Jersey City wins $3,000 for its public library in Facebook contest with Newark and Roselle to find which had most homes decorated for the holidays

December 28, 2011, 3:00 AM
By Stephanie Musat/ For The Jersey Journal

Jersey City has been named the winner of the ?Home Decorating Smackdown: Jersey City vs. Newark vs. Roselle,? winning $3,000 for the Jersey City Free Public Library and bragging rights for having the most festive municipality.

Councilmen Steven Fulop of Jersey City and Anibal Ramos of Newark, along with Mayor Janel Holley of Roselle created the contest, using social media to help benefit struggling public libraries.

?Personally, this is a new thing for us, leveraging social media for pure charity so hopefully we can get people engaged,? Fulop said.

The longtime friends created the Facebook page where residents in each municipality had the chance to upload photos of homes decorated for the holidays. Each municipal leader donated $1,000 to the library system of the city that finished the contest with the most uploaded photos.

In addition to the $3,000 grand prize, the officials offered a holiday gift basket valued at $500 to the individual picture with the highest number of ?likes.?

Richard McCormack of Jersey City, a Jersey Journal freelance photographer, accrued the most ?likes? on the site.

?It is a great time for a positive and friendly competition that will engage these communities in the holiday spirit to help their libraries,? Fulop said.

Here's the link if you would like to scroll through & look at some of the pictures submitted. Who knows, you may see your house.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php ... s-Roselle/322529117757653

Jersey City was named the winner of The Home Decorating Smack-down between Newark and Roselle, winning $3,000 for Jersey City libraries and bragging rights for having the most festive neighborhood.


Councilman Steven Fulop of Jersey City, Councilman Anibal Ramos of Newark, and Mayor Janel Holley of Roselle, created the contest using social media to help benefit struggling public libraries.

"Personally, this is a new thing for us leveraging social media for pure charity so hopefully we can get people engaged," Said Councilman Fulop.

The long time friends have created a Facebook page in which each city can upload photos of holiday decorated residences. Each municipal leader has agreed to donate $1,000 to the library system of the city who has uploaded the most pictures.


In addition to the $3,000 grand prize, the officials are also offering a holiday gift basket valued at $500 to the individual picture with the most amount of "likes."

Jersey Journal photographer Richard McCormack had the most likes for his photos that he posted on the site.

"It was great to be part of the good intentions of three great cities that benefit the children of our area," he said.

Of the photos uploaded to the Facebook page, most were from Jersey City.

"It is a great time for a positive and friendly competition that will engage these communities in the holiday spirit to help their libraries" said Fulop in regards to the tough budget situation of each of the city's library systems.