Marsha
February 2nd, 2010, 11:46 AM
A Jersey Journal editorial in today's newspaper is calling for Mayor Healy's resignation, but JC residents are defending the tarnished Mayor's reputation.
Editorial: Healy must resign as mayor of Jersey City
By The Jersey Journal
February 02, 2010, 6:00AM
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy must resign his office.
The mayor has said he has done nothing wrong in connection with a federal investigation into corruption in New Jersey that led to the massive arrests last summer of 44 people, including members of Healy's administration. He has not been charged.
Videos viewed by a federal jury last week in the bribery trial of suspended Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini reveal that Healy is an embarrassment as mayor of this city. He has provided a cinematic primer of what not to do as a chief executive of a municipality.
This is a man who is disengaged from reality. He pays lip service to transparency in government and poses as a caring public official, but Healy not only appoints his deputy mayor as his campaign treasurer, he is then willing to meet with her and a wealthy developer, along with a political consultant, just weeks before the mayoral election.
Some of those connected to the mayor's political organization and administration have already pleaded guilty to taking bribes, marking Healy's administration as corrupt. The level of corruption will be determined in the end by future jury verdicts. As disruptive as it would be for the city to lose its chief executive and be involved in a messy transferal of power, Jersey City cannot suffer another three years of Healy in office.
Not even taking into consideration the financial quicksand suffocating the city and its taxpayers, it is obvious to the most casual observer that this mayor is a mistake and must resign his office.
This is no ordinary public official. Healy is an attorney and former municipal judge, an officer of the court who is held to a higher ethical standard. In the fall, the state Office of Attorney Ethics, an arm of the New Jersey Supreme Court, recommended that the State Disciplinary Review Board take action against the mayor based on his conviction for obstruction of justice and resisting arrest stemming from a 2006 scuffle with Bradley Beach police. A suspension of his ability to practice law was suggested.
As in his Bradley Beach conviction, Healy does not believe he did anything wrong in his meetings with purported developer Solomon Dwek, an FBI informant and cooperating witness. This mayor even sees the videos in the Beldini trial as vindicating him.
What the hidden camera lens caught was a mayor who is willing to talk development and campaign contributions over the same dish of potato salad. Is this how business gets done in Jersey City?
Mayors in most municipalities will tell you they will never meet a prospective developer face-to-face. Proposed projects should go directly to a planning board.
Even more shocking, is at the beginning of one of the videotaped meetings, political consultant Jack Shaw tells Healy -- in the same sentence! -- that the sham developer has his eye on property in the city, "and we talked about the mayor's race, and I told him you were the place to put the money." Dwek chimes in, "Absolutely," and the mayor says, "Yeah." Later, the mayor says, "And you know we like to smooth the path for people to invest in our city."
In between, Healy, who already had a campaign warchest in excess of $2 million, offers a thin veneer of ethics, a charade of rules and regulations, but he's either willing to disingenuously let the developer think they're easily surmounted so his money will keep coming or he's truly willing to consider anything proposed by someone with such ostensibly deep pockets. When Dwek tells the mayor he gave Shaw "10,000 before and I'll do another 10,000 now," Healy thanks him and says, "we'll put it to good use and hopefully we can work together ..."
In the past, this newspaper demanded that the mayor show his outrage over the accusations in federal complaints accusing city officials of corruption. Healy refused.
He was asked to pressure then-City Council President Mariano Vega to resign from office and the mayor refused.
This is the first time The Jersey Journal has asked Healy to step down from elected office. We suspect he will refuse. As we said, this is a man who is disengaged from reality.
It's a reality that saw one Jersey City church include in its prayers on Sunday a plea for public officials to serve the needs of the people and not "their own personal agendas." Shame on Mayor Healy for being at the helm of an administration so steeped in corruption that a congregation in 2010 America has no confidence.
If he truly wants to do what's "good for the city" he says he loves so much, he will stop disgracing it, apologize and step down.
Comments (19 total)
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Posted by leftjc
February 02, 2010, 7:35AM
Just keep in mind that as you ask the Mayor to resign, the man that will take his place is his hand picked associate Council President Brenman!! The Mayors resignation will do absolutely nothing---the corruption will continue!!!
Posted by Dave Abdel
February 02, 2010, 7:49AM
For the record, nothing he did on the tapes is illegal. He continuously says "invest in the city" not "invest in me". He also says he'll put the money to good use and HOPEFULLY we can work together". Never once does he agree to any favorable treatment, kickback, or benefit for Dwek's donations. There is alot of Anti-Healy sentiment out there, and EVERYONE thinks they should be Mayor of Jersey City...but we're not. He's not doing a bad job, and I bet he could be doing alot better if he could actually focus on issues rather than constantly having to defend himself.
I'm not doubting his administration was wrong for what they did, and theres probably still some bad apples there, but lets not be nieve, this kind of stuff is happening ALL OVER Hudson Co and beyond.
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Posted by bullett
February 02, 2010, 8:14AM
AMEN, again.
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Posted by theoriginalgatekeeper
February 02, 2010, 8:11AM
John V. Kenny would be proud! His legacy continues with another lowlife, corrupt, Democrat running Jersey City! They should just issue their prison ID numbers upon swearing in.
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Posted by johnhanu
February 02, 2010, 8:19AM
Let's not be nieve. Just because it happens all over, doesn't make it right. So that excuse doesn't hold water whatsoever. Second, I have a really good question: If what Healy was doing wasn't wrong, why did they hold these meetings at a diner and not City Hall or a campaign office? Because they KNEW it was wrong.
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Posted by chort1
February 02, 2010, 9:06AM
I agree, he must resign immediately! He has apponited incompetent people to manage city departments and has raised taxes thru the roof. An example of incompetent leadership (or lack thereof) is the police chief. He is an obese figure that just takes up space (and a lot of it) at police headquarters. He had NO expereince in managing a police department and had a questionable few yrs as a cop. What was Healy thinking, other than taking care of his drinking buddy. The whole city admin must go. They have embarassed us enough.
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Posted by wildwood
February 02, 2010, 9:20AM
And remember where this call for resignation is coming from...the Jersey Journal. I'm just saying...
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Posted by jcguy
February 02, 2010, 9:26AM
I don't think the Jersey Journal knows what they are talking about:
In order to run a campaign (and yes, put ads in the Jersey Journal takes funds). Where does the paper think the funds come from? Not the Newhouse family (that owns the paper).
Mayors meet with prospective developers all over the country.
The Mayors job is t he make the city better.
Healy was doing his job, and the fact that he had a meeting is no reason to compel his resignation.
Talk about yellow journalism at it's worst.
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Posted by Crapgadget1
February 02, 2010, 9:51AM
Healy is a disgrace to the city, and yes the scum bag should resign !
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Posted by Crapgadget1
February 02, 2010, 9:54AM
Im sure the people who are defending healy here are not even jersey city residents, how has healy served the people of this city ? What has he done ?
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Posted by dirndl
February 02, 2010, 10:10AM
If only we had elected the JJ's choice "Honest Lou Manzo". The headlines would say " Hearsay Evidence of FBI Stooge".
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Posted by patmcc
February 02, 2010, 10:24AM
First of all since Healy became Mayor the rag of a paper the Jersey never had anything good to say about him. Lets face it if you saw the tapes he did nothing wrong unless you are also the judge. Mayor Healy cares for this city more than any other Mayor did. He is a great family man and a friend to everyone . At Thanksing he gave turkeys out and Christmas gave out gift cards to the needly families not once did you give him a story about how kind he was . Under him crime is down the city streets are being paved and still are parks are being redone recreation program got better for the youth and seniors and yes taxes went up but you still want all these programs . So I say Mayor Healy keep up the good work we are behind you cause of your care for the City and the people that live here . Maybe Gov.Chris Christie should resign for using his past office for getting the 44 people set up so he could run for governor all I can say is GO JERRY GO the people of our great city are behind YOU the Jersey never prints the real story
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Posted by USMCVET
February 02, 2010, 10:25AM
First and foremost, the Jersey Journal and columnist A. Torres have been Hell Bent on smearing Mayor Healy. This has been going on since Jerramiah Healy first ran for Mayor and continues to this day. Why? Because during his campaigns he hasn't used any ads in the Jersey Journal while running for Mayor. This is the Jersey Journals way of getting even. This vendetta is getting OLD, give it up and do your jobs! Try reporting the news and not trying to make it. Your paper is a JOKE, you charge 60 cents for a paper that's not worthy of a bird cage. You load your paper up with classified that repeat themselves to fill your empty pages instead of reporting NEWS. And what slimy rock did your columnist; A Torres crawl out from under? His attacks on Mayor Healy are unfounded rhetoric that is unrelenting. What has, or what does he contribute to Our Great City except dispair? Trust me everyone I speak with knows between your paper and columnist Torres that it's just Sour Grapes!! The Journal backed Lou Manzo and Harvey Smith, (both under indictment), for Mayor in recent elections and failed. You tried to convince the good citizens of Jersey City with you lies and propaganda which didn't work. Try being a real NEWS PAPER and report the NEWS and Community Events. It is not your job to manipulate our views!
Here is a new concept for the Jersey Journal; try working with the administration to better this Great City instead of bringing it down, you might even become a legitimate paper like you were many years ago before you took a handout from Jersey City to avoid going out of bussiness!!!
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Posted by caroln121
February 02, 2010, 10:30AM
Are voter recalls possible on the corrupt politiicians? Can that happen in May?
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Posted by dolong800
February 02, 2010, 10:30AM
Remember, this editorial is from the Jersey Journal, the paper of 22 pages. Please do not confuse it with New York Times. Basically, most people buy the paper for the obits, that's it!!! The last story they uncovered was the World Trade Center tragedy. The Journal , after many month of hard investigation linked this terrorism to Osama Bin Laden. Not exactly a bastion of journalism.
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Posted by Jack
February 02, 2010, 10:45AM
Look at all of Healy's Cronies coming out of the wood work. I hope you are all proud of voting for him and his incompetent council. If you love him so much than you idiots should pay the huge tax increase just bestowed on the JC Residents. Go back to your city jobs you losers! We know you were force to vote for Team Healy, now watch him lay you fools off cause he is clueless on how to run a city and budget.
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Posted by AngryJC
February 02, 2010, 11:01AM
We need to clean house. Starting at the top with a recall and a special election to replace Healy with "the people's" choice. As noted earlier if he resigns his cronies are still running the show. We need a recall.
As for those defending him...you are obviously working for him or have family working for him or are receiving some sort of life support from him and his massive criminal enterprise build on illegal bribes and the JC tax payers money.
As for those on the the board who are outraged (as you should be) speak your mind ever chance you get. If you see Healy or Vega or any other criminal on the street or on the path train etc...walk up and tell them they should be ashamed and they should carry the guilt of their crimes to their graves.
Enough said...
Editorial: Healy must resign as mayor of Jersey City
By The Jersey Journal
February 02, 2010, 6:00AM
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy must resign his office.
The mayor has said he has done nothing wrong in connection with a federal investigation into corruption in New Jersey that led to the massive arrests last summer of 44 people, including members of Healy's administration. He has not been charged.
Videos viewed by a federal jury last week in the bribery trial of suspended Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini reveal that Healy is an embarrassment as mayor of this city. He has provided a cinematic primer of what not to do as a chief executive of a municipality.
This is a man who is disengaged from reality. He pays lip service to transparency in government and poses as a caring public official, but Healy not only appoints his deputy mayor as his campaign treasurer, he is then willing to meet with her and a wealthy developer, along with a political consultant, just weeks before the mayoral election.
Some of those connected to the mayor's political organization and administration have already pleaded guilty to taking bribes, marking Healy's administration as corrupt. The level of corruption will be determined in the end by future jury verdicts. As disruptive as it would be for the city to lose its chief executive and be involved in a messy transferal of power, Jersey City cannot suffer another three years of Healy in office.
Not even taking into consideration the financial quicksand suffocating the city and its taxpayers, it is obvious to the most casual observer that this mayor is a mistake and must resign his office.
This is no ordinary public official. Healy is an attorney and former municipal judge, an officer of the court who is held to a higher ethical standard. In the fall, the state Office of Attorney Ethics, an arm of the New Jersey Supreme Court, recommended that the State Disciplinary Review Board take action against the mayor based on his conviction for obstruction of justice and resisting arrest stemming from a 2006 scuffle with Bradley Beach police. A suspension of his ability to practice law was suggested.
As in his Bradley Beach conviction, Healy does not believe he did anything wrong in his meetings with purported developer Solomon Dwek, an FBI informant and cooperating witness. This mayor even sees the videos in the Beldini trial as vindicating him.
What the hidden camera lens caught was a mayor who is willing to talk development and campaign contributions over the same dish of potato salad. Is this how business gets done in Jersey City?
Mayors in most municipalities will tell you they will never meet a prospective developer face-to-face. Proposed projects should go directly to a planning board.
Even more shocking, is at the beginning of one of the videotaped meetings, political consultant Jack Shaw tells Healy -- in the same sentence! -- that the sham developer has his eye on property in the city, "and we talked about the mayor's race, and I told him you were the place to put the money." Dwek chimes in, "Absolutely," and the mayor says, "Yeah." Later, the mayor says, "And you know we like to smooth the path for people to invest in our city."
In between, Healy, who already had a campaign warchest in excess of $2 million, offers a thin veneer of ethics, a charade of rules and regulations, but he's either willing to disingenuously let the developer think they're easily surmounted so his money will keep coming or he's truly willing to consider anything proposed by someone with such ostensibly deep pockets. When Dwek tells the mayor he gave Shaw "10,000 before and I'll do another 10,000 now," Healy thanks him and says, "we'll put it to good use and hopefully we can work together ..."
In the past, this newspaper demanded that the mayor show his outrage over the accusations in federal complaints accusing city officials of corruption. Healy refused.
He was asked to pressure then-City Council President Mariano Vega to resign from office and the mayor refused.
This is the first time The Jersey Journal has asked Healy to step down from elected office. We suspect he will refuse. As we said, this is a man who is disengaged from reality.
It's a reality that saw one Jersey City church include in its prayers on Sunday a plea for public officials to serve the needs of the people and not "their own personal agendas." Shame on Mayor Healy for being at the helm of an administration so steeped in corruption that a congregation in 2010 America has no confidence.
If he truly wants to do what's "good for the city" he says he loves so much, he will stop disgracing it, apologize and step down.
Comments (19 total)
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by leftjc
February 02, 2010, 7:35AM
Just keep in mind that as you ask the Mayor to resign, the man that will take his place is his hand picked associate Council President Brenman!! The Mayors resignation will do absolutely nothing---the corruption will continue!!!
Posted by Dave Abdel
February 02, 2010, 7:49AM
For the record, nothing he did on the tapes is illegal. He continuously says "invest in the city" not "invest in me". He also says he'll put the money to good use and HOPEFULLY we can work together". Never once does he agree to any favorable treatment, kickback, or benefit for Dwek's donations. There is alot of Anti-Healy sentiment out there, and EVERYONE thinks they should be Mayor of Jersey City...but we're not. He's not doing a bad job, and I bet he could be doing alot better if he could actually focus on issues rather than constantly having to defend himself.
I'm not doubting his administration was wrong for what they did, and theres probably still some bad apples there, but lets not be nieve, this kind of stuff is happening ALL OVER Hudson Co and beyond.
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by bullett
February 02, 2010, 8:14AM
AMEN, again.
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by theoriginalgatekeeper
February 02, 2010, 8:11AM
John V. Kenny would be proud! His legacy continues with another lowlife, corrupt, Democrat running Jersey City! They should just issue their prison ID numbers upon swearing in.
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by johnhanu
February 02, 2010, 8:19AM
Let's not be nieve. Just because it happens all over, doesn't make it right. So that excuse doesn't hold water whatsoever. Second, I have a really good question: If what Healy was doing wasn't wrong, why did they hold these meetings at a diner and not City Hall or a campaign office? Because they KNEW it was wrong.
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by chort1
February 02, 2010, 9:06AM
I agree, he must resign immediately! He has apponited incompetent people to manage city departments and has raised taxes thru the roof. An example of incompetent leadership (or lack thereof) is the police chief. He is an obese figure that just takes up space (and a lot of it) at police headquarters. He had NO expereince in managing a police department and had a questionable few yrs as a cop. What was Healy thinking, other than taking care of his drinking buddy. The whole city admin must go. They have embarassed us enough.
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Posted by wildwood
February 02, 2010, 9:20AM
And remember where this call for resignation is coming from...the Jersey Journal. I'm just saying...
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by jcguy
February 02, 2010, 9:26AM
I don't think the Jersey Journal knows what they are talking about:
In order to run a campaign (and yes, put ads in the Jersey Journal takes funds). Where does the paper think the funds come from? Not the Newhouse family (that owns the paper).
Mayors meet with prospective developers all over the country.
The Mayors job is t he make the city better.
Healy was doing his job, and the fact that he had a meeting is no reason to compel his resignation.
Talk about yellow journalism at it's worst.
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by Crapgadget1
February 02, 2010, 9:51AM
Healy is a disgrace to the city, and yes the scum bag should resign !
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by Crapgadget1
February 02, 2010, 9:54AM
Im sure the people who are defending healy here are not even jersey city residents, how has healy served the people of this city ? What has he done ?
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by dirndl
February 02, 2010, 10:10AM
If only we had elected the JJ's choice "Honest Lou Manzo". The headlines would say " Hearsay Evidence of FBI Stooge".
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by patmcc
February 02, 2010, 10:24AM
First of all since Healy became Mayor the rag of a paper the Jersey never had anything good to say about him. Lets face it if you saw the tapes he did nothing wrong unless you are also the judge. Mayor Healy cares for this city more than any other Mayor did. He is a great family man and a friend to everyone . At Thanksing he gave turkeys out and Christmas gave out gift cards to the needly families not once did you give him a story about how kind he was . Under him crime is down the city streets are being paved and still are parks are being redone recreation program got better for the youth and seniors and yes taxes went up but you still want all these programs . So I say Mayor Healy keep up the good work we are behind you cause of your care for the City and the people that live here . Maybe Gov.Chris Christie should resign for using his past office for getting the 44 people set up so he could run for governor all I can say is GO JERRY GO the people of our great city are behind YOU the Jersey never prints the real story
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by USMCVET
February 02, 2010, 10:25AM
First and foremost, the Jersey Journal and columnist A. Torres have been Hell Bent on smearing Mayor Healy. This has been going on since Jerramiah Healy first ran for Mayor and continues to this day. Why? Because during his campaigns he hasn't used any ads in the Jersey Journal while running for Mayor. This is the Jersey Journals way of getting even. This vendetta is getting OLD, give it up and do your jobs! Try reporting the news and not trying to make it. Your paper is a JOKE, you charge 60 cents for a paper that's not worthy of a bird cage. You load your paper up with classified that repeat themselves to fill your empty pages instead of reporting NEWS. And what slimy rock did your columnist; A Torres crawl out from under? His attacks on Mayor Healy are unfounded rhetoric that is unrelenting. What has, or what does he contribute to Our Great City except dispair? Trust me everyone I speak with knows between your paper and columnist Torres that it's just Sour Grapes!! The Journal backed Lou Manzo and Harvey Smith, (both under indictment), for Mayor in recent elections and failed. You tried to convince the good citizens of Jersey City with you lies and propaganda which didn't work. Try being a real NEWS PAPER and report the NEWS and Community Events. It is not your job to manipulate our views!
Here is a new concept for the Jersey Journal; try working with the administration to better this Great City instead of bringing it down, you might even become a legitimate paper like you were many years ago before you took a handout from Jersey City to avoid going out of bussiness!!!
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by caroln121
February 02, 2010, 10:30AM
Are voter recalls possible on the corrupt politiicians? Can that happen in May?
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by dolong800
February 02, 2010, 10:30AM
Remember, this editorial is from the Jersey Journal, the paper of 22 pages. Please do not confuse it with New York Times. Basically, most people buy the paper for the obits, that's it!!! The last story they uncovered was the World Trade Center tragedy. The Journal , after many month of hard investigation linked this terrorism to Osama Bin Laden. Not exactly a bastion of journalism.
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by Jack
February 02, 2010, 10:45AM
Look at all of Healy's Cronies coming out of the wood work. I hope you are all proud of voting for him and his incompetent council. If you love him so much than you idiots should pay the huge tax increase just bestowed on the JC Residents. Go back to your city jobs you losers! We know you were force to vote for Team Healy, now watch him lay you fools off cause he is clueless on how to run a city and budget.
Reply to this comment | Post a new comment
Posted by AngryJC
February 02, 2010, 11:01AM
We need to clean house. Starting at the top with a recall and a special election to replace Healy with "the people's" choice. As noted earlier if he resigns his cronies are still running the show. We need a recall.
As for those defending him...you are obviously working for him or have family working for him or are receiving some sort of life support from him and his massive criminal enterprise build on illegal bribes and the JC tax payers money.
As for those on the the board who are outraged (as you should be) speak your mind ever chance you get. If you see Healy or Vega or any other criminal on the street or on the path train etc...walk up and tell them they should be ashamed and they should carry the guilt of their crimes to their graves.
Enough said...