Dear Editor
I had the opportunity to attend the Nov 24th Jersey City Council Meeting during which the Council decided to approve the purchase of a Central Avenue property currently being used by the US Post Office and the JC Parking Authority. It is incomprehensible to me that the city should use $4+ million of our public moneys for such expenditure – especially in this fiscal climate when for one, furloughs for city employees will be instituted (if not already in place). Even without the testament of a real estate agent (Phil Rivo) who appeared as a member of the public, the price – in today’s market – appears exceptionally high.
A new appraisal – which Councilman Fulop tried to seek, and one that would have been a relatively small AND reasonable expense to pay – could have given the public, at the very least, some assurance that our public moneys are being wisely watched over by our elected officials. And considering that the current building owner is a financial contributor to officials in the current administration, the purchase appears even more questionable. Councilman Fulop, Councilwomen Richardson and Flood voted against it. I don’t believe the Council’s majority decision was done with the public interest in mind. As a resident and taxpayer, I am outraged.
Lycel Villanueva