Political Insider: Yet to be approved firings at Jersey City EDC have taken place

By Agustin C. Torres/The Jersey Journal
Follow on Twitter
on December 21, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The Jersey City Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC) is undergoing profound change. The autonomous nonprofit agency -- that was used to help find space for Manhattan firms effected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks -- essentially promotes the city, works with firms in Urban Enterprise Zones, and boosts local tourism. Now, it has been gutted before some expected remodeling.

Since Gov. Chris Christie has pretty much usurped UEZ monies statewide, Mayor Steve Fulop says the city cannot justify employing people under the EDC budget. In a unilateral move, Rosemary McFadden, chairwoman of the JCEDC Executive Committee, had the jobs of UEZ Director Roberta Farber, Chief Financial Officer Cliff Adams, and Director of Real Estate Dan Frohwirth terminated at the start of this month. A loan officer was kept because several business loans were still outstanding and people apparently need help in being told where to mail their checks. A tourism coordinator was also retained but plug in your own wise guy comment.

?I rather see money go toward programs than salaries,? the mayor told a Jersey Journal Editorial Board, last week.

The city has siphoned off a little more than $500,000 from the EDC that is expected to pay salaries in the city Employment and Training Program (JCETP) that employs about 30 people.

On Wednesday, I tried to attend a 5 p.m. public EDC meeting on the 14th floor of 30 Montgomery St. but no one showed up. The session was called off because there had been a Downtown water main break, I was told. The autonomous agency?s committee will probably get around to officially firing those people and approving the money transfer in the first week of January.

The reengineering of EDC by Deputy Mayor Vivian Brady-Phillips includes using the agency?s 501C(3) nonprofit status to help create summer youth jobs, said city officials. She has a background in nonprofit advocacy work in the Big Apple. This could be why the EDC meeting agenda called for accepting a $119,000 check from the Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation. Paul Fireman is the former Reebok owner who built and owns the Liberty National Golf Club. He may someday build a residential tower, or two, or three near the golf course, say officials.

CAN?T PLEASE EVERYONE

It?s way too early to start comparing Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop to Lonesome Road, the populist radio personality in Elia Kazan?s ?A Face in the Crowd,? who sees his audience turn on him when they find he doesn?t quite practice what he preaches.

There?s a small cadre of folks who, in their displeasure with the city ambulance contract proceedings, have distilled their complaints down to a one-word solution ? recall.

Every administration has it critics, including those who have yet to meet an administration they like. It is easy to say they are mostly some bitter people ? past backers of ex-mayor Jerramiah Healy, former Fulop cheerleaders who haven?t been rewarded for their loyalty ? but I have to presume there are some genuinely concerned citizens. still, I?m surprised to hear the ?R? word.

Fulop could avoid some of this by doing what he promised, transparency or at least the appearance of it. There?s a perception that the mayor?s inner circle and his rapid response team that has replaced Healy?s Mayor?s Action Bureau is a cabal making secret deals. Of course many an eyebrow lifted when former gov. Jim McGreevey was hired to head the ?improved? JCEPT and the mayor admits that the city is contemplating putting McGreevey on the municipal payroll as the city tax abatement compliance officer.

While the mayor did the proverbial ?hit the ground running? after his election, the speed of his administration is catching people by surprise. They?re not used to a mayor working at his job, although cynics will say there must be some nefarious world domination plan. I gave Healy a year or so before deciding he had to go. It took everyone else a full-term and several weeks.

Still, we have a right to question those who govern. They just have to grow thicker skin. But, a recall effort is, to put it politely, silly thinking. Besides, people are not good at recall campaigns, if you remember the failed attempt to remove Healy.

INSIDER NOTE

-- The mayor is hosting a Christmas concert at the Loew's Theatre this evening. Notice he did not succumb to "holiday" concert, although he may have been nudged by some constituents. Enjoy the show.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index ... insider_yet_to_be_ap.html

Layoffs leave Jersey City EDC with two workers

By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal
December 12, 2013 at 4:34 PM

And then there were two.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Rosemary McFadden, his predecessor?s chief of staff, are behind three layoffs at the city Economic Development Corporation, a nonprofit that operates largely to distribute state Urban Enterprise Zone funds.

The changes leave the nonprofit?s staff at two, which is all it needs, according to Fulop. In 2012, the EDC had 12 workers.

The mayor, elected in May, noted that Gov. Chris Christie in 2011 took away most of the money the city formerly received from the UEZ program, funds collected from the city?s low sales tax, and used it to plug a budget hole.

?You have multiple employees there that are just getting paid off UEZ funds that are supposed to be for programming needs,? Fulop said. ?They just sat there.?

Read more from the Jersey Journal