SOUND THE ALARM: Mayor Fulop Has a Long History of Corruption in New Jersey
In case you missed it, Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City and candidate in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, is a career politician with a long track record of corruption and pay-to-play politics. New Jerseyans are fed up with politicians like Fulop, who are more focused on petty politics than the issues impacting families every day. Additionally, Fulop is the only Democratic candidate for governor who has refused to say he will support the eventual Democratic nominee for governor.
With reproductive rights and other fundamental freedoms under attack in Washington, New Jersey deserves a leader who is focused on standing up for them and the issues that matter most for the state.
Read below for excerpts of Fulop’s long record of corruption.
Jersey City Times: “Fulop Campaign Tied to Widening Corruption Scandal”
“A Morristown law firm at the center of a widening pay-to-play campaign finance scandal may have used “straw donors” to evade legal limits and contribute $22,900 to the 2013 Fulop election effort, according to a new report in NorthJersey.com.”
“In 2009 and 2012, as Ward E councilman, Fulop spearheaded the effort to adopt “pay-to-play” legislation which placed strict limits on contributions from those doing business with the city. In subsequent years, Fulop was accused by critics of skirting the law’s provisions.”
NJ.com: “Morgan: Jersey City autonomous agency awards contracts to the politically connected”
“Contracts recently awarded to various politically connected firms by the autonomous Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority could very well mean higher water rates for city residents.”
“Be that as it may, the bucks to pay for these new contracts will flow from the pockets of the rate payers, i.e. residents of Jersey City.”
NJ.com: “Payroll & politics: Jersey City hiring top Democrats who could boost Fulop’s run for governor”
“Since Fulop became mayor, records show the city has awarded contracts to at least nine politically connected firms and has hired Democratic elected officials with ties to powerful county organizations — individuals and firms who could be well-positioned to aid him in the party’s gubernatorial primary.”
“An examination of city council minutes and other public documents by NJ Advance Media shows that firms and individuals closely tied to Democratic officials or prominent insiders in seven key counties have received contracts or jobs from the city and its agencies that were worth as much as a combined $1.7 million.”
Jersey City Times: “Pros Say Administration Used Financial Tricks to Boost Fulop’s 2021 Campaign”
“Two experts in municipal finance believe that the Fulop administration altered the city’s financial projections by millions of dollars in order to aid Mayor Fulop in his 2021 reelection efforts.”
Insider NJ: “Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop Under Scrutiny for Rhode Island Home Project”
“Because Fulop got a line of credit from a Hudson County-based bank with which the city has deposits, and used the architect from Jersey City’s biggest landlord, the project has come under scrutiny[.]”
“But Fulop is no political innocent. Anyone who met with him in The Brownstone Diner during his pre-mayoral days, know perfectly well how manipulative he can be.”
“His administration has also been plagued with operatives, who may or may not have been conducting private business in his name – with or without his knowledge.”
The Jersey Journal: “Fulop critics: Spirit of pay-to-play law violated by 2 MUA contracts”
“But now that Fulop is mayor, some of his critics say he isn’t living up to his own standards, pointing to two firms that have partners who donated to Fulop’s campaign and now have six-figure contracts with the city Municipal Utilities Authority, which operates the city’s water and sewer systems.”
The Jersey Journal: “Jersey City cop alleges retaliation because he stopped supporting mayor, Democrats”
“Goldrich, who donated $1,200 to Fulop’s mayoral campaign, says in the lawsuit that he “ceased his support” of Fulop as a result of Cowan’s demotion and subsequent retirement. As a result, Goldrich alleges, he was not only transferred out of the chief’s office, he was denied a transfer to a “more favorable position” even after a police captain named Goldrich his No. 1 choice for the job.”
New Jersey Globe:“Fulop ally mismanaging program McGreevey once ran, whistleblower alleges”
“A 22-year employee of the Jersey City Employment and Training Program says she was placed on administrative leave terminated because she had concerns about the financial management of the agency by acting executive director Sudhan Thomas.”
“Thomas helped Mayor Steven Fulop orchestrate the removal of former Gov. James E. McGreevey earlier this year and has now taken on the day-to-day duties of the agency. McGreevey says he was fired because he fell out of favor with Fulop.”
“In a letter to U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal obtained by the New Jersey Globe, Nuria Sierra alleges that Thomas has “continuously misappropriated funding and has jeopardized the financial integrity of the agency.”
New Jersey Monitor: “Emails show ugly, anti-press side of mayor and wannabe N.J. governor”
“‘What’s really abnormal about this case is we found what appears to be a very clear, causal link between the Jersey City Times story and the removal of Jersey City Times from the press distribution list,’ he told me. ‘It was clearly done because they didn’t like the viewpoint of the Jersey City Times reporting. And that’s unusual.’”
The Jersey Journal: “Demoted cop chief: Fulop planned Holland Tunnel traffic jam”
“Jersey City Police Chief Robert Cowan is alleging that Mayor Steve Fulop planned to snarl traffic outside of the Holland Tunnel the same month he announced plans to sue the Port Authority for $400 million. Cowan’s attorney, Shelley Stangler, told The Jersey Journal that Fulop’s plan was “designed solely to cause havoc for the Port Authority.”
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