STEVE FULOP NOMINATES 2011 WOMEN OF ACTION

Jan Nordland

Whereas, Jan Nordland, a community activist, has volunteered and helped out so many people and organizations throughout Jersey City; she has used her kind heart to help so many people in need. As a friendly neighbor, she is the one to help shovel her neighbor’s sidewalk or bring a turkey to senior resident or hold hands to someone who has lost a loved one.

As Vice President of Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association and Volunteer for the Hamilton Park Clean Up Group, she has organized volunteer cleanups at Hamilton Park even if it meant that she and Rodney Hadley, Director of DPW, rolled up their pants to clean the fountains. Every week during the summer, you can find her with gloves pulling weeds with the Hamilton Park Volunteer Greens Group. She would decorate Trees for the holidays that are dedicated to the memory of loved ones when no one even knew these trees existed.

As one of the founding members of the Hamilton Park Conservancy, she has helped organized family and pet events such as the Halloween Maze and the Hamilton BBQ.

As one of the Downtown JC Watch Blockwatch Resource leaders, she would go throughout Jersey City and meet with people and help them organize blockwatches with their Community Police Unit. Jan is constantly working closely with the police by providing invaluable tips. Her assistance alone has led to several police arrests. Jan is practically her own police unit.

As a Volunteer & Chair Fundraising at The Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Memorial Cemetery, she has helped preserve this beautiful historic Cemetery. She is a member of the St. Ann’s Home Gala Committee and is a great supporter for its residents. For over six years, Jan has been blessed by a wonderful partner, Joan Koehler – a long time Jersey City resident – who loves and supports all that Jan does. They were sweethearts when they were in their twenties and were recently reunited six years ago.

Jan values her family and can be seen taking care of her 96 yr. old mother-in law, Sue Koehler.  She is also very proud of her identical twin sister, Jean C. Nordland, Advertising Executive from Old Bridge and her brother, Dr. W. Peter Nordland, an Esthetic Dental Surgeon in LaJolla, CA. Jan is ceaseless in her mission to be a part of the solution and not just be one of those people who stand by and complain.  We are extremely grateful to have Jan Nordland as one of 2011 Women Of Action.



Cara Birnbaum

Whereas, Cara is a freelance writer who grew up in Highland Park, NJ and attended Rutgers University. She fell in love with Jersey City and moved here with her husband, Jake. Cara lives in the Hamilton Park area with her husband and her daughter June, now age three. Her sister, Amy, and her family also chose Jersey City as their home and live right around the corner from Cara.

Cara has worked for various publishers including NJ Monthly Magazine, Young Miss, Cosmopolitan, and Allure. She has been a freelance writer since 2005, writing for various magazines and has also written a couple of books. In addition, she teaches magazine writing for Mediabistro, in New York City.

For Cara, living in such a friendly, walkable city has kept her feeling connected and sane during her daughter's early years. Many people easily recognize her friendly smile as she walks everywhere with her daughter. Cara has created a network of friendships with residents and businesses alike. She is an active member of JC Moms.

Cara was first drawn to Jersey City by a small business called Madame Claude Cafe, which is why she never forgot that small businesses are what make a wonderful city and diverse neighborhoods. To this end Cara launched an initiative to bring recognition and patronage from the community to these businesses. This initiative called Make My City began in 2010 with over 50 small businesses partnering up with JC Moms and resident groups; created a web site; and a coalition of volunteers. Cara’s desire was to create a map for people so they, too, can walk the wonderful streets of Jersey City and enjoy its uniqueness. Those businesses that participated offered discounts and free events for a week long celebration. Cara’s goal for her city and community helped to make the city more inviting to small businesses, in turn making the city a friendlier, safer, more vibrant place to live.

We honor Cara for her hard work, ingenuity, and service to her community as one of  2011 Women in Action.



Leda Duif Shumbris

Whereas Leda Duif Shumbris was born in London, United Kingdom, raised in Arequipa, Peru,  she chose Jersey City to marry her husband, David Shumbris, here at City Hall in 2005, chose Jersey City to be their home, the home of their 2 year old son, Luca, and the home of their expected baby girl in early June 2011. In January 2011, Leda became a U.S. Citizen and is eager to vote in her first Jersey City Board of Education elections in April.

Leda received her BA (honors) in Modern Languages (Spanish & Italian) at the University of Westminster, London, UK and her Masters in Science in Latin American Politics, Institute of Latin American Studies, University of London, UK.  She was a Business Development Director with Fitch Ratings and later became Director of South American Explorers, a non-profit organization in Lima, Peru. Recently, she worked for the past 5 years as a Spanish English Interpreter with the International Institute of New Jersey here in Jersey City. Leda also Co-Produced a documentary film, “Soy Andina” with Lucuma Films in New York City.

She started her own business in Jersey City, Max Organix, LLC, which provides wholesale organic cotton apparel for infant and toddler boys. She is currently attending a workshop series to complete certification in “Sustainable Business” presented by the Sustainable Business Committee of Columbia Business School Alumni Club.

But for all of her endeavors and education, we are most impressed by committed to improving her neighborhood, she is a Board Member of the Harsimus Cove Association and serves as their Treasurer, she is Vice President of the 4th/5th Street Block Association which sponsored a Halloween event with JC Moms which drew over 1,000 residents to 5th Street. As an active member of Jersey City Moms, she helps new moms acclimate to their Jersey City surroundings for their little ones. Prior to her becoming a U.S. Citizen, she was still politically active by encouraging people to go out and vote in the last Board of Ed Elections even though she, herself, could not vote. She is extremely in love with her husband, David, because he is a hands-on father which allows her to be an activist in Jersey City. We are very happy that she is so much a part of our community and wish her continued success as one of the 2011 Women of Action.

Source : http://stevenfulop.com/

Steven Fulop helps Board of Education

Councilman Steve Fulop and his group of supporters help three candidates win the 2010 Jersey City Board of Education election by the largest landslide in recent history

Romney, Bachmann dominate gracious GOP debate

By Beth Reinhard
National Journal

Mitt Romney easily survived his first debate of the 2012 primary with barely a nick to his early front runner status.

Tarred as a flip-flopping phony during his 2008 White House bid, Romney looked at ease during the two-hour live forum, and none of his lesser-known rivals made him squirm. Eager to make pleasing first impressions on a national audience, they all passed when handed opportunities to attack Romney.

A picture of the former Massachusetts governor and corporate executive in an open-collared shirt and tie -- posted on Twitter just minutes before the debate in an obvious attempt at campaign image-making -- rang true.

Romney was pointed in his criticism of President Obama and gracious to his rivals, saying any of them would make a better chief executive than the current occupant of the White House. He stood by his withering criticism of the federal bailout of the Michigan-based auto industry in the state where he was born and where his father was governor. He easily found opportunities to talk about his experience in the private sector and to lash out at the GOP's most popular whipping post, the federal deficit.

Even one of his leading rivals, Tim Pawlenty, demurred when CNN moderator John King pressed him to explain his widely accepted criticism linking the health care laws signed by President Obama and by Romney when he was governor of Massachusetts. Just one day after Pawlenty coined "Obamneycare,'' he practically suggested the president was the one who had made up the phrase.

Romney approached one of his biggest potential liabilities in the GOP primary with confidence. "I can't wait to debate him and say, Mr. President, if, in fact, you did look at what we did in Massachusetts, why didn't you give me a call and ask what worked and what didn't?'' he asked. "And I would have told you, Mr. President, that what you're doing will not work.''

That Romney's rivals chose not to confront him wasn't surprising considering that they are just introducing themselves to voters at this early stage of the campaign. Romney won't get off as easy in debates to come.

But Romney demonstrated Monday that whatever his numerous baggage, he shouldn't be underestimated.

Neither should Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota congresswoman whose bid faces deep skepticism from the political establishment.

What the only woman on stage lacked in height she made up for with enthusiasm, declaring in front of her rivals that she filed the official paperwork as a presidential candidate on Monday. She seized openings and one-upped her more slow-footed and less self-assured rivals. While they all want to repeal Obama's health care plan, Bachmann declared,"I will not rest until I repeal Obamacare.''

Her sparkly performance overshadowed Pawlenty, her fellow Minnesotan viewed as a more serious contender, and Atlanta businessman Herman Cain, whose oratorical skills won him praise in a May 5 debate skipped by Bachmann and Romney.

Rick Santorum, who has previously not pulled punches when it comes to criticizing his rivals, decided to toot his own horn rather than rail against Romney's inconsistencies. "I haven't just taken the pledge I've taken the bullets,'' he said.

Santorum also declined to take on Pawlenty's goals for economic growth that have been panned as unrealistic.

Newt Gingrich did little to redeem himself after the stunning abandonment by his campaign leadership last week. In fact, he revived the criticism of Rep. Paul Ryan's proposed Medicare overhaul that alienated him from leaders in his own party when he launched his campaign one month ago.

"If you can't convince the American people it's a good idea, maybe it's not a good idea,'' Gingrich said, in a line that's certain to raise the ire of Ryan supporters again.

And when he proudly noted that he participated in the economic recovery under former President Reagan, he undermined his own effort to come across as a fresh candidate brimming with new ideas.

Pawlenty has grown more confident as a candidate in recent weeks, but Monday he showed he's still honing his debate chops. Perhaps his best line of the night was one has used frequently before in candidate forums. Asked about the "separation of church and state," he said the constitution was "designed to protect people of faith from government, not government from people of faith.''

Unlike Gingrich, he manged to distance himself more gracefully from Ryan's proposal, a tough sell to voters uneasy about Medicare cuts. Pawlenty said he agreed with Ryan but said his own plan would include an option to keep Medicare. "We should keep our word to the people we made promises to,'' he said.

The best moment for Cain, the only candidate who has never served in public office, was when he gleefully proclaimed at the start of the debate, "I am not a politician.'' As a result, he lacks a voting record to be picked over. But he was grilled about his public support for the federal government's bailout of Wall Street, which was unpopular with fiscally conservative tea party activists. He also scrambled to explain a previous remark in which he said he would feel uncomfortable with a Muslim in his administration.

Ron Paul, the Texas congressman who has run for president before, did little to shake his image as a fringe candidate by talking too fast and dropping obscure subjects like "Keynesian bubble'' and  "monetary policy'' into the conversation.

Resources: http://news.yahoo.com/

 

Jersey City Councilman's plan to eliminate Department of Cultural Affairs gets cool reception

Downtown Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop's proposal to eliminate the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and merge it into Hudson County's arts department received a cool reception from the City Council last night.

Cultural Affairs Director Maryanne Kelleher spoke at the council's Monday caucus about the importance of the department, which Steve Fulop proposed eliminating last week as a cost-saving measure.

"We're the most diverse city, and we have all these artists living here," Kelleher said. "This serves to turn our back on that."

Citing the department's 10-person staff, Kelleher said, "I genuinely do not believe that they deserve to be treated like political footballs."

There doesn't seem to be much threat to the department, judging by the praise Fulop's council peers lavished on Kelleher last night. Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson said Kelleher's staff has "done a fantastic job," while Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano said it would be a "shame" to eliminate the department.

Steve Fulop defended his proposal, saying Jersey City's Department of Cultural Affairs performs a "redundant service" and there is an opportunity to consolidate with Hudson County.

"To say that diversity in this city would stop or culture in the city would stop or arts in the city would stop if there were no Cultural Affairs is, again, not true," he said.

-Sources