Jersey City’s Special City Council Race Candidates Report Spending Nearly $300,000: The 17 candidates in last year’s Jersey City special election to fill two vacancies on the City Council spent nearly $300,000 combined, with the two winning candidates shelling out nearly $100,000 total during the campaign.

Former Jersey City Mayoral Candidate Will Ask for New Corruption Charges to be Tossed: Former state Assemblyman Louis Manzo, a defendant in New Jersey’s largest corruption case, is seeking to have the charges against him dismissed.

Jersey City Man in Stable Condition After Exchanging Fire with Police: The Jersey City felon who was shot four times by police after allegedly opening fire on officers Friday remained hospitalized but in stable condition, officials said Tuesday.

Hudson Freeholders to Study Express Bus Service Between Jersey City and Bayonne: Hudson County is set to take one step closer to connecting Journal Square in Jersey City to Bayonne with an express bus service.

Crime Blotter: Three men posing as repair workers talked their way into a Jersey City home and robbed two residents in their 80s of more than $5,000 in cash and jewelry, police said; A man who flashed a knife during an argument in a Secaucus Road parking lot in Jersey City was forced to flee when the man he was arguing with pulled a machete from his pants; An 82-year-old Jersey City man walking on Clarke Avenue early yesterday morning was attacked from behind, then beaten and robbed by two thugs; Yesterday Jersey City police busted a 33-year-old Newark man they say stole an SUV and then rammed a police cruiser with the vehicle when cops were closing in.

Today’s Best Bets:

One of Jersey City’s newest galleries, WOOLPUNKstudios, hosts an opening reception for Digital Weavings: Works by Pat Lay and Michelle Loughlin (6 pm, free). Meanwhile, there’s a closing reception for ‘Images’ by Eric Schkrutz at Made with Love (7 pm, free).

Uptown Crew presents its bimonthly Open Mic for poetry, music, readings, spoken word, comedy, dance and more (8 pm, $5).

In Statewide News:

Gov. Christie Calls for Restructuring of Research Universities: Governor Christie yesterday outlined a sweeping overhaul of higher education that would create a New Jersey Health Sciences University in Newark to replace UMDNJ, place Newark’s University Hospital under nonprofit management, and fold Rutgers-Camden and its law school into Rowan University to give South Jersey its own research university.

New Jersey gets a D-Plus for Teacher Standards: New Jersey’s report card from a group that seeks to improve standards for educators is dismal: D-plus, 36th in the United States, and making less progress than most states.

New Jersey Ranks Last Place in Business-Climate Rank: The Washington-based Tax Foundation, which advocates for simpler tax codes with lower rates, today released its annual Business Tax Climate Index, which ranks the 50 U.S. states based on how welcoming their tax law is to businesses. New Jersey placed 50th, a position it also held in 2011.

Black New Jersey Leaders to Gov. Christie: Popular Vote is No Way to Achieve Civil Rights: Two of New Jersey’s most influential black leaders, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, blasted Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday for proposing gay marriage be put to a popular vote in November.

Ten states from Maryland to Maine participate in the initiative, which is essentially a cap and trade system that has effectively reduced emissions in the region and generated revenue for investing in clean energy alternatives such as solar and wind. Carbon dioxide emissions from regulated power plants are capped regionally at 188 million short tons per year through 2014, and that will be reduced 10 percent by 2018.

Through this program, states sell emission allowances via public auctions and use the money to invest in consumer benefits such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and other clean energy technologies.

The goals of RGGI are to invest in in-state clean energy solutions and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from traditional energy sources such as coal and oil. The investment in clean energy will help us bringing about real energy independence.

Sen. Smith told us Gov. Christie has removed New Jersey from the initiative despite its success in New Jersey and strong support from the State Assembly.

“Our energy and economic futures are tied to harnessing the power and promise of solar and off-shore wind energy technologies,” he said. “RGGI was the means to make those investments and those new jobs a reality. First, the governor emptied the RGGI jar to balance his budget, and now he’s just thrown the entire thing away.”

After further studying this issue, the Jersey City Environmental Commission agreed to draft a resolution in support of continuing New Jersey’s participation in this important initiative. The resolution will be presented to the City Council in February. A copy of the resolution can be found on our website.

Two Former Jersey City Project Managers Face Charges of Shaking Down Construction Firms and Suppliers for $385,000: Two men who once worked as a project manager and his assistant at the Liberty Harbor development in Downtown Jersey City have been charged with shaking down construction companies and suppliers, officials said yesterday.

Jersey City Library Amnesty Week Began Yesterday: Patrons will be able to return overdue materials to Jersey City public libraries without fines from Monday January 9th through Saturday January 14th.

Today’s Best Bets:

LITM hosts Employees Only, a group exhibition showcasing the talents of current and former staff members who create art, music and films when they are not serving you drinks (7 pm, free).

If you want to laugh (and shut up), Shut up and Laugh returns to Lamp Post (9 pm, free).

In Statewide News:

N.J. Assemblyman Alex DeCroce Collapses and Dies in Statehouse: Longtime Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, the Republican minority leader of the state’s lower house, collapsed and died inside the Statehouse late Monday night, just moments after the 214th Legislature held its final voting session. He represented Morris County for 23 years. Governor Chris Christie will postpone his State of the State address but will pay a visit to the Legislature to eulogize the Assemblyman.

Bills Fly Through Senate, Assembly at the 214th Legislature’s Final Voting Session: Two years of deal-making in the state Legislature snowballed into a jam-packed final session Monday that touched on everything from allowing private companies to build and run public schools in three cities to giving builders a reprieve on drinking water protections. Here is a summary of the action.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver Says Raising New Jersey Minimum Wage is a Top Priority in 2012: Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said one of her top priorities this year will be raising New Jersey’s minimum wage, calling it a necessary move if the state wants to stimulate its lagging economy.

Two Weeks Left to Fill Ward F Council Vacancy: There is still no word on who might fill the City Council vacancy created when former Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson won an at-large seat during last month’s special election. The mayor and council have just two weeks to fill the vacancy.

Jersey City Council Candidate Charged with Mail Fraud: A Newark grand jury yesterday charged former Jersey City Council candidate Lori Serrano with mail fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Traffic Light Cameras Generate More Than 3,000 Tickets: Since Jersey City’s second set of red-light cameras was activated at Jersey Avenue and 18th Street in October, the city has issued 3,126 tickets for violations caught by the cameras, a city official said.

Firefighters Battle Two Blazes: Jersey City firefighters were busy with almost simultaneous fires at vacant buildings last night.

Crime Blotter: A 23-year-old Jersey City man was gunned down in a Bidwell Avenue driveway Wednesday night and police are hunting for his killer; a man was robbed of $600 at gun-point Wednesday night on Reed Street.

In Statewide News:

Sen. Lautenberg Casts 9000th Vote: US Sen. Frank Lautenberg cast vote number 9,000 in the senate last night when he voiced an “aye” for the Defense Authorization bill.

Head of New Jersey Charter School Office Steps Down: New Jersey’s charter school director, Carly Bolger, on the job for less than a dozen months, will be stepping down at the end of this year to take a new job in Chicago public schools.

State Senate Committee Approves Sports Betting: Sports betting in New Jersey came a step closer to reality yesterday, with a Senate panel approving a bill to allow casinos and racetracks to apply for licenses to offer it.

NJ Black Bear Hunt Upheld by State Appeals Court: A state appeals court Thursday ruled a state-approved week-long black bear hunt can be held in Northwest Jersey beginning Monday.

NJ National Guard Leader Resigns: Maj. Gen. Glenn Rieth, longtime commander of New Jersey’s National Guard, is resigning after being caught having a physical relationship with a woman who works for him, government officials told the Associated Press on Thursday.

Water Main Break on Tonnelle Avenue: Roughly 50 families were without water and the southbound lanes of Route 1&9 near Manhattan Avenue in Jersey City were shut down for about a block yesterday due to a water main break, officials said.

Central Avenue Installs Energy Efficient Holiday Lights: According to officials with the Central Avenue Special Improvement District, the entire commercial strip of 14 blocks between Manhattan Avenue and North Street will be decorated this year with light-emitting diode (LED) lights, which use far less energy than the old holiday bulbs. Meanwhile, Dislocations takes a look at the Grove Street snowflakes.

In Statewide News:

Fox News Makes New Jerseyans Less Informed: Sunday morning news shows do the most to help New Jerseyans learn about current events, while some outlets, especially Fox News, lead residents to be even less informed than those who they don’t watch any news at all, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released Monday.

Housing and Urban Development Grant for North Jersey: Federal officials awarded New Jersey a $5 million grant to develop regional economic plans for 13 northern counties to attract businesses and jobs to areas with solid residential communities and good transportation systems.

Democrats Differ on Telecom Deregulation: The recent weather-related outages and service interruptions have some Democratic legislators arguing that a bill to deregulate New Jersey’s telecom and cable industries goes too far, stripping away consumer protection.

Bill Promotes Development of New Solar Systems: A proposed New Jersey Assembly bill would let local governments loan money to property owners to deploy renewable energy systems.

One Step Closer to Over-the-Counter Syringe Sales: Most states allow syringes to be sold over the counter without a prescription, and New Jersey moved closer to joining that list on Monday, when the Assembly Health Committee approved A-1088, a bill allowing the practice. The state Senate has already approved the measure.

Anti-Fracking Rally in Trenton: Environmentalists poured into Trenton yesterday to oppose new regulations that would open up the Delaware River watershed to hydraulic fracturing, a controversial method of extracting natural gas that could increase pollution as a side effect.

Richardson Weighs in on Ward F Appointment: Jersey City Ward F councilwoman Viola Richardson, the apparent winner of one of two At-Large council seats that were filled in Tuesday’s special election, wants a say in who will next represent Ward F.

Council Report: Last night the City Council approved a controversial 20-year tax abatement for Goya Foods’ proposed Jersey City headquarters and distribution center; the council bid farewell to two of its members last night, as At-Large members Kalimah Ahmad and Ray Velazquez informally stepped down after having lost their seats in Tuesday’s special election. Look for full council coverage from JCI later today.

Beldini Hearing Postponed: A hearing scheduled for yesterday to decide if corrupt former Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini could delay starting her prison sentence due to health issues was postponed until next week.

Willie Flood Street Naming: A portion of Forrest Street will be dedicated Willie L. Flood Way, dedicated to the former At-Large councilwoman who retired in February.

Brunswick Street Mural: Dislocations takes note of a Brunswick Street mural that recalls a bygone era.

Jersey City Resident on Millionaire: Jersey City resident Denise Bonnin will be a contestant on this Friday’s episode of ABC’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Crime Blotter: A Jersey City man who was convicted of shooting a 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl in a city public housing complex playground in 2003 is being held on $225,000 bail for aggravated assault and weapons charges; a woman allegedly struck a restaurant worker with a metal post when an argument erupted after she demanded salt in a verbally abusive manner; a Seidler Street man has been charged with the aggravated sexual assault of his 5-year-old granddaughter; a Bostwick Avenue man who took off running Tuesday when he saw cops in Arlington Park was busted on numerous charges after he tossed a loaded gun while on the run, officials said; a Jersey City man was shot in the arm Tuesday night on the corner of Bergen and Lexington Avenues.

Today’s Best Bets: Painter and sculptor Jon Rappleye will be at NJCU this evening to discuss the works in his “Land of Promise” show — which our own Brendan Carroll called “the must-see show of fall” (starts at 4:30 pm).

In Statewide News:

Election Post-Mortem: NJ Spotlight takes stock of the statewide legislative election and concludes that what the off-year legislative election results really boil down to is the independence of New Jersey’s electorate and the truly local nature of these races.

Low Turnout Statewide: Voters in New Jersey appeared to show record apathy in Tuesday’s elections, potentially shattering previous turnout lows thanks in part to a shortage of competitive races and a district map favoring incumbents. [subscription required]

Dems Must Quell Infighting in Wake of Legislative Victory: The Ledger‘s Matt Friedman reports that before Democrats basking in the afterglow of Tuesday’s election victory take the battle to Gov. Christie — widely seen as having outmaneuvered them in his first two years in office — they’ll have to stop fighting among themselves.

NCLB Waiver Lacks Public Input: The Christie administration is scrambling to complete a proposal to the federal government that would essentially remake how New Jersey grades and monitors its public schools. But in the rush to complete its waiver to the No Child Left Behind Act, the state is being accused of skimping on a critical aspect of the application: public input.

Water Utilities to Get Paid Faster: The state yesterday approved a change that will allow water utilities to more quickly recover the costs of upgrading pipelines, hydrants and other infrastructure, a step that officials hope will speed up repair of New Jersey’s aging water systems.

But with Richardson moving to the citywide position, a vacancy is left in her old ward with only a short window of time available to find a replacement. According to City Spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill, there will be 30 days from the time Netchert certifies the results from the special election for the City Council to nominate and elect a temporary replacement for the seat. The new Ward F councilperson would then only hold the position until another special election can be held next November. This leaves the Council with only two council meetings — November 22nd and December 14th — to nominate someone. Failing that, the Ward F seat would go vacant for the year until the special election can be held in 2012.

As for the nomination, a simple majority of eight remaining council members is required for the temporary seat to be filled, with Mayor Healy casting the deciding vote in a tie.

Without Velazquez’s typically reliable vote, the more Healy-friendly council members — Council President Peter Brennan, Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano, Ward D Councilman Bill Gaughan, and Ward B Councilman David Donnelly — find themselves against potentially stiffer opposition than what the city has faced in some time.

Council Caucus Last Night: The Jersey City City Council met last night to discuss continued efforts to privatize the city car pound, a $35,000 legal settlement to a man who was involved in a car accident with a city vehicle and setting up the 2012 meeting schedule. Look for more from JCI this week.

Boggiano Defends Liberty State Park Statement: At-large council candidate Richard Boggiano responded yesterday to an accusation that he supported the development of Liberty State Park, saying that he meant only that the park should have some shops that promote New Jersey and Jersey City.

West District Precinct Improvements Complete: Problems regarding the cleanliness and safety of Jersey City’s West District police precinct, including bulletproof glass that still had holes from a 2005 shootout, have been completely resolved, to the tune of $25,000, according to city officials.

West Bergen Library Reopening Postponed: Reopening the West Bergen Branch of the Jersey City Free Public Library has been postponed to Nov. 15, library officials said yesterday.

Montgomery Street Fire: Four families were displaced yesterday when a two-alarm fire spread to the upper floors of a five-story Downtown Jersey City building at 358 Montgomery Street, officials said.

Crime Blotter: After five years on the run, a 33-year-old Jersey City man was formally charged yesterday with fatally stabbing a prostitute in Jersey City in April 2006; a bullet burst through the outside wall of a Dales Avenue home Sunday and had lodged in a living room wall, piercing a framed painting of Hindu religious figures, just a few feet from where a woman was watching television with her two children; a 54-year-old Chinese-food delivery man was ambushed, robbed and beaten at a vacant Jersey City house Saturday evening, police reports said; a 26-year-old Jersey City man told police he was robbed early Sunday of $10,000 worth of designer accessories and other items by a cabbie who was carrying a gun; a 12-year-old Jersey City boy was robbed at gunpoint of his bicycle on Van Nostrand Avenue Friday night, police said; a 40-year-old man was slashed with a razor blade early Sunday by a woman who followed him to his house after she argued with his girlfriend at a Jersey City Heights bar, police said; a 29-year-old Jersey City man is in a stable condition after being shot four times early Sunday morning, with one of the bullets lodging in his neck, police said yesterday; a man trolling for spare change outside a Jersey City store Friday night, grabbed a man’s cell phone instead and took off with it, police said; a Jersey City man, 44, was charged with stealing a $2.99 bottle of laundry detergent Friday.

Today’s Best Bets:

Animal lovers and art lovers come together tonight at the opening of Rescue Me, a group exhibition and fundraiser for See Spot Rescued at LITM beginning at 7 pm.

Also at 7, at the Gothic Lounge, C. Alexander London, author of the children’s series, An Accidental Adventure, will conduct a professional development workshop that will focus on how to use his books in the classroom.

In Statewide News:

Voters Optimistic About Gov. Christie: New surveys suggest people are feeling more optimistic about Gov. Chris Christie’s performance and the direction of the state.

Gov. Christie Against Pennsylvania Coal Plant: The governor said Monday that the state will continue a court fight that aims to cut air pollution from the Homer City coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania.

NJEA Announces Ideas Ahead of Convention: New Jersey’s teachers union has made public its own ideas for major changes to the state’s public school system, which clash with Gov. Christie’s plan, ahead of the union’s convention in Atlantic City this week.

Paterson Great Falls National Park Dedicated: The dedication of Paterson Great Falls as the nation’s 397th national park marks the beginning of a detailed federal planning process that will take two to three years to complete.

Botox Makers Move to New Jersey: The pharmaceutical company behind Botox, California-based Allergan Inc., will build a new $12 million research facility in the state, Gov. Christie announced Monday.

Latino Health Institute Opens in New Jersey: The new institute plans to document the disparities between the healthcare of the state’s 1.5 million Latinos and that of its overall population.

Victory for Occupy Wall Street Protestors: A New Jersey judge says police must return items confiscated from Occupy Wall Street protesters at a memorial across the street from the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton.

Beekeeping in New Jersey: A three-day course offered by the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station is designed to revive interest in New Jersey’s honey bee industry.

The reward? Short job security. The winners will only serve the remaining 18 months of the three-year terms vacated by Mariano Vega (ousted following a corruption arrest and conviction) and Willie Flood (who left because of illness).

But it will give the eventual winners, including 14 challengers in a field with appointed Democratic incumbent Councilmembers-at-large Ray Velazquez and Kaliimah Ahmad, and Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson, time to build a political base throughout Jersey City.

One challenger, city veterans affairs director Jaime Vazquez, is looking to return to the council after serving from 1985 to 1997. Five-term school board member Suzanne Mack, elected citywide in her current capacity, is eyeing the same results at the municipal level.

Others in the crowded field are: Richard Boggiano, Ihor Ed Ciolko, Melissa Alexander Clark, Brian Lane, Rolando Lavarro, Patrick Leonard, Dan Levin, Juanita Lopez, Omar Perez, Adela Rohena, Imtiaz Syed and Nabil Youssef.

Bracketed together as slates on the ballot are Ahmad and Velazquez, Mack and Perez and Lavarro and Richardson.

Even as outsider Lavarro has bracketed with a councilwoman, much of the election dialogue has seen those candidates looking to enter (or re-enter) the City Council criticizing the administration of organization-backed Democratic Mayor Jerramiah Healy and the nine-member council. Most of its members, like Healy, have won with backing from the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO).

Anti-Organization Councilman Steven Fulop of Ward E, eyeing a challenge to Healy for the mayor’s chair in 2013, has officially remained neutral.

Themes from the anti-incumbents have included allegations of continuing corruption and abusive patronage, long associated with Hudson County, coming at the expense of taxpayers and bloating the municipal budget.

The three current council members, along with Clark, have been no-shows during the last two debates. This has caused some challengers to harshly criticize anyone who might purposely skip the forums in trying to avoid greater scrutiny.

And in recent weeks, complaints have arisen concerning confirmed inaccurate statements in campaign fliers. Ahmad and Velazquez were taken to task for claiming the city imposed “no layoffs” in 2011 when it issued 366 pink slips. Mack and Perez were accused of purposely deceiving voters in the north end of Jersey City with literature claiming they had been endorsed by popular State Sen. Brian Stack, who represents the area, even though Stack denied endorsing anyone. The candidates have said they do not know who produced the flier.

JCI is providing a sketch profiling the candidates individually, in alphabetical order. Most of the information is based on comments made during the Nov. 2 forum held at Ferris High School. In the case of no-show council members Ahmad, Richardson and Velazquez, information was obtained from their official biographies listed on the Jersey City Web site. Attempts to track down Clark have been unsuccessful.

Views expressed by candidates during an Oct. 13 forum at PS 28 in the Heights are online here. Polls are open until 8 pm tonight.

Kalimah Ahmad
The Democratic incumbent’s official bio says the assistant Hudson County counsel is active in a number of legal professional organizations and has raised monies for lymphoma research by competing in a triatholon and to send youths to summer camp. She is thought to be Jersey City’s first Muslim council member. She has also volunteered her time to numerous civic organizations.

Among the cited accomplishments in her bio is writing “Where Have All My Brothers Gone?: An Exploration of New Jersey’s 1000-Foot of a School Zone Statute,” a review of the law’s sentencing policy banning drug possession within the zone. Ahmad was also a three-time recipient (2002-04) of the Hudson County Bar Association Scholarship Award. She is bracketed on the ballot with Velazquez.

Melissa Alexander Clark
Clark, who missed at least the last two forums, could not be reached by JCI for comment.

Richard Boggiano
Retired from the Jersey City police force after 37 years, the longtime president of the Hilltop Neighborhood Association prides himself on fighting for residents’ interests against city government and regional agencies, such as the Port Authority (PA) of New York and New Jersey, over the years. He called the decisions of the two incumbent candidates to miss the final debate “disgraceful,” and has promised to serve, if elected, for a salary of $1 per year. In his campaign, Boggiano has emerged as one of the loudest critics of the HCDO.

“Let’s get rid of the hacks who have been serving in Jersey City,” he demands, referring to highly-paid political appointees he alleges serve on a number of boards which serve no real purpose other than padding the budget when the public’s money can be put to better use. Boggiano maintains granting the Jersey City Parking Authority an annual $4 million budget is an extravagance, while at the same time, he feels the city has dangerously attritioned the police force from a high of about 1,200 officers during his tenure to a level “in the 700s.”

Ihor Ed Ciolko
A retired construction inspector for the city, Ciolko says he is the right person at the right time because the council needs someone with expertise in real estate development to promote responsible growth while attracting ratables. He has even floated the seemingly radical idea of trying to get back at least a substantial part of Liberty State Park from New Jersey to replace green space with more ratables. Ciolko also wants to pursue more tax abatements.

“I can make a difference. I can make change,” Ciolko has said. Given the Port Authority’s plans to eventually raise the Bayonne Bridge to accommodate more commercial shipping, Ciolko recently proposed making the city’s portion of the Hackensack River a “port entry zone” with financial incentives. Ciolko recalled the waterway’s days as “a vibrant shipping area” he wants to see revived.

Brian Lane
The Hudson County sheriff’s officer vows to be in the vanguard of the fight against Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s fiscal policies, which he says have devastated Jersey City. At the last candidates’ forum, he harshly criticized Lopez’s defending Christie for revoking various forms of state aid from Jersey City since taking office.

From the governor’s prior efforts to revoke school aid to his floating the idea of possibly terminating New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Zone program, Lane says, “I believe the governor has been a stand-up guy and now it’s time for him to step down.”

Rolando Lavarro

Rolando Lavarro, New Jersey City University’s assistant director for grants and special programs, is among those in the anti-Christie chorus when it comes to the governor’s urban policies. Yet he also maintains the mayor and council share the blame for some of the city’s own fiscal problems. Lavarro wants the budget examined under the process of “priority-based budgeting,” which would require that an independent firm come in to weed out any waste and abuse.

“I believe this governor, with cuts to school aid, has basically declared a war on our teachers and public schools in Jersey City,” says Lavarro, a former state legislative and council aide who grew up in Greenville. “All of my adult life has been dedicated to public service, whether working in non profits or in government,” he says with pride.

Patrick “PJ” Leonard
Did not attend the Nov. 2 forum, but at the Oct. 13 event he noted that he grew up on Sip Avenue. He feels he has developed good insights on how to improve the city in part by living here over the many years. He has called for the city to make a greater commitment to offering youth programs in trying to prevent juvenile delinquency.

Leonard cites as a priority reviving the Journal Square neighborhood, starting with renovating the historic Landmark Loews Jersey Theatre. “If we work together, we can make Jersey City what it used to be, not what it is right now,” he has said.

Dan Levin
The Downtown resident was the founder and past president of Civic JC, a good government organization, and believes the current city government encourages a culture of “corruption” that must be fought to get Jersey City back on track.

Levin, the owner of a small business in Hoboken, insists the city must do more to take “stakeholder” concerns into account in crafting policy. He also wants it to create “a strategic plan to see where we want to go in the future.” Included in that, he says, is incorporating policies to encourage putting “light industrial uses” in either vacant or underutilized buildings while de-emphasizing building more “market-rate housing.” He says the latter tends to consume services rather than generate ratables. He also wants to see a complete revamping of the building department, saying, “Plans stay on shelves for four months, six months, eight months, nine months.”

Juanita Lopez
A substitute teacher in the city active in groups in her Heights neighborhood, Lopez describes herself as an average taxpaying homeowner with an associate’s degree in urban policy.

Lopez defended Gov. Christie at the Nov. 2 forum, saying she believes the governor rescinded much of Jersey City’s aid because “it wasn’t being used right.” Lopez says she wants the council to engage in “research and studies” aimed at lowering property taxes to help small business flourish. She explains, “I believe it all comes down to lowering property taxes. And if you lower property taxes, it will encourage building owners to bring down their rents.”

Suzanne Mack
Sue Mack is the school board’s most senior member and a licensed professional planner who serves as an unpaid liaison for commuters with NJ Transit’s executive board. She wants to implement a comprehensive recreation program, and slow down the process of initiating an upcoming revaluation so residents better understand what’s at stake.

One of her first priorities on the council “is to have a summit by the end of 2012″ to bring in groups such as the Hudson County Boys Club and other non-profits to explore what they can do in helping the city provide recreational and social services. Further, Mack says, “We must end the who-you-know culture that governs Jersey City politics.” She maintains business development can be further promoted if the city eases restrictions on its entertainment ordinance, to allow more such commercial uses.

Omar Perez
Mack’s running mate is an administrator for a Latino fraternal organization. He previously served in various governmental and political posts at the city and state level, including the New Jersey Legislature.

“I’m definitely against tax abatements in Jersey City unless it’s for affordable housing,” he says. Perez is also calling for implementation of new “community policing” initiatives, and expressed concern that the city government is “working at cross purposes” with the department. He says he’s no fan of Christie, noting, “I do not agree with him on any of his policies thus far, and I don’t think I will agree on his policies in the future.”

Viola Richardson
According to her official city bio, she was first elected in 2001 and is the youngest of 12 children. She is described there as being “well-known in the community” and “a strong advocate for social change.”

“She believes that every individual must assume responsibility for making the community better if we are to survive,” the bio says. Further, Richardson insists, “We must take control of our lives. We cannot turn our backs on our youth and expect that the social agencies will take care of them.” She warns youths will become “unproductive” as adults unless society “pays now,” and commits the proper investments in helping them develop into responsible citizens.

At a recent public meeting on the progress of chromium cleanup at 900 Garfield Avenue and Berry Lane, she spoke on behalf of residents concerned about possible water contamination issues.

Adela Rohena
Like Lopez, she is active in her Heights neighborhood. Rohena also serves as a teacher’s aide in the Jersey City district. While she has been critical of Christie, she says the council must be more directly accountable for its actions.

Rohena describes herself as a reformer. “Many times, I have been invited to join the boat of corruption involving Jersey City officials, and I’ve refused,” she has said.

Rohena is demanding police implement a more aggressive policy to combat gang violence. She also would “add more police to the streets of Jersey City,” and says, “The reason we see violence, especially every week in our public schools, is because we see in the streets the gangs of Jersey City.”

She also says she will be a “fiscal watchdog” for taxpayers.

Imtiaz Syed
He cites prior challenges, including then-Gov. Christie Whitman’s appointing him to the school board upon the state’s initial takeover, and helping develop 250 affordable housing units in Lafayette while chairman of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, as helping prepare him for the council.

Syed promises to be “a full-time councilman,” and will install “an action line” in his office so residents facing problems get calls returned quickly. While not ruling out tax abatements, the candidate says he would take a tough approach. He suggests possibly imposing an 18-month window where applicants would need to “prove you’re committed” to creating jobs benefiting Jersey City. “We have to give them the chance to show they want to keep their business in Jersey City,” Syed says.

Jaime Vazquez
The candidate says he will make a key priority re-establishing the city’s youth and family services division in all six wards to promote more recreational programs. To try enhancing the city’s coffers, the former councilman says he will propose trying to push the Port Authority to impose a “25 cents levy on every vehicle that passes through the Holland Tunnel” into Manhattan. He estimates this could generate up to $3 million in new revenues annually.

Like Syed, he stresses providing full-time service, but notes he’s already been there. “You have to be here. You have to be available,” says Vazquez. “People come to City Hall to look for someone to help them.”

Radames “Ray” Velazquez
Ray Velazquez is a litigation counsel for the Hudson County Counsel, a former city municipal court judge, former county freeholder and the city’s first openly gay councilman.

The attorney’s official city bio describes him as being “known for his straightforward approach to life,” as evidenced by his coming out while in public service. Velazquez, whose brother, Hector, is a Hudson County Superior Court judge, also says in his bio, “I am proud to represent all of the people of Jersey City, but I am particularly proud to represent those people who need a voice to advocate on their behalf on those issues that affect them in a unique way.” Velazuez adds he is “glad that my voice speaks for so many people, including those often underrepresented in a position of authority.”

Nabil Youssef
The city high school teacher, who ran unsuccessfully for the school board in March, promises every decision he makes will be first and foremost in the interests of taxpaying Jersey City residents and not special interests or political bosses.

Without offering details, Youssef has issued as a key position the idea of getting the school board and council to “share” one budget, saying, “We can reduce taxes, (improve) education and clean our streets.”

“I had run in the school board election to take (Charles) Epps out,” says Youssef, who at the time called for the ouster of his boss, the controversial schools superintendent who is expected to retire in January. “I am now running to take Healy and his whole cabinet out.”

Photo: Steve Gold

It’s the result of one of the more tumultuous periods in recent City Council history, with Mariano Vega resigning in September 2010 after he pleaded guilty to bribery charges and Willie Flood stepping down from her seat in February due to health issues.

Appointed by Mayor Jerramiah Healy to their fill the vacancies respectively were Radames Ray Velazquez, Jr. and Kalimah Ahmad. But the duo will be facing competition from 15 other contenders: Richard Boggiano, Ihor Ed Ciolko, Melissa Alexander Clark, Brian Lane, Rolando Lavarro, Patrick Leonard, Daniel Levin, Juanita Lopez, Suzanne Mack, Omar Perez, Viola Richardson, Adela Rohena, Imtiaz Syed, Jamie Vazquez, and Nabil Youssef.

Voters, however, will not be going to nearby polling places just to pick from names on the crazy-quilt ballot but also to see that those they select will perform for their constituents.

JCI interviewed residents not only about their choices but also about what they want to see accomplished in office by the winners.

John Seborowski

The longtime Jersey City Heights resident has become a familiar presence at City Council meetings the past two years as a vocal critic of various Healy administration policies.

Seborowski said he was definitely not going to vote for either Velazquez or Ahmad, seeing them, along with current council members Peter Brennan, Bill Gaughan and Michael Sottolano, as “rubber stamps for the mayor.”

Instead, he is leaning towards Rich Boggiano, Dan Levin and Sue Mack — he has not made his final selections among the three — based on their past accomplishments as community activists and advocates for good government.

Seborowski is looking for those elected to deal more carefully with the city’s financial situation. In particular, getting the budget passed as early as possible and approving tax abatements for revitalizing the less-developed areas of the city.

“I think the [Downtown] waterfront has outlived these tax abatements, I have said this for a long time,” Seborowski said. “I think you need tax abatements for development in Greenville, Bergen-Lafayette and the West Side.”

Karen DeSoto

Karen DeSoto is a private-practice attorney and TV commentator who lives with her husband and son in the Society Hill residences in the city’s Greenville section.

She is well-versed in local politics, having worked as a city corporation counsel during the administration of the late Glenn Cunningham, and having run for City Council in 2005.

DeSoto has already settled on the team of Lavarro and Richardson, having “admired” both for a number of years because of Richardson’s work on the council and Lavarro’s past stances on civic issues as well as his council run in 2009.

What she is seeking in her candidates, or any of the candidates who prevail Tuesday night, is not just someone being able to champion the cause for better city services but to do so in an economically challenging environment.

“Now, you got to fight for every scrap and that’s going to definitely take a different kind of person,” DeSoto said. “It takes someone who will be creative, and someone who will be able to get some money in.”

Roberto Cruz

Roberto Cruz may be a registered Republican, but he is still getting out and voting in Tuesday’s non-partisan election. And the Downtown resident, a veteran worker on local political campaigns, sees several good Democratic candidates, although he has managed to narrow the list to a trio.

Yet, what is paramount to him, no matter the victors, is that they commit themselves to achieving some simple goals while in office for an abbreviated 19-month term.

“The first thing they need to tackle is taxes; make sure they stabilize them with the way the economy is going,” said Cruz, who works in accounting for a major household goods retail company in New Jersey.

Cruz also wants the newly-elected councilpersons to make the city offices more “people-friendly” to the public, and to address residents’ issues more expediently.

As far as who he wants to see sitting in the council chambers, Cruz said he is torn between Levin, Leonard and Syed.

Irina Zaki

Irina Zaki works and lives in the Journal Square area. She is also a member of the Magnolia Avenue Neighborhood Association.

Being active in the upkeep of her block as well as her past experience as a council aide for former Ward C Councilman Steve Lipski informs what she hopes the next councilpersons will do in their position.

“I just want someone to come to community meetings to hear about the people’s problems not just before election — but also after the election,” Zaki said. “You call for someone at City Hall to help you with your problems, and you only get half of the problem solved and then have to call another office to solve the other part of the problem.”

Zaki said she favors Boggiano because of his leadership of another Journal Square community group, the Hilltop Neighborhood Association, and has “liked” Richardson since her time working as Lipski’s aide.

THEY WILL DECIDE THE FINAL TWO – Jersey City residents, like the ones who showed at a candidate forum at Ferris High School last week, will be the ultimate deciders of who fills two City Council at-Large seats at Tuesday’s election.