Jersey Journal's article on crime
Spend Wisely-Letter to the Editor
JC English Scores
(Public Schools)
JC Math Scores
(Public Schools)
Healy warned Corzine on Abbot formula
School funding moves in Supreme Court
School spending per student 2008
There are many issues facing urban areas. The most import is crime. This issue is so important the local paper, the Jersey Journal, did an excellent article on crime Mayor Healy responded to the Jersey Journal article by spending taxpayers money on an ad to downplay the issue of crime. Mayor Healy stated the city hired more than 200 new police officers, the problem is-a large number of officers retired. We do not see the police unless they are working off-duty jobs. New York City do not require off-duty police officers to work construction or related jobs, but Jersey City does. Let's face it-a police officer working off duty will be tired when he/she is required to work his/her regular shift.
Since public safety is 70% of our municipal tax dollars-we must spend our dollars wisely. These are some of the problems:
- During the summer, police officers work overtime during the "parade season." While it is true, these non-for-profit parades are required to hire some off-duty police officers, many police officers who work the parade detail are there as a courtesy of taxpayers. I believe the total cost should be picked up by the non-for-profits. The money collected by these parades committees do no go into the city's treasury, so they should pick up the total tab.
- Police officers should be limited to one week vacation during the summer. The city needs police protection during the summer. They can take their remainder vacation during other parts of the year.
- The practice of rewarding political friends through police and fire promotions must be stopped. The number of brass is quite high in urban areas. These promotions means bigger pay checks.
- Police officers and other municipal employees, including family members, should be prevented by law from making campaign contributions. They are evaluated by the city so money should not be part of the equation.
- The issue of county/municipal jobs is another issue that plague the top brass of Public Safety. See Troy's story on his pension.
Homicides in 2007 is misleading, comparing NY 488 homicides to JC 21 appears Jersey City has the lower homicides rates; however, if NY population were similar to JC, then their rates would be 15 which is higher than 21. NY has 32 times the population of JC.
Corzine kills free speech
