Local Taxes

[fasteddie]

The Department of Administration, which includes the Mayor’s Office, City Clerk, City Council and Business Administrator, amounts to $21.14 million. Public Works has an $11.45 million budget, followed by Housing, Economic Development and Commerce with $6.5 million; Health and Human Services at $5.1 million; the Law Department at about $3.4 million; and Recreation Department at about $3.3 million. The city budged $63.5 million for group insurance costs. The city also pays $34.76 million to the Police and Fire Retirement System; $2.1 million to the Public Employee Retirement System; and $5.66 million to the municipal retirement system.

Why is the Dept. of Administration budget so high? It's more than the combined budgets of the other depts. that actually provide services. We really need to see the line items in these budgets. Not that we could do anything about them but it would be so entertaining to watch the public rant and fume over the more outrageous item costs.

[bdlaw]

Wait so the budget for the entire city is about $90 million LESS than the school budget?

[MCA™]

City Council adopts Jersey City budget, lessens tax hike
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
April 21, 2010, 9:30PM

Three City Council members criticized Jersey City’s $510 million budget before voting against it following a hearing that attracted far fewer angry residents than the previous one.

About 40 residents attended the meeting and several spoke about proposed budget amendments. The mood was far calmer than the initial budget hearing Feb. 24 where hundreds packed City Hall and angrily protested the looming tax hike.

Despite the complaints of Councilmen David Donnelly and Steven Fulop and Councilwoman Nidia Lopez, the budget for the fiscal year ending July 1 was adopted in a 5-3 vote tonight. Council President Peter Brennan, Councilmen Michael Sottolano, Mariano Vega and Bill Gaughan and Councilwoman Willie Flood voted for the budget. Councilwoman Viola Richardson was absent.

Before voting ‘no,’ Lopez said she met with department directors and reviewed the budget but didn’t like the numbers. “It did give me a sense of a lack of responsibility and leadership,” she said. “I look forward to having a more active role in the next budget if it’s introduced on time.”

The amended budget increases taxes by $572 for the owner of a home assessed at $100,000. The budget introduced in January would have increased taxes by about $800. “Tougher times are ahead,” Donnelly said before voting ‘no.’ “(Gov.) Chris Christie has already cut us $28 million. I am very fearful for the next year.”

Fulop echoed the concerns of several residents who spoke during the public hearing when he said the city cannot continue to operate on emergency appropriations and adopt budgets when most of the funds are expended. He said the city used one-time gimmicks to balance last year’s budget and should have anticipated a shortfall. “This isn’t rocket science why you end up in this situation,” he said. “To blame economic times and to blame Chris Christie and to blame anyone outside of this building, that’s being disingenuous.”

Resident Esther Wintner who has led a tax revolt group with resident John Lynch urged the council to press Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy to deliver a budget on time and refuse to approve temporary appropriations if he doesn't.

Sottolano, Brennan and Gaughan sat on the budget committee and pledged to begin work immediately on the coming fiscal year’s budget noting that it will be another tough year. The largest portion of the budget goes to public safety, $95.5 million to the Police Department and $66.3 million to fire and emergency services, not including benefits or pension payments. Although Vega was the loan council member to support the police and fire contracts last week, he said that the city will need to look at those budgets in the coming fiscal year.

The Department of Administration, which includes the Mayor’s Office, City Clerk, City Council and Business Administrator, amounts to $21.14 million. Public Works has an $11.45 million budget, followed by Housing, Economic Development and Commerce with $6.5 million; Health and Human Services at $5.1 million; the Law Department at about $3.4 million; and Recreation Department at about $3.3 million. The city budged $63.5 million for group insurance costs. The city also pays $34.76 million to the Police and Fire Retirement System; $2.1 million to the Public Employee Retirement System; and $5.66 million to the municipal retirement system.

Several residents questioned why accumulate absence funding was increased from $4.5 million to $8.4 million. Business Administrator Brian O’Reilly said that money has already been paid to retirees who accumulated unused sick and vacation time.

Resident Kevin McGuire asked the city to be more transparent and put a line-by-line budget on the its website. City Clerk Robert Byrne said he could have the introduced budget online soon. “I still have a vague feeling in the city there are still a lot of gimme jobs and a lot of no-show jobs,” McGuire said. “What are these people doing? That’s what we want to know now. That’s why you have to provide us with more specific information.”

[nugnfutz]

Jersey City residents plan to protest city budget
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
April 21, 2010, 2:23PM


Business Administrator Brian O'Reilly said the with the changes, the tax impact on the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 is down to a $590 increase.

Will it go back up to $800.00 now that the school tax levy was approved??

You're assuming the City knows what it's doing on taxes. It doesn't. Seriously. It approves the City budget long after its spent

[Isilme]

Jersey City residents plan to protest city budget
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
April 21, 2010, 2:23PM


Business Administrator Brian O'Reilly said the with the changes, the tax impact on the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 is down to a $590 increase.

Will it go back up to $800.00 now that the school tax levy was approved??

[MCA™]

Jersey City residents plan to protest city budget
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
April 21, 2010, 2:23PM

Calling it a "Tax Revolt" Jersey City residents are against planning to storm City Hall in protest of the proposed budget for the current fiscal year. The City Council is holding a hearing on budget amendments tonight.

When the budget was first introduced in January, city officials said the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay about $800 more in city taxes during the fiscal year ending June 30. Hundreds of residents packed the Jan. 27 council meeting to protest the proposed tax hike and turned out again Feb. 24 for a public hearing on the budget.

The city administration however made several changes to the budget after that public hearing, including laying off nearly 280 part-time and seasonal employees and trimming departmental budgets. Because of those changes, the City Council must hold a hearing on the amendments before adopting the budget tonight.

Business Administrator Brian O'Reilly said the with the changes, the tax impact on the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 is down to a $590 increase.

[Woodsy]

Jersey Journal: 'Union members took particular issue when Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson, a city police officer who is working a county job while on disability from the department, voted against the contracts. “You’re off on disability collecting,” one man yelled while approaching the dais. “How many jobs do you work?”'

Really?  Where is the shame shame shame guy when you need him?!  I understand why the council voted the way they did but how can Richardson get away with being on disability from a full time job with the JCPD while working full time for the county and part time as a councilwoman?  This is disgusting!

Corrections
Friday, April 16, 2010
Jersey Journal

A story in yesterday's editions should have said that Jersey City Councilwoman Viola Richardson retired on permanent disability from the Police Department.

Wow, what a shitty reporting job.  Anyway, I take back my comments from yesterday.

[MCA™]

Jersey Journal: 'Union members took particular issue when Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson, a city police officer who is working a county job while on disability from the department, voted against the contracts. “You’re off on disability collecting,” one man yelled while approaching the dais. “How many jobs do you work?”'

Really?  Where is the shame shame shame guy when you need him?!  I understand why the council voted the way they did but how can Richardson get away with being on disability from a full time job with the JCPD while working full time for the county and part time as a councilwoman?  This is disgusting!

Corrections
Friday, April 16, 2010
Jersey Journal

A story in yesterday's editions should have said that Jersey City Councilwoman Viola Richardson retired on permanent disability from the Police Department.

[bdlaw]

“The savings, the taxation of the 1.5 (percent) is not for health benefits, it’s a tax on every municipal employee,” Krajnik yelled, his voice echoing. “It’s not for health benefits. It’s to offset the lack of the governor's intestinal fortitude to help municipalities in a time of need."

Riiiiiiiiight.  The state *HAS* the money, but Christie won't give it to you.

[bdlaw]

Viola Richardson is a cop?

Really?

Like sworn, creds and firearm?

[TheFang]

Jersey Journal: 'Union members took particular issue when Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson, a city police officer who is working a county job while on disability from the department, voted against the contracts. “You’re off on disability collecting,” one man yelled while approaching the dais. “How many jobs do you work?”'

Really?  Where is the shame shame shame guy when you need him?!  I understand why the council voted the way they did but how can Richardson get away with being on disability from a full time job with the JCPD while working full time for the county and part time as a councilwoman?  This is disgusting!

The best part of the whole thing is this:

Richardson responded by yelling, “Whatever,” several times into her microphone.

[Woodsy]

Jersey Journal: 'Union members took particular issue when Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson, a city police officer who is working a county job while on disability from the department, voted against the contracts. “You’re off on disability collecting,” one man yelled while approaching the dais. “How many jobs do you work?”'

Really?  Where is the shame shame shame guy when you need him?!  I understand why the council voted the way they did but how can Richardson get away with being on disability from a full time job with the JCPD while working full time for the county and part time as a councilwoman?  This is disgusting!

[MCA™]

Jersey City meeting turns ugly as council defeats police, fire contracts
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
April 14, 2010, 10:30PM

Jersey City police officers were called on to escort their fellow officers out of City Council chambers tonight as it became evident the union contracts were not getting approved. The rowdy crowd of more than 100 people booed and heckled the council members as they cast 'no' votes on the contracts.

Union members took particular issue when Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson, a city police officer who is working a county job while on disability from the department, voted against the contracts. “You’re off on disability collecting,” one man yelled while approaching the dais. “How many jobs do you work?”

Richardson responded by yelling, “Whatever,” several times into her microphone. Union members were escorted into the hallway after the exchange where they continued to yell.

Council members voting against the contracts, which failed 1-8, noted that civilian union employees have been forced to take unpaid furloughs and face layoffs and questioned whether the city could afford the raises, which Business Administrator Brian O’Reilly estimated amount to about $8 million.

“I just don’t believe the money is there. We’ve already raised taxes in this city,” Ward B Councilman David Donnelly said before voting no. “In any other year this contract would be a no-brainer to vote on it really would, but these are difficult times.” But At-large Councilman Mariano Vega, the sole member to vote for the contracts, said whether the city could afford the raises was part of the negotiation process.

“I wish that the city could share the hardship evenly with everyone else,” he said about the furloughs and layoffs affecting other city workers. “I realize that’s not possible. Furloughing the police and fire would be the Wild West. I’m going to honor those who negotiated and vote aye.”

Prior to the vote union members urged the council to support the contracts. Both contracts offer 3 percent retroactive raises for 2009, 3.3 percent in 2010, 3.4 percent in 2011 and 3.5 percent in 2012. Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association President Jerry DiCicco said in exchange for the raises both unions agreed to give up the traditional health care coverage, which combined would save the city about $5 million.

While the state recently took issue with the contracts in a letter to city officials calling them, “too expensive,” DiCicco and other union officials pointed out that the state praised the health care concessions.

According to union members, this is the first time in City Council history that police and fire contracts have been defeated. Union officials spoke passionately tonight about how hard it was for members to give up the traditional health plan, which they said combined would save the city $5 million.

If the City Council does not settle the contracts before May 22, union members would be required to contribute 1.5 percent of their salaries toward the cost of health care, under a measure signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie.

While DeCicco offered statistics on the number of incidents officers handled last year – over 500,000 – and the drop in crime, Joseph Krajnik, president of the firefighters union, took a different approach. Krajnik spoke so loud and passionately that his words actually echoed through the council chambers. “This contract is a deal for you the taxpayers because we gave up what I swore I would never give up and that’s the traditional plan and you take it so lightly that we did nothing,” he yelled. “I wish the governor was here. I wish I could talk to him. But I can’t because he has a bully pulpit that just wants to knock teachers, police and firefighters. If you’re a public employee you’re a thief. You steal.”

Christie has been at war with the New Jersey Education Association in recent weeks and recently encouraged voters to defeat any school budgets that don’t include wage freezes for teachers. “The savings, the taxation of the 1.5 (percent) is not for health benefits, it’s a tax on every municipal employee,” Krajnik yelled, his voice echoing. “It’s not for health benefits. It’s to offset the lack of the governor's intestinal fortitude to help municipalities in a time of need.”

[MCA™]

Builders will have to prove cases
Friday, April 09, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Acting on recommendations of a legal audit of Jersey City's development process, Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy has signed an executive order making changes to the Tax Enhancement Committee.

"We believe that this is a positive step in further reassuring the public confidence in what we know is already a sound development process," Healy said in a statement Wednesday. "We believe this can only make our great city flourish even further."

The City Council hired McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP to conduct the audit in August following the massive federal political corruption and money laundering sting in July that ultimately brought charges against 46 individuals, including City Councilman Mariano Vega Jr. and suspended deputy mayor Leona Beldini.

Healy's 14-page executive order requires applicants to demonstrate why a tax exemption is critical to the success of the project and to detail how the project would benefit the city.

The order mandates that all Tax Enhancement Committee meetings be advertised, open to the public and properly recorded to comply with the Open Public Meetings Act. Previously, these meetings were not announced.

In a press release Healy said there must be public and critical evaluation of all tax exemption applications before they are sent to the City Council.

Healy also added a non-voting labor representative seat to the previously seven-member committee and set requirements for all eight members.

The committee consists of Healy or a mayor's designee; the business administrator or designee; tax assessor; tax collector; an executive member of the city's Department of Housing and Economic Developer; a City Council member; a resident and labor representative.

Healy appointed Patrick Kelleher, of Hudson County-based Plumbers Local No. 14, as the non-voting labor representative.

He also filled the vacant resident seat with Robert Kropke, who has a Wall Street investment background.

[bdlaw]

Pfeiffer went on to say the raises, which amount to 13 percent over the life of the contract, "disregards the ability of the employer and, by extension, the taxpayer to pay for it."

I hate to quote a convicted felon who shouldn't be holding elected office (got to love this town), but as Gerry McCann recently said (regarding the schools contracts):

"You don't need a raise, you want a raise."

I'm curious- the article says it will save $1mm over the life of the contract and Healy says it will save $1mm every year of the contract.  Which is correct (if either actually are)?

As well, what does 13% raises over the life of the contract actually amount to, and would it offset the savings?

A room full of monkeys with typewriters abacusses would do a better job with the books in this state. 

[MCA™]

State calls for renegotiating 'too expensive' Jersey City police and fire contracts
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
April 08, 2010, 7:30AM

The state is taking issue with contracts the City of Jersey City recently negotiated with its fire and police unions calling them "simply too expensive." The City Council was set to vote on the agreements March 10, when the state Department of Community Affairs requested information on the contracts.

The city does not need state approval before signing off on the contracts, but in light of receiving millions in Special Municipal aid from the state the city agreed to the review. Both contracts offer 3 percent retroactive raises for 2009, 3.3 percent in 2010, 3.4 percent in 2011 and 3.5 percent in 2012, in exchange for changes to the health care coverage that would save the city about $1 million.

In a March 31 letter, Marc Pfeiffer, acting director of the state DCA's Division of Local Government Services, said it was encouraging, "that the parties reached a cost-saving agreement with changes to its outdated, inefficient and expensive health care policy." But Pfeiffer went on to say the raises, which amount to 13 percent over the life of the contract, "disregards the ability of the employer and, by extension, the taxpayer to pay for it." "While it may be 'comparable' and consistent with recent settlements of other entities in the area, this contract is simply too expensive and we recommend that the parties go back to the table and negotiate lower increases that are consistent with the city's fiscal condition," he said.

But Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy said in a response letter to Pfeiffer that the unions were not willing to renegotiate the terms and that he will send them to the City Council for a vote, unchanged. "While I believe our police officers and firefighters deserve every penny, I understand that these salary increases are high in light of our current economic and budgetary situation," Healy said in a statement yesterday. "However, these agreements also save the city $1 million annually in healthcare givebacks and there is a risk of higher awards if we go to binding arbitration," Healy added. "It will now be up to the City Council to decide whether to approve these contracts."

[nugnfutz]

Let me paint it a little better. Most of us homeowners got reassessed at the start of 2009. No-one sitting on the council got reassessed. That means the council members haven't had to pay the same increases in properrty tax that the average Joe has paid.

That's just wrong.

[nugnfutz]

Go to www.hudsoncountytax.com.

Put in the name of all the Jersey City council members.

 I  cannot find a JC council member that has any reassessment, ever. None of the JC council seem to be playing by the rules that most of us play to. They raise our council tax but don't pay it themselves. That's outragreous.

2010  FULOP, STEVEN MICHAEL  6200  0    109200 
   76 ESSEX ST., #4  103000       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07302  109200       
   
2009  FULOP, STEVEN MICHAEL  6200  0    109200 
   76 ESSEX ST., #4  103000       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07302  109200       
   
2008  FULOP, STEVEN MICHAEL  6200  0    109200 
   76 ESSEX ST., #4  103000       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07302  109200       
   
2007  FULOP, STEVEN MICHAEL  6200  0    109200 
   76 ESSEX ST., #4  103000       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07302  109200     


TAX-LIST-HISTORY 
Year  Owner Information  Land/Imp/Tot  Exemption  Assessed   
2010  BRENNAN, PETER  69300  0    208100 
   164 MC ADOO AVE.  138800       
   JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305  208100       
   
2009  BRENNAN, PETER  69300  0    208100 
   164 MC ADOO AVE.  138800       
   JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305  208100       
   
2010  SOTTOLANO, MICHAEL PHOEBE  11700  0    84100 
   84A SUBURBIA DRIVE  72400       
   JERSEY CITY,N.J. 07305  84100       
   
2009  SOTTOLANO, MICHAEL PHOEBE  11700  0    84100 
   84A SUBURBIA DRIVE  72400       
   JERSEY CITY,N.J. 07305  84100       
   
2008  SOTTOLANO, MICHAEL PHOEBE  11700  0    84100 
   84A SUBURBIA DRIVE  72400       
   JERSEY CITY,N.J. 07305  84100       
   
2007  SOTTOLANO, MICHAEL PHOEBE  11700  0    84100 
   84A SUBURBIA DRIVE  72400       
   JERSEY CITY,N.J. 07305  84100     

TAX-LIST-HISTORY 
Year  Owner Information  Land/Imp/Tot  Exemption  Assessed   
2010  DONNELLY, DAVID  12500  0    77200 
   65 GAUTIER AVE.  64700       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07306  77200       
   
2009  DONNELLY, DAVID  12500  0    77200 
   65 GAUTIER AVE.  64700       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07306  77200       
   
2008  DONNELLY, DAVID  12500  0    77200 
   65 GAUTIER AVE.  64700       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07306  77200       
   
2007  DONNELLY, DAVID  12500  0    77200 
   65 GAUTIER AVE.  64700       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07306  77200

2008  BRENNAN, PETER  69300  0    208100 
   164 MC ADOO AVE.  138800       
   JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305  208100       
   
2007  BRENNAN, PETER  69300  0    208100 
   164 MC ADOO AVE.  138800       
   JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305  208100   

2010  HEALY, JERRAMIAH & MAUREEN  14900  0    117000 
   109 FERRY ST.  102100       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07306  117000       
   
2009  HEALY, JERRAMIAH & MAUREEN  14900  0    117000 
   109 FERRY ST.  102100       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07306  117000       
   
2008  HEALY, JERRAMIAH & MAUREEN  14900  0    117000 
   109 FERRY ST.  102100       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07306  117000       
   
2007  HEALY, JERRAMIAH & MAUREEN  14900  0    117000 
   109 FERRY ST.  102100       
   JERSEY CITY, N.J. 07306  117000     

[MCA™]

Jersey City borrows $8M to repay property owners, move receives criticism from residents
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
March 15, 2010, 10:30AM

Jersey City will bond nearly $8 million to repay property owners who successfully appealed their tax assessments. The City Council voted 8-1 Wednesday to issue $7,893,797 in bonds or notes. Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop cast the lone no vote.

Residents criticized the city for accruing more debt. "We shouldn't be borrowing from the future," resident Phil Petruzzelli said.

Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano said the city has no choice. "These are people that appealed their assessments," he said. "They won their cases. They already paid their taxes. Now we have to pay them back."

Resident James Feeney asked why the city didn't anticipate the appeals and budget for them. Chief Financial Officer Donna Mauer said the city can't budget for that.

Residents also asked what the borrowing would do to the city's bond rating. The city budgeted $43.35 million to repay outstanding bond debt and interest in the current fiscal year, according to the budget introduced in January.

Mauer said the city has a AAA bond rating, the highest rating, which means the city is not a credit risk. She attributed that rating to the city's high tax collection rate.

Standard & Poor's, a financial services firm, rates the city at AAA/negative, meaning there is little risk. But in December, after the city bonded $4.38 million so the Jersey City Parking Authority could purchase its building on Central Avenue, Moody's Investors Services gave the city an A1 rating, which means it is a safe investment, but riskier in a tough economy.

Moody's also gave the city an underlying rating of Baa2, which means it's a medium-safe investment, and when the economy deteriorates problems may arise. According to Moody's, the city has a stable outlook on its $783.6 million in outstanding debt.

Not all of that debt is the city's. Some of it, like the Parking Authority bond, is guaranteed by the city, meaning if the Parking Authority were to default on its bond repayment, the city would be held liable.

[Bobblehead]

Councilman Bill Gaughan abstained from the MUA ordinance because his daughter Eileen Gaughan is chairwoman of the board. Councilwoman Willie Flood abstained from both because her husband Philip Flood in chairman of the JCIA board.

Oh really, and how'd they get those jobs?

I know, right?  Fucking unbelievable. . . .

[bdlaw]

Councilman Bill Gaughan abstained from the MUA ordinance because his daughter Eileen Gaughan is chairwoman of the board. Councilwoman Willie Flood abstained from both because her husband Philip Flood in chairman of the JCIA board.

Oh really, and how'd they get those jobs?

[MCA™]

Jersey City Incinerator Authority and Municipal Utilities Authority keep health benefits
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
March 10, 2010, 9:31PM

Members of the Jersey City Incinerator Authority and Municipal Utility Authority boards will get to keep their health benefits. The City Council approved ordinances that will allow commissioners to continue getting health benefits, but with the caveat that family coverage be eliminated and board members pay 20 percent of the premium.

Prior to the vote more than a dozen residents implored the City Council not to support the resolutions. They argued that members of part-time, appointed boards should not get health benefits. Councilwoman Viola Richardson agreed with the residents and said she didn’t feel members deserved benefits.

City Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis raised the issue of whether or not the members are even entitled to the benefits they have been receiving for decades. The city has been unable to locate an ordinance granting the benefits. “Our opinion is they should discontinue the benefits because they don’t have the authority to give it,” he said. “That may lead to a court battle.”

Council members supporting the measure argued that requiring members to pay the premium and eliminating family coverage results in a $155,000 savings for the city.

Councilman Bill Gaughan abstained from the MUA ordinance because his daughter Eileen Gaughan is chairwoman of the board. Councilwoman Willie Flood abstained from both because her husband Philip Flood in chairman of the JCIA board. Richardson also abstained from both and Councilman Steve Fulop was absent.

Fulop tried to introduce ordinances that would have eliminated the benefits altogether, but failed to gain enough support. He and Richardson voted for those.

Resident Yvonne Balcer questioned whether other municipalities offer benefits to appointed board members. “If a person wants to serve the city they should serve the city,” she said. “It doesn’t mean we the public have to pay for it.”

[jcpeace]

I don't think they do such a terrible job.  I love the fact that they don't miss a day regardless of weather or holidays.  Regarding street cleaning...I think it would be better if they still kept alternate side parking in effect and ran snow plows.

duke

here here they should use alternate side parking to facilitate  more  thorough snow removal. that's what they do in cities in upstate NY.
fucking morons down here!
 sad.

[duke_of_earl]

Not knocking these people (although I think they do a very shitty job with garbage removal) but I've always been curious what the street cleaning people do when there's not street cleaning. Like today and probably Monday, Tuesday, etc. Does anyone know?

I don't think they do such a terrible job.  I love the fact that they don't miss a day regardless of weather or holidays.  Regarding street cleaning...I think it would be better if they still kept alternate side parking in effect and ran snow plows.

duke

[RB]

But Eileen Gaughan, chairwoman of the MUA, disagreed with Fulop and said commissioners are on call 24 hours a day to serve the public. "Despite what Councilman Fulop is leading the public to believe, the hours that are put in during the meetings are just the tip of the iceberg as far as being commissioners and serving the public," she said.

Not knocking these people (although I think they do a very shitty job with garbage removal) but I've always been curious what the street cleaning people do when there's not street cleaning. Like today and probably Monday, Tuesday, etc. Does anyone know?