MISINFORMATION
Steven’s current campaign literature states that he is running on a platform for honest and open government. Records indicate that he supported a tax abatement for Goldman Sachs, his former employer. How does he defend that?
 FACT
 Steven Fulop actually abstained from the vote on the Goldman Sachs tax abatement because of his prior employment with the company. This fact is verified by the Jersey City Clerk’s Office and his comments stating such are part of the city record.

 

 

MISINFORMATION
Steven doesn’t get along with his colleagues; therefore, he has not achieved anything. What ordinances has he proposed while Councilman and how many of them have passed? Follow-up: If Fulop cannot find consensus among his colleagues, how does he expect to deliver on all his promises to Downtown?
FACT
The fact is that Steven has written and sponsored more legislation in the last four years than any other member of the Jersey City Council. Some of the more notable pieces of pro-active legislation that passed the council include:

  • The strictest pay-to-play ordinance in the state of New Jersey
  • Restriction on endangered environmental woods to protect them from use in the City’s procurement process
  • First mandatory lead testing program for daycare centers in the state of New Jersey
  • Legislation requiring large residential buildings to include street-facing security cameras
  • Passed mandatory bedbug extermination requirements for negligent landlords


MISINFORMATION
In the current economic climate, Fulop voted against a resolution in May ’08 to accept $8 million in Special Municipal Aid from the state, which would have imposed a hiring promotion and salary freeze (except for public safety personnel). He was obstructing progress.

FACT
Steven voted against the Distressed City Funding Program (referenced as Special Aid by Guy Catrillo). Steven voted against returning Jersey City to the program, which currently includes Newark, Camden, Paterson, and Trenton. This is a program from which former Mayor Cunningham fought hard to remove the city in order for us to move forward. The administration’s decision to enter this program was criticized again by independent editorials in both the Hudson Reporter and the Jersey Journal.

 

 

MISINFORMATION
Councilman Fulop criticized the choice of a former Fire Chief and asked for the resignation of the former Police Chief. He consistently proposes measures that question the current administration and its civil servants. Many of these individuals are long-time civil servants

FACT
Criticism of the former Police Chief was referenced in independent editorials in the Jersey Journal that agreed with Councilman Fulop’s position. The former Police Chief cost taxpayers close to $1M in settlement costs for political harassment that the current administration settled… with YOUR tax dollars. The Jersey Journal said that Councilman Fulop was correct and the Administration was wrong. Meanwhile, the Jersey Journal agreed with Councilman Fulop in its editorial that the appointment of the Fire Chief was a pension-padding scheme that will eventually cost taxpayers.

 

 


MISINFORMATION
Councilman Fulop is not a supporter of the embankment and he is supported by the developer that wishes to tear it down.

FACT
The fact is Steven Fulop is the ONLY councilmember to have never taken a contribution from the developer in question. That same developer has contributed nearly every elected official in Jersey City except Steven.

Furthermore, Steven was the first and ONLY councilmember to write and submit formal comments to the Surface Transportation Board in support of the embankment. Steve was the only councilmember to sponsor legislation that passed to protect the embankment via the abandonment checklist which was fought in court by the developer at a cost of $250k. Steven’s advocacy for the embankment on important votes is without a single blemish in support of the embankment.

 

 

MISINFORMATION
In May 2005, the Jersey Journal reported that one of Fulop’s campaign workers was distributing literature that was misleading – saying a vote for Fulop was a vote for the Healy team.

FACT
Steven ran as an independent during the 2005 campaign. His literature clearly stated to those who asked that he was running an independent campaign, that he supported Mayor Healy for a full term, and showed his ballot location.

 


 MISINFORMATION
Steven’s campaign literature states that he is responsible for the most aggressive street paving in the City and was involved in park renovation. Wasn’t it the mayor who did this?

FACT
Infrastructure, such as street paving and park renovation for downtown, is a team effort between the council and mayor. While there is no one person responsible, Steven has been an effective advocate, as evidenced by the amount of dollars that were allocated to downtown projects: more than anywhere else in the city.

 

 


MISINFORMATION
Steven has misrepresented his record on school reform.

FACT
Steven developed a policy that would allocate a small percentage of pilot payments to the Board of Education. This measure was supported by every member of the Board of Education and was eventually shot down by the city council that did not see how abatements adversely affect the school system.
 
Steven has attended more board of education meetings then any other council person; was also the primary supporter of the new Ethical Community Charter School; and is currently a board member of the Learning Community Charter School.

 

 

MISINFORMATION
Steven hasn’t been a part of any community organizations.

FACT
Steven is a past president of the Historic Paulus Hook Association and a past president of the Downtown Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, which advocates for all the historic neighborhood groups in downtown.
 
As a councilman he represents all of Jersey City and therefore cannot partake in any single neighborhood and civic group. However, there isn’t a single neighborhood or major Civic  group with which he is not in continual contact. He takes great pride in understanding the specific issues unique to the various groups and knows only through this group effort are solutions found to both simple and complex problems alike.

 

 

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