Did you see the front page of The Jersey Journal ("3 Slain in 1 Night")? The Healy administration must step up on public safety. Where is the mayor on this? We have not heard a word from him calling these murders unacceptable in Jersey City. We need outside help, bring in the National Guard, State Police -- do something, mayor, to make the residents feel safe. No matter how you tout your statistics, Jersey City residents do not feel safe.
It is amazing how Mayor Healy and his captive council have money to provide benefits to a volunteer board that meets once a month. They have money for their take home cars. They have money to give Kevin Lyons a raise. They have money for Steve Lipski. There is always money for families, friends, cronies on the payroll. They have money for cultural affairs and parades. But they have no money for public safety!
Mayor Healy keeps talking about the New Great Depression, and yes, these are economically challenging times, however, the Healy administration has run City Hall long enough to have addressed the economic challenges we are facing. In fact, they created the mess we are in, spending money we don't have.
Jersey City should be the economic engine of the state with the major corporations we have there, along with being right across the river from NYC. Team Healy and his appointees are clueless when it comes to raising revenue.
For example, we have major hotels, good colleges, a nice waterfront -- and they can't figure out how to raise revenue. There is a shortage of taxi cabs in Jersey City. Sell taxi medallions. Just adding 20 cabs, selling medallions for $100,000, would raise $2 million.
I have been at many council meetings and residents also provided great ideas towards raising revenue, saving tax dollars, suggestions on budget issues, and this administration ignores them.
Where is all the money from the abatements? Why has it not been reinvested into Jersey City?
We can only hope people decide not to vote for the two people Healy endorsed. Ray "don't take away my car and perks" Velazquez and Kalimah "I'm an independent thinker" Ahmad. We have yet to see one independent thought; they both have been rubber stamps.
David Donnelly, who won his election, still has not come through on his campaign promises -- a desk by desk audit and cameras on West Side Avenue.
So we need to elect intelligent, smart-thinking individuals. Otherwise, Jersey City is doomed.
JOHN LYNCH
JERSEY CITY
http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index ... _is_failing_city_let.html