboken's former mayor, but I still want him out of there.

Go Steve!!!

Councilman Steven Fulop rips Jersey City as 'belly of the beast' for corruption
BY Karen Angel
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, November 12th 2009, 9:25 PM


Photo by Kevin Hagen
Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop, critic of political establishment, stands in front of City Hall.

The problems in Jersey City City Hall run deep.

In the recent federal sting that netted 44 public officials and others on corruption charges in New York and New Jersey, 18 had ties to Jersey City.

Among the 18 were six city employees and one elected official. And, according to Councilman Steven Fulop, "it's just begun."

"This is still unfolding, and some of those people are likely to share a lot of information with the government," said Fulop (D-Downtown Jersey City), who proclaimed himself an independent voice because he is the only Jersey City elected official who didn't run on Democratic Mayor Jerramiah Healy's ticket.

Among those arrested for taking bribes from a snitch posing as a developer were Jersey City deputy mayor Leona Beldini and council president Mariano Vega - people with "very high access," Fulop said.

"There's a culture of entitlement in New Jersey, and in many ways, Jersey City represents the belly of the beast. It's about self-service instead of public service," he said.

Several of Healy's allies were arrested for accepting funds for the mayor's reelection bid, but Healy was not charged, and has denied any wrongdoing. Still, there have been calls for him to step down, including from residents at an Aug. 4 rally of about 300 on City Hall led by Fulop.

Healy said he would "sign an executive order requiring all city directors and employees who participate in the development process to undergo mandatory ethics training."

But some skeptics were not convinced.

"It's hard to say if [Healy] can lead," said businessman Michael Yun, president of the Central Avenue Special Improvement District. "He's best friends with the deputy mayor."

Fulop said the mayor should enact such reforms as a "pay-to-play" ordinance targeting developers - which Fulop introduced in the council - and abolishing the practice of letting council members hold county jobs, as six currently do.

Healy responded that he has "directed the Law Department to review campaign reform in other states and other municipalities and to meet with local civic groups who are committed to pay-to-play reform."

Meanwhile, said Yun, "The city government should work hard to regain their credibility. They should understand that they should follow the rules and regulations before they tell the people what to do." kangel@nydailynews.com

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