Political Insider: Fulop's inviting everyone for his outdoor swearing in?

By Agustin C. Torres/The Jersey Journal
June 08, 2013 at 10:41 AM

Let's Party! The swearing in of Jersey City's new mayor will have an old-time block party feel to it.

Barring a hurricane on July 1 at 5 p.m., Mayor-elect Steven Fulop is inviting everyone to the front of a colorful bunting-covered City Hall on Grove Street for a "festive" event that will include food vendors and music. It's either an attempt to stress the people's government or it's a prelude to a four-year circus.

There have been outdoor events in the past that I can recall. On July 1, 1977, Tommie F. X. Smith was the last mayor to hold his public swearing in front of City Hall. For Smith it was good timing because two years later the roof caught fire.

One other al fresco start to an administration was the July 1, 1985 inauguration of Mayor Anthony Cucci, whose swearing in on the waterfront at Exchange Place included Gov. Thomas Kean among visiting officials. To some, it was a symbolic setting because the nearby Colgate-Palmolive Company had announced that January it was leaving the city, taking 1,200 jobs with it.

Cucci defeated his rival and incumbent mayor Gerald McCann, who was enticing New York companies across the Hudson River. McCann said he was glad Colgate was leaving. Either he didn't like the toothpaste or he envisioned more NYC firms taking up the waterfront space. The city did get a big clock out of it.

I'm sure there have been other under-the-sun coronations, but what we're trying to say is that Fulop is taking the populist approach -- and toward the end of his first term, we should remember this moment. Sorry, it's my snarky way.

I gave the administration of Mayor Jerramiah Healy some honeymoon time before I dared to question the competency of the Healy collective.

In the case of an administration that has yet to take office, I get concerned when its leadership keeps telling me they have no completed list of all names for the Fulop transition team. "We're still calling some people." Obviously, it is not a government entity and a public revelation is not required, I write with a smile.

The names of heads of 11 transition subcommittees were released and one public meeting has been held, Wednesday evening at City Hall. I'm just not very patient.
And yes, I heard that the transition members were told to filter all news and comments to the press through Fulop's campaign mouthpiece, Bruno Tedeschi. A very professional way to curb rumors and innuendo, I write with a smile. It's moot now.

At least there is no bicycle lanes and street kayaking subcommitte

INSIDER NOTES

-- RIP, Frank Lautenberg.

-- At the transition meeting, former governors Jim McGreevey and Jim Florio revealed their personalities. McGreevey is energetic, as determined by the number of lunches or coffees he's had with the mayor-elect and the calls he has made to other transition members. Another week of this and perhaps the word "eager" takes on new meaning. Also, Florio has a sense of humor, judging by the way he introduced himself to the others as an "attorney."

-- Should the mayor-elect pick transition team member and attorney Jeremy Farrell of the Heights as his administration's corporation counsel, I'll have to mention that Farrell would be the city's first black top city government lawyer. -- not to put any pressure on Fulop.

-- By now, everyone must know that the mayor-elect's campaign manager, John Thieroff, is his most likely pick for chief of staff.

-- The Jersey City Democratic Organization's reorganization meeting is at Casino in the Park on Monday. As predicted here first, Heights resident and Fulop backer Shawn E. Thomas-Sullivan, is expected to replace Freeholder Jeff Dublin. Dublin announced he was bowing out and endorsing Fulop's guy, probably because he knew it was inevitable. Dublin stated the obvious for his reason for stepping aside, because it was time for "a new direction."

-- The reorganization meeting for the Hudson County Democratic Organization was postponed a day and will be held on Wednesday at School 7 in Jersey City. The reason HCDeadO Chairman Mark Smith, Bayonne's mayor, rescheduled the Tuesday session was because it was on the day of the Jersey City runoff election. It was also requested by Fulop people because if they were refused, then they knew there would be a fight. Smith is expected to be replaced with Assemblyman Vincent Prieto of Secaucus.

What is always more interesting is who will be the HCDeadO executive director, a post held by Hudson County employee and campaign ronin Craig Guy. No, I don't expect the role to be filled by Fulop's Gordon Liddy, Tom Bertoli, as most people are speculating. A decision is still being mulled as I write.

Around the state, I've learned that party organization executive directors have been able to draw annual salaries as high as $150,000. Because the HCDeadO has been somewhat of a deadbeat organization, salaries for its executive director have fluctuated of late between $80,000 and $50,000. It's been so bad that I wouldn't be surprised if "that Guy" hasn't taken his salary, about $50,000, as a loan to the political organization -- as in with interest.

Some political observers don't know when the practice of assessing individual municipal Democratic organizations for funding the HCDeadO stopped. Now, political organizations or individuals no longer just give funds but rather "loan" them.
Still, the HCDeadO has been able to obtain more than $100,000 in loans (donations) and then wheeled thousands through Bayonne and then to the Team Healy coffers in the finals weeks of the Jersey City election campaign. I'm assuming ;) that the practice is illegal, but apparently, who cares. So now you know why Fulop is mad at Smith and Assemblyman Jason O'Donnell.

-- In the Jersey City Democratic Party committee fights, the HCDeadO did well, winning more than the majority of the seats. Fulop committee people dominated Downtown and Ward B. The surprise is that it was about even in Ward F. This is expected to dramatically change in the future as loyalties change, as some have already bowed to the new Khan. There is fear in the air whenever there's a change in the palace. Think Game of Thrones, without the dragons. And yet Steven seems like an unassuming sport, in a Gatsby sense.

-- I expect Fulop victories for all City Council seats in the Tuesday runoff, with possible exceptions in Wards C and D. Businessman Michael Yun has the best shot of pulling the "upset" in the Heights over Assemblyman Sean Connors.

The biggest fight is in the Journal Square ward, where many ex-Healy backers have joined to support incumbent Councilwoman Nidia Lopez. It has become a down and dirty mouth contest.

Even former Hudson County Sheriff Juan Perez has joined the Lopez bandwagon, perhaps with the faint hope of a public safety directorship (my learned speculation). Ahh, it's fun to get back to those poster tearing days, eh Juan. It's not so much a Hispanic thing but rather a number of Latinos who have been employed by the outgoing administration who are trying to stay on the payroll.

Lopez rival Richard Boggiano is proving to be quite formidable by attracting many independent volunteers, many who have never had previous experience in an election. To his credit, Boggiano has not said a word about the Sunshine State, I believe. This race is probably the most closely watched extracurricular contest.

It is hard to believe, but while former superintendent of schools Charles Epps seemed the front runner in Ward A, he seems to be running out of steam after failing to achieve a first ballot victory. He is finding it much more difficult to get out the vote again.

At-large incumbent candidate Viola Richardson has the best shot at returning, but she has to get some votes out of the rest of the city and not just Ward F, where she should be strong, but which appears to have exhausted its vote reserves. If it rains, it's over.

These observations are for entertainment and educational purposes only and not meant for gambling or personal agitation.

-- Freeholder Eliu Rivera of Jersey City has flown to Puerto Rico (I'm told yesterday) and he will not be coming back. The freeholder is in retirement mode. His resignation from the county governing body does not take effect until the end of the month. Rivera, affectionately called Darth Vader by moi, is expected to vote on the county budget by phone.

-- Former Secaucus mayor Paul Amico turned 100 in April. He's been in town since 1919 and was mayor for 28 years. What I want to know, is it true that he still drives? What next, Paul, running with the bulls?

-- Gov. Chris Christie calls for an October special election to fill Lautenberg's vacant senate seat. What really happened is that Christie prevents Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a Democrat, from appearing on the November ballot; it's the last thing a Republican governor seeking re-election needs.

-- Amazingly The Ancient Order of Hibernians may have no representation on the Jersey City City Council, unless Sean Connors pulls off a win in the Heights or Sean Connelly, Hickey Freeman personified, finds dry grass this morning and wins an at-large seat. Frank Hague is already starting to spin?

-- Adding to the culutural bad news is the possibility that Bayonne may no longer have a Columbus Day Parade. No one is stepping forward to continue the October tradition, so I'm told.

-- My jury duty was cut short when the defendant in the headline case in Bergen County suffered a stroke and is now in a medically induced coma. Despite what some may see as a harsh sentence, there was no admission of guilt. I was slated for court duty the entire month. Anyway, I am back.

-- Stay close to your life rafts this weekend and when the sun comes up, someone check on Hoboken and Paulus Hook.

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