AlexanderHamiltonJC OP t1_its7on3 wrote
from u/aramova LeFrak contributes significant funds to you and your Change cohorts, after getting hundreds of millions in tax abatements which went into their pockets leaving the citizens of Jersey City with the out of control tax situation in our BOE how are we supposed to believe you've got our kid's interests at heart?
Is the Change for Children you stand for just the change that goes into LeFrak's pockets?
Please keep two things in mind regarding this question:
1) The Education Matters slate is funded with far more $$$ by the NJEA Union PAC then Change for Children.
2) I have a special needs child in the 6th grade currently attending public school in our district. Do you really think that I am going to put anything ahead of his or any other childs needs?
Your anger about the tax abatements is justified, however, and they are one of the reasons why we are where we are currently. But I am here to do a job (a non-paying job BTW) because I believe that I can help make a difference. I can not change your opinion of LeFrak, nor do I wish to but if you’ve watched me over the last 3 years while I served on this board you would know that I always spoke/voted my mind and was never influenced by outside forces of any kind. At the end of the day we are all one taxpayer group in Jersey City. If you are a big landlord, a single family owner or a renter, it would still be better for all of us to have better schools in our district that were budgeted properly.
Another point I’d like to bring up is the fact that I am the only non NJEA Union endorsed member on the current school board. If the NJEA Union backed candidates win this election then all 9 seats on this board will be Union endorsed members. Is that really appropriate or fair? Especially when it comes to things like negotiating teacher contracts? And you all know that 2023 is when the current teacher contract expires, right?
OkAbbreviations4982 t1_its9ied wrote
You didn't answer the question.
hyphenthis t1_ittepvy wrote
He did. The question was how we're supposed to believe he has our interests and the children's interest at heart. He answered it convincingly.
OkAbbreviations4982 t1_ittn6uj wrote
Because he's getting less money than the union slate and has a special needs child. Ok, I'm convinced.
RAWisROLLIE t1_ituaskt wrote
Is he supposed to bring you the severed head of LeFrak?
OkAbbreviations4982 t1_itumd5y wrote
Instead of answering the question? No.
hyphenthis t1_itus2ul wrote
It seems like you have a very specific definition of "answering the question". What would've qualified as a sufficient answer?
RAWisROLLIE t1_ituu71g wrote
Exactly. A simple and direct "no" completely answers the question, yet would obviously not convince this person.
OkAbbreviations4982 t1_itys6ie wrote
He's funded by the exact people who have starved the education system of funds. It's not a yes and no question. Lefrak robs this city.
OkAbbreviations4982 t1_itys180 wrote
Addressing the issue I raised instead of deflecting to "i have a special needs kid".
hyphenthis t1_iu1o4z7 wrote
Ok, so you wanted him to say "Yes, I have the interests of children at heart"? I don't agree with you on him deflecting, I consider it as an example of why he has the interests of children at heart. Now I'm curious who you'll vote for, how did they answer this question?
OkAbbreviations4982 t1_iu2qeq9 wrote
I wanted him to address Lefrak's influence. Lefrak has been one of, if not the biggest recipient of long term tax abatements. Until very recently the schools were not receiving a penny from the payments that the abated properties paid, that money went directly to the city. The JC schools were then subsidized with state aid. This arrangement came to an end and the city implemented a payroll tax to partially fund the expected shortfall. Lefrak challenged the tax in court 2019 and finally lost this year. I think it's a fair question to challenge a candidate whose main source of funding is the same company's superPAC, also set up in 2019, seemingly in response to the payroll tax. You may feel the answer was sufficient but I do not think having a kid in the system or the other side having more funding negates the obviously benign intentions of Lefrak. I won't be voting for anyone, they are all a shower of shits.
hyphenthis t1_iu33baj wrote
So you actually wanted him to answer a totally different question. I'm not saying the question you're asking isn't valid, but it's a very different question.
Your question is: "Can you address Lefrak's influence on Jersey City's budget?"
The question asked was: "How do we know you have the interests of children at heart?"
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments