Rally Rips Vega (Healy Too)

By Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal
August 04, 2009

Shouting slogans such as "1, 2, 3, 4 – sweep Vega out the door" and waving brooms, about 300 people rallied in front of City Hall last night to protest corruption in Jersey City.

The rally was organized by Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop, one of several people to address the cheering crowd.

"Every single time that we hire somebody’s brother, somebody’s cousin based on political patronage. Every single time that a contract doesn’t go to the lowest bidder. Every single time that an envelope is taken it is a tax that you pay for at the end of the day," Fulop said with emotion.

The rally officially called for the resignation of Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega Jr. – who was among 44 people arrested July 23 in an FBI corruption sweep. But the crowd also chanted that Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy should step down.

Healy, who has not been charged criminality, has acknowledged meeting with the government informant at the center of the government sting and his campaign profited from alleged bribes paid to others, according to federal complaints. Fulop is not calling on Healy to resign.

At a "National Night Out" event six blocks away, Healy responded to Fulop’s rally with scorn.

"Tonight is a great opportunity to get the community involved with the Police Department. Attempts to make political hay out of it by some folks with his own political agenda and ambitions, trying to usurp this event . I don’t have a lot of respect for," Healy said referring to Fulop.

Besides Vega, eight other Jersey City officials and employees were arrested and charged with extortion on July 23, including Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini. Healy has suspended without pay the six city employees arrested. Vega, who didn’t return phone calls for comment, has refused to resign.

Rally-goers held signs that read, "Restore Integrity, Resign Now," "Vega must go" and "JC Is Not For Sale. Children held signs reading "Don’t Lie. Don’t cheat. Don’t steal" in reference to a Healy campaign motto.

"I’m just thoroughly displeased," said Peter O’Reilly, who brought his children Kaitlin, 5, and Liam, 2, to the rally. "I’ve been going to City Council meetings for years and you could see the writing on the wall."

Former Jersey City mayor Bret Schundler also attended the event and said like everyone else there, he is "disgusted and outraged."

Journal staff writer Paul Takahashi contributed to this report.