Jersey City Councilwoman Nidia Lopez appeared in Hudson County Superior Court on Monday to testify in a lawsuit aimed at forcing her to vacate her council seat, alleging she did not meet the qualification of living in Jersey City for a year prior to the May 12 municipal election.
Superior Court Judge Maurice Gallipoli will issue a written opinion to be made public on an unspecified date.
Superior Court Judge Maurice Gallipoli will issue a written opinion.
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However, after King pled guilty to taking bribes from government informant Solomon Dwek in an FBI investigation this summer, the lawsuit was picked up by the third place finisher in the Ward C race, Norrice Raymaker.
On Monday, under questioning from Raymaker’s attorney, Howard Myerowitz, about not paying income taxes in New Jersey from 2000 to 2008, Lopez said she “did not realize” she had to pay her income taxes here.
Lopez’s attorney, William Northgrave, presented numerous documents to the court to prove that she lives in Jersey City and not Florida.
If Judge Gallipoli rules that Lopez must vacate her council seat, then it will be filled for an interim period by a resident of the ward until a special election. The person is voted on by the City Council, but can be nominated by Mayor Jerramiah Healy or the council members.
Under oath
Lopez was questioned by Myerowitz about why she did not apply for a New Jersey driver’s license when she moved back to New Jersey in 2008. Lopez claimed she did not get a driver’s license because she did not drive in New Jersey, where her husband Ben does the driving. She said she drove only in Florida.
Myerowitz also questioned her about why she renewed her Florida driver’s license. Lopez claimed she did not remember doing so, until Myerowitz showed her a copy of the renewal from 2006.
She was also questioned about her claim that she voted in New Jersey since 2000. Myerowitz pointed out that she voted in a Florida election by absentee ballot in 2003.
Myerowitz took Lopez to task when he gave his summation before the hearing ended.
“She forgot? She didn’t forget to vote to raise taxes on the people of Jersey City,” Myerowitz said.
Lopez’s attorney, Northgrave, produced documents showing Lopez living in Jersey City, including evidence of hospital stays in New Jersey and bills that were sent from her Florida property to her Jersey City home at 66 Corbin Ave.
Northgrave also asked about where she went to church in Jersey City and her consulting business in Hoboken.
Northgrave presented his client as someone who did not knowingly try to get out of paying her New Jersey income taxes, and has since paid back the New Jersey taxes she owed.
She is also currently paying back more than $30,000 in property taxes to the state of Florida.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.