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Posted by Pepe Bonmot
on May 02, 2002 at 19:07:21:
URBAN TIMES NEWS April 26 - May 3, 2002 This Hudson County Executive Thing By GLORIA DULAN-WILSON When Jersey City elected the first ever African American mayor in its history, Glenn D. Cunningham, people probably had one of two major thoughts: either, now we can rest, we have an African mayor, or he will just be a figurehead and nothing will change. Well I am happy to say that neither of those statements are true. Not only can African Americans and other who suffered under the last 12 years of the McCann/Schundler regime, we have now, more than ever to maintain vigilance in backing Mayor Cunningham, while he struggle& to restore those powers that rightfully belong to Jersey City as the County seat of Hudson County. As the first African American mayor in the history of Hudson County, the other 11 mayors have not had the experience of having to deal with a Black man who not only knows how to deal with power, but knows how to strategise as well. Jersey City is the second largest city in the state of New Jersey; Newark is the largest. Jersey City is also supposed to be the county seat of Hudson County. For the past 20 years, Jersey City, which has a large African American population, has had their power, -finances, jobs, resources, systematically siphoned off to the other 11 cities in Hudson County, so that even though she was die county seat, she had absolutely no say in what happened in the development of the city or the surrounding communities. Jersey City is often referred to as the Gold Coast, Wall Street West; the Sixth Boro of New York. The bottom line is Jersey City's water-front is a multi-billion dollar hot property, that they never intended to come under die leadership of a Black man. All the development, heretofore had been concentrated on the waterfront, while the residential areas, especially the African American and minority neighborhoods, have been totally neglected - All, of the upscale jobs have been going to these living outside Jersey City, literally. When Mayor Cunningham, who was also the first African American US Marshal from New Jersey, appointed by President Bill Clinton, was elected, they thought he would be a figurehead. However, he has moved decisively to reconsolidate the power that has been diverted to the other cities under former mayor Bret Schundler (republican), draining die resources from the city back to Jersey City where it belongs. Schundler left the city $27 million in die hole, Cunn-ingham has worked to upgrade standards of living, restore those programs undermined under Schundler, and Degise, and develop ways by which he can create Golden Neighborhoods throughout the entire city. Under Degise and Menendez, this will definitely not happen. It will be no business as usual, as the perks get syphoned off and sent to the other 11 cities, while Jersey City once again goes begging, In fact, what we will end up having is exactly what we don't want, a mayor in name only. The bone of contention is this: The County Executive seat, which was vacated under a Cloud of controversy last year, has been occupied by Bernard "Bernie" Hartnett, who was selected by acclamation shortly after the Mayor's election to serve out the rest of the previous County Executive's term. However, Congressman Bob Menendez, who supported Cunningham for mayor, but who has benefited greatly from the diversion of economic wealth toOther Cities in Hudson County, and who thought Glenn would likewise be a mayor in name only, like hs predecessor threatened to ran in opposition to Hartnett when the mayor requested that Jersey City be rightfully restored as the County Seat of Hudson County. Menendez has rallied the other 11 white mayors against Cunningham. However, the biggest shocker is that Congressman, Donald Payne, who represents a small portion of Jersey City, made a public statement in support of Torn DeGise, Menendez's candidate - a republican, running on a Democratic ticket. DeGise who recently ran against Cunningham for mayor, was Schundler's right hand man, and would have continued business as usual had he been elected. When we spoke with Cong. Payne, he said he and Glenn were "friends" but as far as lie was concerned, it was about two "white men going after Vie same seat." He also stated that "Newark could not get their own County Executive, so Glenn should not expect to do so either." And that he was going strictly "along party lines." When we commented that when it comes to African Americans, particularly where there is an opportunity to join Newark tinder Sharpe James and Jersey City under Glenn Cunningham, as the two most powerful African American-led cities in the Northeast, and that we, as Black people were in no position to play those kinds of games, he admitted that lie "didn't have all the facts." We also Commented that when it comes to making a choice between whether to support 11 while men against 1 Black man, there had to be some reason these whites were rallying to block the mayor. How could lie, in clear consciousness not stand by the Mayor. And that's the question that I pose to all the readers and those who understand just how recently it is that we've even been allowed to vote. We are not in a position to play those kinds of games were we don't stand up for who stands up for us. This is the last leg of the freshman year of Cunningham's mayorality. It is the test that determines whether or not, going forward, he will be able to keep those promises, Or be blocked at every turn by an individual who's primary purpose in life is to diffuse the power to his cronies outside out communities.
If you aren’t into politics, so be it. But, You must be in to your community, or you wouldn’t live here. YOU owe it toyourselves to go the distance withMayor Cunningham and get out the vote for Bernie Hartnett just as you did when you elected Cunningham mayor. You can be no less enthusiastic, no less Supportive. It will make the difference between whether you have decent homes and neighborhoods, or whether the good work reverts back to the h and of those who could care less what happens beyond Jersey Avenue.
The election is a little more than a month away, bit it will take every one of us in Jersey City to do what they say can’t be done, We have to defeat those who would continue to slice as tip like a pie, and show them that we mean business. Jersey City First! There are 240,000 residents here; if you are not registered to vote, do so now. If you have a son, daughter, niece, nephew, who have turned 18 or more since July and have not registered get them, to do so.
We cannot rest on our laurels, we can’t let the mayor do it, we can’t pray over it. We have to be hands on about protecting our mayor and our city. Get up, get out; get someone else registered. And arm yourselves with information, We have the best man in Mayor Cunningham. And we have a top man in Bernie Hartnett. Let’s not lose any ground.
I think this needs to be brought to the attention of the Congressional Black Caucus, but more importantly, I think, like in the situation of Maynard Jackson, we need to rally around a brother who has consistently tried to deliver for us.
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