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Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for the New Jersey Globe).

Fulop opposition to affordable housing could hobble future gubernatorial run

Expert: ‘Look at all the new market-rate housing he’s welcomed with open arms— it’s not like he’s turned any of that away for fear of exploding the school budget’

By David Wildstein, August 21 2019 8:56 pm

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s opposition to a proposed high-rise development in downtown Jersey City that has earmarked 20% of the units for affordable housing could wind up hurting him with Democratic primary voters if he decides to sometime resume his statewide political aspirations.

The Jersey City Council is expected to vote on the $110 million project in September, according to a report by the Hudson County View.  The developer is not seeking any tax breaks or PILOT programs.

Fulop accused the council of letting the developer dictate the terms of the deal of the 25-story building with 90 affordable units out of 451.

“The ordinance was written by a developer to only enrich himself. It would be the largest density increase of any project,” Fulop said on Twitter. “It eliminated community input + Planning Dept. The developer gave a dream ordinance to a councilman + here we are. City Council should vote NO.”

Fulop was the front-runner for the 2017 Democratic gubernatorial nomination when he inexplicably dropped out of the race sixteen months before the primary.  He is said to still harbor thoughts of succeeding Gov. Phil Murphy.

One political expert says a record in opposition to affordable housing as mayor could become an issue if he runs again.

“You’d think Democrats would be attracted to candidates whose records show they’ve worked to make New Jersey’s communities livable for everyone,” said Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University. “But unfortunately, this seems to be one of those values that’s strongest outside of one’s own hometown, which is why affordable housing has eluded a solution in New Jersey for so long.”

Council President Rolando Lavarro, who has been mentioned as a potential challenger to Fulop if he seeks re-election to a third term as mayor in two years, told the Hudson County View that there is an affordable housing crisis in Jersey City.

Rasmussen thinks Fulop’s strategy can backfire.

“I’m not suggesting there’s likely to be any sympathy at all for a candidate to support his party’s ideals while working against them at home— I think it would read as hypocrisy in the extreme,” Rasmussen said.  “Look at all the new market-rate housing he’s welcomed with open arms— it’s not like he’s turned any of that away for fear of exploding the school budget.  That’s the proposition many New Jersey mayors are facing, but it’s certainly not why he’s opposing an effort to make sure people of every income can afford to live in Jersey City.”

This story was updated at 9:49 PM.

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