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GLENN D. CUNNINGHAM MAYOR CITY HALL JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 TEL:(201) 547-5200 FAX:(201) 547-4288

Due to Councilman Bill Gaughan's total disregard for his oath of office and his duty to the people of Jersey City, we are now faced with the grim reality that Jersey City's residents are facing an unnecessary 40% property tax increase.

When I became Mayor in 2001, The State of New Jersey told me that the previous administration left Jersey City with a $54 million deficit. Jersey City was also labeled a "Distressed City." However, for the last two years we have not had a property tax increase in Jersey City. We have hired Police Officers and Firefighters to keep Jersey City's residents safe.

And we are no longer labeled as a Distressed City.

However, Last night, certain members of the Jersey City Council put their own political agendas ahead of the needs of the people of Jersey City. By a vote of 6-3, the City Council defeated a bond refinancing plan that was approved by the State of New Jersey's local finance board.

Previous administrations, have left Jersey City with insurmountable debt obligations in the coming years. The only way to possibly meet these obligations without restructuring the debt is to pass on unnecessary tax increases to Jersey City taxpayers.

I will not raise property taxes on Jersey City's already overburdened property tax payers especially when it is unnecessary. This refinancing plan would have given Jersey City fiscal stability for years to come.

However, Councilman Gaughan had the audacity to tell a high ranking Jersey City governmental official that he had to vote down this plan because its passage would guarantee that there would be no property tax increases and my re-election.

Again, Councilman Gaughan said that he would vote against this plan because it would guarantee my re-election.

He is willing to hurt the people of Jersey City and Jersey City's workers for his own political agenda. Now, you may ask how Councilman Gaughan was able to influence this vote.

I can tell you how.

Simply put, he is the boss of several members of the Jersey City Council and City council family members.

Councilman Gaughan has a job as the Chief of Staff to the County Executive.

Several members of the Council are also on the County payroll with high paying jobs and they answer to Councilman Gaughan.

Councilman Junior Maldonado has a $80,000 a year job at the Hudson County Improvement Authority.

Councilman Mariano Vega has a $90,000 a year job as the director of Public Resources.

Councilman Peter Brennan has a $65,000 a year job as a maintenance man.

Councilwoman Mary Donnelly's son and daughter-in-law both work for the County.

They all answer to the Chief of Staff, Bill Gaughan who has the power to hire and fire them.

Bill Gaughan controls these councilmen by controlling their jobs. He is the boss of these county-employed Jersey City Council-members at work and in politics. It's no secret that Councilman Gaughan opposes anything my administration proposes. Just yesterday, he was quoted in the press saying that he wants to raise property taxes. On that issue we will never agree.

I have written to the Council president, L. Harvey Smith, to inform him that now the Council must put forth a viable alternative to refinance the City's debt. I am calling on the Council now to put their political agendas aside and to put the people of Jersey City first.

They must now put forth a plan to refinance the city's debt and to keep property taxes down. At this time, on behalf of the taxpayers, I would like to thank Council-members Healy, Lipski and Richardson who put Jersey City first and voted for the people.

And to the City workers of Jersey City who may be affected by the Council's actions, I am very sorry for the hardship they are placing on you and your families.

For any City worker, I pledge the full resources of the Jersey City Department of Employment and Training to attempt to ease your transition to another job.

If the Council comes to its senses and offers a new plan, the City will immediately begin the process of bringing back Jersey City's workers. We only have a few days to avoid a fiscal catastrophe.

The Council must convene a special meeting to pass a new ordinance. We must move as swiftly as possible. Interest rates are at historically low rates. We will never see this opportunity to refinance the City's debt at these low rates again.

Join the Revolution. I ask the residents, taxpayers and the business community to join me in a Taxpayers revolt against the Gaughan property tax increase next Wednesday, here at Jersey City Hall at 5pm.

Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham City of Jersey City 

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