A JONES FOR PRESS

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A JONES FOR PRESS

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Posted by Urban Times News on August 10, 2004 at 08:08:17:

A JONES FOR PRESS

Urban Times News
08/06/04 - 08/12/04

by Arnold W. Stovell

In a statement released last week, Chief of Staff, PR guru, and Acting Mayor appointee to the Jersey City Incinerator Authority, Roger Jones questioned the award of an insurance brokerage contract assigned to R.A.M Insurance Company. While the inquiry into the award seemed justified for a contract valued at over $641,000, upon further scrutiny these protests seem politically motivated.

According to Jones, "the way the matter has been handled was not in line with standard business practices." He noted that he had raised his objections to the contract at the Board's regular meeting on July 27th. Now, Mr. Jones wishes to make a public display of his "outrage," making sure to include an acting mayor service announcement in his press release. "Mayor Smith has dedicated his career to providing the people of Jersey City with a government that serves the need of all people of Jersey City in the most honest and cost-efficient manner possible. That's what people have told him they wanted. Oren Dabney, in proposing this contract, has disgraced the people of Jersey City. He has seemingly embraced the 'politics as usual' methodology that brought disgrace to Jersey City. We cannot allow this to go forward."

The contract in question provides some ammunition because the bid to broker the agency's business package had two of its three participants withdraw from the process. While such circumstances are not unusual, Jones has focused his discontent on this award because Ronald A. Manzo, who recently pleaded guilty to insider trading charges, formerly owned R.A.M. Insurance Company. The Manzo family has often been in the spotlight for its business and political dealings. Sibling Louis Manzo currently serving in the state assembly has thrown his hat into the ring for mayor. "As far as I know my brother sold that business months ago. There's nothing more than that," he dismissed. "I suspect he (Jones) is just trying to get some press."

"I want to stress that Ron Manzo has nothing to do with this contract," said Paul Labov, a lawyer for the JCIA. He explained that RAM would only get five to ten percent of the contract as its broker. "The way this policy works is there are two actual companies providing the coverage. They will be paid the $641,000 minus the broker's fee. RAM will not be handling the actual insurance contract itself."

JCIA Director Oren Dabney presented the agency's board of commissioners with a memo saying two perspective insurance companies declined to bid. Sources at the agency do not characterize this occurrence as outside of standard procedure.

"We are hesitant to comment and make any more of these demands than they already are," said, Oren Dabney, Executive Director of the JCIA.

"Three insurance companies declined to bid because the agency is a high-risk client. We reside in a high-risk area (within proximity of contaminated soil). We do high-risk work. The agency handles solid waste, demolition, garbage collection, street cleaning, and other services, all of it with even greater risk given the increased threat of terrorism," he explained.

"Companies withdrew because the premiums were not high enough. We assigned a broker who got our coverage for only a 1.5% increase in costs. People know how much insurance costs increase from year to year on their car and their home. Our insurance premiums went up about $10,000 this year. That represents a significant savings to the people of Jersey City, " said Dabney.

"As for R.A.M, it is owned by Michelle Campisano, not Ronald Manzo. Mr. Jones should do his homework and check his own house. The City of Jersey City just renewed its own excess liability policies through R.A.M., as did the Jersey City Board of Education. The Acting Mayor sits on the City Council and knows these things. His Chief of Staff should know these things too." Mr. Dabney said. "We welcome any investigation into our dealings because everything is done above board."

The majority of commissioners seem unconcerned with these allegations. Board chair Phil Flood, and commissioners Frank Checchia, Carl Czaplicki, and Domenic Santana, voted to award the bid. The Rev. Fernando Colon, Thomas Lambert and Roger Jones voted against the measure.

Perhaps the neophyte commissioner should pursue his "outrage" over this incident. The people of Jersey City would be grateful to know if its trusted board members and longtime director were indeed, unscrupulous, as Mr. Jones would have listeners believe.

On the other hand, if there is nothing to these veiled accusations, voters will also be the wiser. Then Jersey Cityites will know that every time public relations entrepreneur, Chief of Staff, Acting Mayor appointee, Roger Jones does not get his way during a JCIA vote, we can expect city resources to be squandered on overblown claims and investigations. That should clear up who is really unscrupulous.

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: A JONES FOR PRESS

: Urban Times News
: 08/06/04 - 08/12/04

: by Arnold W. Stovell

: In a statement released last week, Chief of Staff, PR guru, and Acting Mayor appointee to the Jersey City Incinerator Authority, Roger Jones questioned the award of an insurance brokerage contract assigned to R.A.M Insurance Company. While the inquiry into the award seemed justified for a contract valued at over $641,000, upon further scrutiny these protests seem politically motivated.

: According to Jones, "the way the matter has been handled was not in line with standard business practices." He noted that he had raised his objections to the contract at the Board's regular meeting on July 27th. Now, Mr. Jones wishes to make a public display of his "outrage," making sure to include an acting mayor service announcement in his press release. "Mayor Smith has dedicated his career to providing the people of Jersey City with a government that serves the need of all people of Jersey City in the most honest and cost-efficient manner possible. That's what people have told him they wanted. Oren Dabney, in proposing this contract, has disgraced the people of Jersey City. He has seemingly embraced the 'politics as usual' methodology that brought disgrace to Jersey City. We cannot allow this to go forward."

: The contract in question provides some ammunition because the bid to broker the agency's business package had two of its three participants withdraw from the process. While such circumstances are not unusual, Jones has focused his discontent on this award because Ronald A. Manzo, who recently pleaded guilty to insider trading charges, formerly owned R.A.M. Insurance Company. The Manzo family has often been in the spotlight for its business and political dealings. Sibling Louis Manzo currently serving in the state assembly has thrown his hat into the ring for mayor. "As far as I know my brother sold that business months ago. There's nothing more than that," he dismissed. "I suspect he (Jones) is just trying to get some press."

: "I want to stress that Ron Manzo has nothing to do with this contract," said Paul Labov, a lawyer for the JCIA. He explained that RAM would only get five to ten percent of the contract as its broker. "The way this policy works is there are two actual companies providing the coverage. They will be paid the $641,000 minus the broker's fee. RAM will not be handling the actual insurance contract itself."

: JCIA Director Oren Dabney presented the agency's board of commissioners with a memo saying two perspective insurance companies declined to bid. Sources at the agency do not characterize this occurrence as outside of standard procedure.

: "We are hesitant to comment and make any more of these demands than they already are," said, Oren Dabney, Executive Director of the JCIA.

: "Three insurance companies declined to bid because the agency is a high-risk client. We reside in a high-risk area (within proximity of contaminated soil). We do high-risk work. The agency handles solid waste, demolition, garbage collection, street cleaning, and other services, all of it with even greater risk given the increased threat of terrorism," he explained.

: "Companies withdrew because the premiums were not high enough. We assigned a broker who got our coverage for only a 1.5% increase in costs. People know how much insurance costs increase from year to year on their car and their home. Our insurance premiums went up about $10,000 this year. That represents a significant savings to the people of Jersey City, " said Dabney.

: "As for R.A.M, it is owned by Michelle Campisano, not Ronald Manzo. Mr. Jones should do his homework and check his own house. The City of Jersey City just renewed its own excess liability policies through R.A.M., as did the Jersey City Board of Education. The Acting Mayor sits on the City Council and knows these things. His Chief of Staff should know these things too." Mr. Dabney said. "We welcome any investigation into our dealings because everything is done above board."

: The majority of commissioners seem unconcerned with these allegations. Board chair Phil Flood, and commissioners Frank Checchia, Carl Czaplicki, and Domenic Santana, voted to award the bid. The Rev. Fernando Colon, Thomas Lambert and Roger Jones voted against the measure.

: Perhaps the neophyte commissioner should pursue his "outrage" over this incident. The people of Jersey City would be grateful to know if its trusted board members and longtime director were indeed, unscrupulous, as Mr. Jones would have listeners believe.

: On the other hand, if there is nothing to these veiled accusations, voters will also be the wiser. Then Jersey Cityites will know that every time public relations entrepreneur, Chief of Staff, Acting Mayor appointee, Roger Jones does not get his way during a JCIA vote, we can expect city resources to be squandered on overblown claims and investigations. That should clear up who is really unscrupulous.

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