The Jersey City Independent "

Though this November’s special election is nearly eight months away, Jersey City At-Large councilman Ray Velazquez has picked up an early endorsement from the Victory Fund, a D.C.-based political action committee dedicated to electing LGBT candidates to offices nationwide. The Victory Fund notes that Velazquez, who was appointed to replace disgraced councilman Mariano Vega last [...]

The newest member of Jersey City’s City Council was sworn in this morning at City Hall after her appointment was approved last night by the council. Kalimah Ahmad takes the citywide At-Large seat vacated last week by Willie Flood, who resigned due to health concerns.

Ray Velazquez is sworn in as Jersey City’s newest City Council member, with his sister Maria and his brother Hector. The City Council welcomed its newest member today. Ray Velazquez, Jr., who was appointed this week to the At-Large council seat left vacant by the resignation of Mariano Vega, was sworn into the position this [...]

Two days after being unanimously approved by the City Council to take the At-Large City Council seat left empty by Mariano Vega, Radames “Ray” Velazquez, Jr. will officially be sworn in to his new job today at noon. The ceremony will be a family affair, as the new councilman will be sworn in by his [...]

At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Radames “Ray” Velazquez, Jr. was unanimously appointed to the At-Large seat that was left vacant by Mariano Vega’s abrupt resignation on September 13. But while Velazquez himself encountered no significant opposition as Mayor Healy’s suggested replacement, a number of good-government activists have questioned the process used to replace Vega.

- Velazquez Replaces Vega on Council: The City Council has unanimously named municipal court judge and former county freeholder Radames “Ray” Velazquez to replace former At-Large councilman Mariano Vega, who resigned after pleading guilty to corruption charges. Look for more on this from us later today. – Transitional Budget: The City Council has adopted a [...]

This evening’s City Council caucus meeting brought an end to the two weeks of speculation surrounding the question of whom Mayor Jerramiah Healy would recommend to fill the At-Large council seat left vacant by Mariano Vega. Council President Peter Brennan asked the council to support the mayor’s choice of municipal court judge and former county [...]

Sources inside City Hall have confirmed that Mayor Jerramiah Healy is “strongly considering” asking the City Council to appoint mayor’s aide Omar Perez to fill the At-Large seat left vacant by Mariano Vega. Other names, including former Vega aide Hilario Nuñez, former Ward E councilman Junior Maldonado, and city fire director Armando Roman, have been [...]

Dear Mayor Healy and Councilmembers, Dan Levin should be appointed to the council at-large position vacated by Mariano Vega. No one even remotely associated with Vega should be appointed to his seat. Vega resigned under the dark cloud of corruption, of which Solomon Dwek scandal was only the tip of the iceberg. The council needs [...]

- Smith’s Defense: Former Assemblyman and City Council member L. Harvey Smith has embarked upon a multi-pronged legal strategy to have federal corruption charges against him dismissed, including arguing that he was only helping a constituent when he was busted on bribery charges and that the government entrapped him. – Open Space Projects: Hudson County [...]