It may be a dark time in local politics due to the arrest of a dozen Jersey City officials on corruption charges in July, but that apparently makes it the right time for activists to push forward reform measures.
Recently, the City Council passed a redevelopment pay-to-play reform ordinance, which limits campaign donations by developers hoping to work on city-approved redevelopment projects.
Last month, city officials and civic activists held weekly meetings at City Hall to discuss a series of proposed reforms to curb the influence of campaign donations. City Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis supports the measures for future passage, but suggests that action at the state level might be desirable first.
He outlined the reforms in a letter dated Sept. 4 addressed to City Clerk Robert Byrne, in which he stated legal concerns about the redevelopment pay-to-play reform ordinance.
“There is lot out there that can be done.” – Dan Levin
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Matskioudis suggested the state Assembly and Senate should probably consider such reforms and pass enabling legislation before the measures are considered on the municipal level.
Those reforms, besides the pay-to-play ordinance, include: a uniform campaign contribution limit of $300 for all candidates; banning accumulation of campaign funds or “war chests” for after elections; restricting pre-election fundraising to 18 months prior to a municipal election, and limiting personal spending for a campaign to certain amount such as $250,000. (The last reform has been enacted in Philadelphia to allow equal competition between wealthier candidates and their less-affluent wealthy opponents.)
Mayor Healy has directed the city to embark on reforms to signify what he claims is his commitment to “open and honest government.” His critics, however, say he’s just trying to isolate himself from the officials arrested in July.
His proposals include retaining a law firm to perform a legal audit and analysis of the city’s development process, which has already begun, and requiring all city directors and employees who participate in the development process to undergo the mandatory ethics training that took place this past Thursday.
Good government advocates say more reforms are necessary.
What more can be done
Dan Levin, mayoral candidate in the May election and one of the draftees of the redevelopment pay-to-play ordinance, said last week Mayor Healy and the City Council have to continue considering new reforms. Levin is also co-founder of the government reform organization, Civic JC and its political arm, One Jersey City.
Levin said the city’s suggestions of reforms are just that – suggestions that may not have a chance to become law in Jersey City.
He said there should be local legislation to ban political contributions on municipal and county property, as in donors not being able to bring a check to Mayor Healy in City Hall; to apply New Jersey’s Ethics Code in Jersey City; to select interim mayoral and council replacement appointees from outside the existing political system; and to halt all permits and approvals for new construction, development, and redevelopment until proper safeguards are in place.
“There is lot out there that can be done,” Levin said, “and I don’t like the idea of throwing out
[there] stuff that we know is preempted by state law.”
Levin continued, “So what’s the point of spinning our wheels? Let’s look at things that we can do so we quickly implement them and have the benefits.”
Levin also has shared larger objectives with his many supporters that go beyond just legislation that he believes will restore the public trust. He believes Mayor Healy, Councilman Mariano Vega, and Councilwoman Nidia Lopez must resign.
Some of those arrested in July said they were collecting money for Healy’s campaign, although Healy has not been accused with wrongdoing. Vega was arrested on July 23 for allegedly accepting $30,000 in bribes. Lopez is being sued by her opponents in the Ward C council race, Jimmy King and Norrice Raymaker, for allegedly having residency in both New Jersey and Florida.