over $700 Million, 57% over its bonding
cap, the City initially approved $14 Million for a BUILDING PROJECTS
& CHARTER SCHOOLS
See the Talking Politics TV Show which features the JC Parking Authority and the Court
Updated 12/2002
In August 2001 a city official confirmed that an investigation is occurring and the news should break in a week or so ( This was prior to the WTC terrorist attack. Now all the investigations, including County Exec Bobby J are in a holding pattern....) He mentioned that not one item was bid publicly and none of the state statutes governing contract awarding were followed.... stay tuned.... I suggested to him that when they're done they look at the new $11 million JC Museum, the $14 million Journal Square restoration and Van Vorst Park $2 million renovation...... the players are the same....
Dec 2002- Schundler is a lucky guy... The Cunningham administration dropped the ball and in their incompetence the investigation fizzled out... no competent, assigned personnel.. Guess Cunningham and his administration were too busy calling Rep Robert Menendez a "political terrorist" and fighting with everyone in the Democratic party... all for patronage, their number 1 concern..
History.....
In May 1998, even though the City has annual, major budget deficits and
their bonding was over $700 Million, 57% over its bonding
cap, the City initially approved $14 Million for a
lessons
from him…LIES…. "
In May 2000, the cost increased by "$482,531
due to the
discovery of large rocks in two places at the site
on Summit Avenue."- JJ 5/10/00. The adjacent street to the court house is
Rock Street! "Other change orders show a total increase of
$1,097,202 or a 5.4% increase to the projected cost of the courthouse."
"This whole thing is a farce "', screamed Ward A Councilman Robert Cavanaugh.
'" During a closed caucus session last year… a discussion took place about how
this is going to be capped with no cost overruns, unless we were the ones making design
changes.'" The other Councilpersons all noted that "'everyone knows there's
rocks there'" because the courthouse rests on the Palisades Cliffs, that run north
and south and separates Downtown Jersey City from the Journal Square area."
(JJ
5/10/00)
THE FINAL COST MAY 2001, $25 MILLION!
You'll note in the photos above, there're no designated bus stops in front of the court house and the $25 Million Court House doesn't include a parking lot!!! The one pictured above is privately owned and spots are leased to the court employees! It's also a fairly lengthy walk from the Journal Square PATH & bus station.
PAY TO PLAY POLITICS.....
In the summer of 2000, the
Journal Square restoration project was finally completed at a cost of over $14 Million!! The project was at least 2 years over schedule and millions of dollars in cost overruns. $14 million paid for new sidewalks along Kennedy Boulevard, Sip Avenue, historic lamp posts, shrubbery, a FOUNTAIN, which was closed for leaks for several weeks in May-June 2001, and a restored median on Kennedy Blvd.
The same contractor, Schundler contributors, did the Van Vorst Park restoration downtown for a cost of over $2.2 Million. The park was poorly designed, the sprinkler system doesn't work and is non-existent in most of the park (the lawns) and drainage is still poor which was the major reason to renovate the park! The City uses outside contractors to cut the grass in the park since they've laid off many of the city's Public Works employees.
"The council also voted to transfer more funds to the Jersey City Museum, this time $500,000 in Urban Enterprise Zone money. The Jersey City Museum currently has a (construction) budget shortfall of about $9 million dollars, and needs cash to open on its scheduled date in September 2001. At the last council meeting, the museum received $250,000 in HUD money originally earmarked for improving the politically unpopular Palisade Avenue area. Council President DeGise blamed "the state" for the Jersey City Museum budget crises, and characterized Heights residents who wanted the funding kept in the Heights as "appallingly selfish and politically motivated." (Urban News, Greg Brickey, reporter 1/01) Councilman DeGise is a life long resident of the Heights, Schundler sidekick, and mayoral candidate. See
NEIGHBORHOODS FIGHTING CITY HALL - Palisades Avenue )Update: "With the inauguration of its new $11 million facility scheduled for next month, the Jersey City Museum is currently operating without an executive director and leading curator, its board in flux and its finances in question.
A major capital campaign has transformed an old Postal Service garage on Montgomery Street into a spanking new urban art museum. But the opening, set for Sept. 12, is clouded by staff and funding setbacks so severe that the museum may have to operate on a bare-bones budget in its inaugural year.
The latest development came on Thursday when museum Board President Carlos Hernandez announced to the staff that a private management firm would be taking over day-to-day control of the museum effective today.
In June, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey arts philanthropy, decided to withhold its annual funding for the new museum because "it did not meet our criteria for a grant at that time," according to David Grant, foundation director.
Grant pointed out that, among the standard criteria published by the Dodge Foundation, are calls for "functioning executive management" and "board performance."
The Dodge Foundation gave $125,000 to the museum's operating budget last year, and previously gave $226,000 to the capital campaign for the new museum building.
To pay its bills, the museum is negotiating a bridge loan with Provident
Savings Bank, which holds a $3 million mortgage on the new building."
(Museum strapped
for funds, 08/06/01, By Dan Bischoff
Newhouse News Service )
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