Who says you can't beat City Hall?
You can bet that the bi-state Port Authority -- sans Samson -- will certainly try ... try to keep winning in its real world game of property acquisition and million dollar deal-making.
One New Jersey mayor is pushing back against that tax-shirking status quo.
Jersey City files $400M lawsuit against Port Authority, alleging unpaid taxes
by Terrence T. McDonald, The Jersey Journal, nj.com -- May 22, 2014
[...]
[Jersey City] Mayor Steve Fulop [Democrat] revealed to The Jersey Journal six months ago that he planned to file the suit, and in a statement issued by his spokeswoman today, he said the city "will not be bullied or pushed around" by the Port Authority.
[...]
The lawsuit, filed in federal district court, will "ensure Jersey City receives its fair share in taxes from the Port Authority," Fulop said in the statement.
The bi-state agency owns 40 city properties, but pays "no real-estate taxes on any of them," the city's complaint reads. If the Port Authority paid traditional taxes, the city would gain $18 million annually, according to the complaint.
"While the Port Authority has benefited handsomely from its acquisition and ownership of properties in the city, the city has suffered an undue loss of taxes," the 62-page complaint reads.
US District Complaint (pdf)
Here are the crux of the charges, in that suit against the NY-NJ PA:
larger
In short, the Jersey City mayor is claiming back taxes on those properties, owned by the Port Authority in his city -- but not being held for a demonstrable 'public good' -- but rather for the benefit of questionable 'private interests'.
If this catches on, politicians and land developers, may have to find a new form of quid-pro-quo ... one that actually benefits the Public -- and not their Cronies. Could you imagine that?
Well, the local Real Estate interest-that-be, have taken note of it -- this brash tax-the-takers move:
Jersey City suing the Port Authority for $400M
Bi-state agency owes taxes on city properties, Jersey City mayor alleges
therealdeal.com -- May 23, 2014
Jersey City is suing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, alleging the bi-state agency owes back taxes on dozens of properties it owns across Jersey City.
On Thursday, a $400 million suit was filed in federal district court against the organization.
[...]
“While the Port Authority has benefited handsomely from its acquisition and ownership of properties in the city, the city has suffered an undue loss of taxes,” the complaint says. NJ.com reports that according to Jersey City, the Port Authority pays $2.2 million in payments in lieu of taxes for seven of its 40 city properties. The Port Authority pays nearly $90,000 in taxes every year for the 9.3 acre property at Journal Square. According to NJ.com, the property would generate $9.6 million in regular taxes. [NJ.com] – Claire Moses
As this story continues its slow-burn through the courts (both those of the pundits and those of the land) -- be prepared for Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, to be portrayed as the latest
whiny Democrat, demanding "economic fairness and accountability justice."
Afterall with a "partisan" track record like this on Fulop's part, you can be sure the status quo protectors will have plenty of whine-suppressant material, at their ready ...
Fulop tells House subcommittee Sandy aid distribution a 'disaster'
by Terrence T. McDonald, The Jersey Journal, nj.com -- May 01, 2014
[...]
In those remarks, the Democratic mayor called New Jersey’s allocation of federal disaster relief a “disaster,” and said the state “has a poor track record” of working with local municipalities.
They are the most pointed and aggressive attacks on Gov. Chris Christie yet from a man many think will try to succeed him in 2017.
“The distribution of federal Sandy relief aid was arguably not entirely based upon objective data, slow to be forthcoming, unresponsive to homeowners and business,” Fulop said. “In a word, the distribution of the aid was in and of itself a ‘disaster’ of our own making.”
[...]
Though Christie spoke at Fulop’s inauguration in July, the two men soon had a falling out that Fulop attributes to his decision not to endorse Christie’s re-election.
[...]
No wonder, "the governor’s office thought of Fulop as a
political enemy" -- he keeps forcing them to "
act responsibly," when
that's the last thing in the world they ever intend on doing ...
Top officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey declined to comment today on Jersey City Mayor Fulop's plan to sue the bi-state agency for $400 million, roughly the figure Fulop says the agency owes in unpaid city taxes. Bill Baroni, the Port Authority's deputy executive director, said the agency would not comment on any issues that appear headed toward litigation. A Port Authority spokesman gave the same response to The Jersey Journal yesterday. "The city of Jersey City and the Port Authorty has for some time continued to deal with these issues, under Mayor Schundler, under Mayor Healy and now under Mayor Fulop," Baroni said today. "These are important issues and we'll continue to be focused on them."
[Source:] Port Authority officials appear in Jersey City, still mum on Fulop lawsuit threat
by Terrence T. McDonald -- The Jersey Journal
Document page 181 --
[emphasis added by this poster]
Link to the entire set of Investigation Documents.
I'm sure [resigned] Bill Baroni (deputy executive director) is 'all over' this Port Authority Back-Taxes issue -- even as we speak, and breathe ... and spend another economically stagnant year wondering:
For being one of the richest nations in the world, why do we act so damn poor?
It must be all those whiny Democratic Mayors' fault ...
Who ever said that the Tax system would be "fair" ... anyways? You have to
be acting in the
Public's Interest, to get that kind of favorable treatment.