Speculation has raged over who leaked the damaging information that led to the resignation of Muhammed Akil as chief of staff to Mayor Steven Fulop. Most agree it was an inside job, someone who had access to information not readily available to the public. Twenty-year-old newspapers from Akil’s college days at Northwestern University were mailed anonymously to a reporter who worked for the local daily newspaper.
While the damaging information that eventually brought down one of the bright stars in the Fulop administration came from these old articles, other information leaked to the press could not have come from public sources outside of City Hall, insiders confirmed this week.
“This wasn’t a political attack from outside,” said one source close to the mayor’s office.
This dispels a theory that southern New Jersey Democratic powerbroker George Norcross was responsible, in order to damage Fulop ahead of the upcoming race for governor. Norcross is the power behind State Sen. Steven Sweeney, who is seen as Fulop’s chief Democratic rival in the 2017 gubernatorial election.
Another theory suggests that the information was leaked to the press by someone trying to damage the Fulop administration ahead of an expected election for mayor, or someone close to former Mayor Jerramiah Healy – seeking retribution for Healy’s loss last year.
The most credible theory, however, suggests that a disgruntled former employee is responsible, someone formerly associated with the administration who has since been released.
In this theory, supported by several sources, the official had been gathering dirty laundry on key people in City Hall for some time, and that was partly the reason why the administration let the person go.
Some restructuring of municipal government may be an effort by the Fulop administration to keep abuses of this kind from happening in the future, and to avoid any more embarrassing revelations at a time when Fulop is making a run for the governor’s office.
Backtracking Fulop style
Akil’s resignation comes just as Fulop has backed off several other controversial proposals – including the recent trash transfer deal for Greenville Yards that would have generated $10 million toward the building of a new water activity park in Jersey City Heights.
The severe backlash from public officials about the project came partly because the proposal isn’t new. Many local officials fought off a similar proposal in 1999, and felt betrayed by Fulop’s proposing it again.
More importantly, the proposal risked dividing the city along racial lines because the greatest perceived impact of the trash transfer (if there was an impact) would have been felt most in a largely African American part of the city, while the greatest benefit would have gone to a largely white area in the Heights.
Even if Fulop has steered the money to currently under-development Berry Lane Park on the border of Ward F, people might have been upset since some community leaders already feel (rightly or wrongly) that a large park has drained resources that might otherwise have gone toward community parks.
Davis and Smith closer to peace?
Recently, Bayonne unveiled the technology element to its new technical school within Bayonne High School. The move brought together Mayor James Davis and his one-time adversary, former Mayor Mark Smith, for the second time in a month.
Earlier this month, both men appeared at a fundraiser for Kenneth Kopacz, the freeholder candidate whom Smith supported prior to the June Primary, and whom Davis currently supports.
The school event, however, was a little different, since the school – designed to retain some of the better students so that they do not flee to private or county schools – was constructed during Smith’s administration.
Many people at the ceremony gave credit to Smith, as did Davis, who came down from behind the dais to actually shake Smith’s hand.
Could there be peace in Bayonne after so many harsh political words during the election?
Kopacz is well liked among the current freeholder board – one of a number of new faces who will likely be sworn in after the Nov. 4 election, although Independent Michael Alonso apparently still believes he can make headway against him.
Even if Alonso loses, he may have improved his name recognition in order to run for future office – and could even reemerge next spring in a race for state Assembly.
Insiders close to state Sen. Sandra Cunningham said that she will be supporting the reelection of Charles Mainor for state Assembly, and will back Nicholas Chivollotti as a replacement for Jason O’Donnell in next year’s Democratic primary.
Chivollotti previously ran for state Assembly in the 31st District as part of the historic Democratic civil war of 2007-2008, when state Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack put together a county-wide ticket against Hudson County Democratic Organization candidates.
O’Donnell is expected to fight for his seat, and a lot will depend on how much support he can get from the Jersey City side of the 31st District – which is split between Bayonne and Jersey City.
Some key Fulop people worked for the Smith campaign last spring. Fulop was at the Kopacz fundraiser earlier this month. But he is also reportedly close to O’Donnell, and could help O’Donnell retain the seat.
Smith did not lose to Davis by a large margin last spring, and Smith voters may be looking to land somewhere. If O’Donnell can draw enough of them, and strong support from Fulop machine, he might be able to squeak out a victory, despite not having the support of the HCDO.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.