Fulopalooza
Posted Under: Crime, Culture, Jersey City, Politics
.. and now the star of our show
It’s amazing, but all this manufactured outrage is starting to make Councilman Mariano Vega look downright sympathetic. At tonight’s Rally Against Crime and Corruption at City Hall, it became obvious in just over five minutes what this was all really about. The first speaker of the night, a Reverend Something or Other asked for a moment of silence for Detective Marc DiNardo, the cop who was killed last month is a wild shootout on Reed St. (Not one of the other 19 homicide victims in JC was mentioned by name.)
And that was the extent of the discussion on crime.
The Reverend, who I think identified himself but the sound was really bad, went on to pray to God for a new administration led by (wait for it…) Steve Fulop. Surprise, right? In fact, speaker after thin-voiced speaker talked up a Fulop candidacy, inspiring a “spontaneous” Steve for Mayor! chant. I won’t belabor the issue. My previous post made it clear where I stand on this, but tonight clearly showed that the Downtown Councilman is more content capitalizing on the corruption issue than he is on engaging the crowd of mostly Fulop groupies on the issue of crime.
As I walked around a bit, I ran into a few people I know. Oldtimers (even the white ones) chuckled at all the white people. “Who are these people?” My newcomer (mostly white) buddies wondered where all the oldtimers were. “Where’s the outrage from these people?” they wondered.
“They’re over there,” I said pointing South, towards the ‘hood and North towards el nuevo barrio where 2009 has turned into the year of living dangerously. “Maybe you should go ask ‘em.”
With that bit of snarkiness, I headed home, depressed at the widening divide.
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Reader Comments
I don’t get the full-on Fulop hate that seems to have hold of you.
I have yet to see any better options for leadership in this town. Brett Schundler was hanging around the rally, is that the kind of reform you would prefer?
Should Healy just continue business as usual?
Not at all. I have nothing against Fulop. (And you can search Healy on this blog to see what I think of him.) I do think Fulop’s a bit of an opportunist here. I guess, personally, I’m a little insulted to see a serious issue like crime get short changed by a Steve Fulop political rally. It was offensive to the real victims of crime,. who are less affected by graft than they are by gun shots.
Thanks for reading – and commenting. – cruz
Did you seriously say Bret Schundler?? That is so 1990’s. I, for one, think Dan Levin has the right approach to this. He is a quiet, competent leader. At least he had the guts to run against the Healy machine. Fulop tried to cut a deal with them. WTF??
Hi David. We miss you on the air at WBGO. : (
I saw part of the rally last night and was impressed to see so many residents, until I noticed the people wearing Fulop Team t-shirts. They were walking through the audience, starting chants and managing the people there. It made me think that it was a political campaign, and then I heard someone shut something about Steve Fulop and Shelley Skinner for city council. Then I realized that it WAS a political campaign! You were right, not one mention of the serious street crime that has gripped parts of the city. It was all about political opportunism. Disgusting!
No Fulop hate? Seriously. You can’t actually expect intelligent adults to swallow your “see my Healy comments” as a legitimate defense of your obvious anti-Fulop bias. And talk about manufactured: all the sanctimonious defense of National Night Out – an event that the majority of americans know nothing about – is a bit too saccharine for my taste.
Crime is crime. If the city’s leadership not only lacks the courage to effectively address crime but also participates in it, what better night to speak up? This event was about a particular issue (believe it or not, that issue was not Steven Fulop) and did nothing to detract from the other planned events in the city. Do you think the cameras that showed up at city hall would have otherwise been at Enos Jones park?
What’s the real problem? Are you in league with Gaughan and Healy?
Call me sanctimonious. Say I’m in hate with Steve. Even insist I stand for nothing. But saying I’m in league with Healy (and Gaughan!) well that’s just mean!
Good coverage of Steve’s campaign event David! Fulop was put in office the first time by Bobby Jackson, Joe Cardwell & Gerry McCann – Steve learned reform from the experts. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…
I love the “if you’re not with Fulop, you’re with the terorists” bullshit prevalent in the comments here. Thanks for saying what you have to say, David. I was at the event, and I left as soon as the true purpose of it became apparent.
Steve Fulop is a former “Bobby Jackson & Joe Cardwell Reform Democrat” – that’s as good as going to reform school.