COPYRIGHT 2006, GET NJ
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GLENN D. CUNNINGHAM MAYOR CITY HALL JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 TEL:(201) 547-5200 FAX:(201) 547-4288

Benjamin Franklin once said that "our critics are our best friends for they show us our failures, they show us our weaknesses, they point out our flaws."

Right now I would like to be the best friend of certain members of the Municipal Council. Some members of the Council may underestimate the ability of the people of Jersey City to understand complex issues. That is a mistake. Jersey City's residents are very knowledgeable. They can easily figure out what is important to its' elected leaders. And when you lose their trust, it can never be regained

If you represent a certain ward, that ward should be your first responsibility. It is a responsibility you accepted when you took your oath of office. You first responsibility shouldn't be a grandiose vision of future office.

If you represent the city At-Large, the entire city is your responsibility as a councilman. Not what some outside boss promised you in exchange for blocking appointments of qualified Jersey City residents, or keeping silent about the 80% cut in Jersey City's aid.

If you are elected you must believe that the people who elected should come first.

If you are a member of the council, one of your top priorities should be clean streets and sidewalks. Ordinance number 02-113 should be passed immediately.

To know what is right and to not do it, is the worst form of cowardice.

The most important thing I believe about politics, is that "good government is good politics."

And be wary of other outside influences. They do not have the best interest of Jersey City at heart. Trenton knows better than anyone the challenges Jersey City faces. We are close to $130 million LESS in revenue than Newark and we are roughly the same size. But Trenton exploited the problems in Jersey City to suit its own needs.

Jersey City needs to speak with one voice. No other city had its' aid cut by over 80%.

Tip O'Neil once said that "you can achieve anything if you are willing to give up the credit." Well right now I am happy to give credit to the council, if it means we will work together for the good of Jersey City. They can have all the credit they want for voting for my administration's proposals.

Every major initiative I have sent to the council regarding the refinancing of the City's debt, the Council has passed unanimously. Thank you, but there is more to be done.

We need to work together for the betterment of Jersey City. We need to continue our successful crime initiative.

We need to continue to fight crime holistically by providing youth programs and recreational activities for our children.

We need to replace 100 year old fire houses and police stations that have become eyesores in our neighborhoods.

We need to make the neighborhoods our top priority!

We need to continue filling our vacant lots with affordable housing.

And we cannot stay silent when the state cuts Jersey City's aid by over $8.4 million.

Government, can be a place where we all come together for the betterment of Jersey City. We can overcome the most difficult of challenges. We have proven that through the darkest hours of September 11'. In the current time of orange and red alerts we may have to prove it again. And we Americans and Jersey City residents will know that our ability to meet any challenge may well be limitless.

If we all agree to do what is right for Jersey City, there is no limit to Jersey City's potential.

Surely we can continue to work together if we just continue to look at the streets of Jersey City and create a vision about what we can accomplish. It was the vision of past mayors and council members and community activists that helped to build our Gold Coast, our light rail system and Liberty State Park. It is that same type of vision we can use to rebuild our neighborhoods. We should fight battles for Jersey City and not be threatened by the odds. We should put Jersey City front and center. Let that be our Legacy.

Thank you, God Bless America and God Bless Jersey City!

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