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COPYRIGHT 2006, GET NJ
With the exception of the communications from the Mayor's Office,
this material may not be copied or reproduced.
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GLENN D. CUNNINGHAM MAYOR CITY HALL JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 TEL:(201) 547-5200 FAX:(201) 547-4288 |
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February 27, 2003 For Immediate Release |
Contact: Stan H. Eason Director of Communications (201) 547-5808 |
JERSEY CITY-----Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham brought together a coalition
of former mayors today in support of a redistricting lawsuit that
affects Municipal representation in Trenton.
Cunningham, along with the four previous city mayors, Anthony Cucci,
Jerry McCann, Joe Rakowski and Bret Schundler, gathered at City Hall to
announce their respective support of a Republican lawsuit that seeks to
enforce the State Constitutional law regarding redistricting. The suit
is before the State Supreme Court.
Currently Jersey City is divided into three districts, a violation of
Article IV, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the New Jersey State Constitution.
Jersey City has one state senator and a single Assembly representative
compared to sister-city Newark, which is of comparable size at more than
240,000 residents, but has two state senators and four members on the
state assembly.
"Jersey City is the second largest city in the state and the
financial engine of New Jersey, there is no valid reason why our voice
should fall on deaf ears in Trenton," said Cunningham, organizer of
the coalition of Mayors. "Jersey City has been under represented in
Trenton for more than 20 years for dubious reasons at best. Jersey City
needs legislative people who will go and fight for Jersey City."
If the New Jersey Supreme Court upholds the State Constitutional,
Jersey City's political strength would be consolidated within the city
limits and not diluted by municipalities north and south of its
borders.
"Jersey City is at stake here. This rises above partisan
politics," said former Mayor Cucci, mayor of Jersey City between
1985-89.
Schundler, mayor of Jersey City from 93-91, said stronger
representation for Jersey City would lead to greater support from the
Governor's Office.
"When I was Mayor I had to fight for increased state funding. This
year the Governor slashed Jersey City's funding drastically,"
Schundler said. "I don't think the Governor would be doing that if
Jersey City had legislators fighting for us like they should.''
State officials informed Jersey City recently that its municipal
funding would be cut from the anticipated $10.4 million to $2 million.
"The Democratic Party of New Jersey is not there for the people of
Jersey City,'' said McCann, a two-term Mayo for the city during the
1980's.////
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JERSEY CITY |