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Do you watch the talk shows and events coverage on the cable access channels? We do. Starting today, JCI will separate the wheat from the chaff and report on what’s recent and noteworthy on city-owned, public access, and leased access channels. We’ve got a bit of a backlog going here, so you can expect to see a few more of these this week, and then we’ll continue the ‘TV Time’ column on an irregular basis as shows are aired.

A recent episode of Talking Politics, entitled “Ward C Candidates” (Channel 51, Feb. 19), features two of the Ward C council candidates discussing their platforms and plans for the seat Steve Lipski is vacating. Norrice Raymaker of Dan Levin’s One Jersey City ticket and Nidia Rivera Lopez of Mayor Healy’s ticket appeared; Jimmy King of Lou Manzo’s ticket was also invited, but couldn’t make it due to a scheduling conflict (a fact that clearly irked host Mia Scanga). There was no mention of Adela Rohena, who is running for the seat off-ticket.

Lopez, who works as a consultant, appeared to be rather unprepared, often referring to her notes to answer questions that should have been easy. In fact, her knowledge of the issues seemed limited to the talking points that Mayor Healy’s folks had given her. When asked what two projects she’d like to see federal stimulus money spent on, she said that hiring more police, including horse-mounted officers, “would be [her] priority.” Scanga reminded Lopez that the federal stimulus funds are primarily intended for “brick-and-mortar” projects, and Lopez added that she “would like to evaluate how we could allocate keeping tax relief.” Lopez also noted that cleanliness, crime, and the condition of the roads are among her primary concerns for the city.

Raymaker, who describes herself as a “grassroots community activist,” seemed by comparison to have a good command of the issues that the One Jersey City ticket is focusing on, namely community policing, improved public transportation, the Journal Square Redevelopment Plan, tax abatement policy, and ethics reform. Regarding the stimulus dollars, Raymaker had a catalog of ideas, including “an afterschool program for youth,” restoration of the Loew’s and Reservoir 3, making Kennedy Boulevard and Bergen Avenue more pedestrian-friendly, and providing incentives for large chains and independent businesses to set up shop in Jersey City.

Also of note in this episode: Mia Scanga quizzes the candidates on their connections to city and county employees; Jersey City Construction gets a shout-out; and some of the excellent Talking Politics spreadsheet-style visual aids we’ve come to know and love.

You can watch “Ward C Candidates” and other episodes of Talking Politics on the web.