JERSEY CITY – Next week at the August 10 City Council meeting, Councilman Steve Fulop plans to reintroduce – yet again – a series of reforms aimed at saving money by cutting the use of patronage perks given to city officials.
This will be the fourth time the Ward E councilman will try to get these ordinances passed. Thus far, Fulop’s reforms have proven unpopular with his peers on the council.
Two of the Fulop proposed ordinances would eliminate healthcare benefits for part-time political appointees of the Jersey City Incinerator Authority (JCIA) and the Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA). The third ordinance would mandate that all city vehicles be clearly labeled as city vehicles
with identifiers on each side of the vehicle stating “City of Jersey City – Official Business.” (For security reasons, this measure would not apply to unmarked vehicles assigned to the Jersey City Police Department.)
A release from Fulop’s office noted that these measures will likely be introduced on the same night that the administration of Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy will ask the council to consider a reduction in health care benefits to Jersey City retirees.
“It is incomprehensible that this administration would protect their free
cars and patronage to their political friends at the JCIA and MUA while hammering retirees and seniors with reductions in order to pay for them.
There is a window of opportunity now to force the council to do the right thing and I am determined to see it through,” Fulop said in a released statement. “The elimination of taxpayer funded patronage healthcare for
political friends will save serious money, and placing decals on the cars will ensure that taxpayers can start to question when they see their taxpayer cars used for personal use at the Jersey Shore. The greatest
cleaning mechanism is bringing sunshine and light to what is happening behind closed doors.”
The last time the downtown councilman introduced these measures was at the
beginning of the year.
Due to a policy passed by the council majority last year, council members
are barred from bringing forward measures that were previously defeated until six months have elapsed. The policy was passed to keep Fulop from reintroducing his anti-patronage ordinances, he has said on several
occasions.
But Fulop hopes the “fourth time’s the charm.” His anti-patronage package,
he said, has gained more support over time. The last time he introduced these ordinances they received support from Viola Richardson (Ward F), Nidia Lopez (Ward C), and David Donnelly (Ward B). – E. Assata Wright