Raises

While people were laid being laid off, the city under Bret Schundler was busy giving raises and adding more people to the payroll.

Earl Morgan wrote an article on July 1, 1994 titled, "City managers find jobs a bonus-Administration defends pay raises as it contemplates possibility of 300 layoffs."

Morgan wrote, "Tom Gallagher, Mayor Bret Schundler's spokesman, confirmed that bonuses were paid mainly to management staff working in the mayor's office.

"Gallagher defended the bonuses as a way of rewarding management employees for a job well done...While some of the employees given bonuses are listed on the payroll of the business administrator, they actually work in the mayor's office and essentially take their direction from Schundler.

"Deputy Mayor Justo DeJesus, who started in July 1993... received $6,800 raise a day later, was rewarded $3,200 bonus November last year.   That was followed by an $8,000-a-year raise in February, payroll records show.

"Gallaher called the $500,000 the administration handed out in raises to management ... as a small price to pay to get and keep good employees in the mayor's office."

By comparison the laid off personnel was denied salaries, health benefits, and a full pension. Later, they were denied monies due.  Their layoffs took effect on October 1, 1994 but the city did not approve union contracts until 1995.   When the city finally settled, the language stipulated that they had to be currently employed to receive back pay. So they lost union raises for 1993 and nine months for 1994 while Schundler gave out bonuses.  Schundler and his administration are just corrupt!

But this immoral behavior continued. Elaine Pofeldt, wrote in the Jersey Journal on February 11, 1995. "Strapped city plans pay raises-Taxpayers get $837,000 tab. 

"Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler is offering city workers raises and bonuses, despite a budget crisis that could lead to a property tax increase.

"Schundler plans to give 2 percent 'cost of living' raises to 175 management and and 'unclassified' workers for 1994 and 1995, according to his spokesman, Tom Gallagher.

"The raises and bonuses will cost the city about $837,000. Gallagher predicted, with about $575,000 of that covering the merit raises and bonuses in 1995.

The raises come on the heels of Schundler's prediction that city taxpayers may face a $3 increase in the municipal portion of their property tax rate."

A month later, Elaine Pofeldt wrote in the Jersey Journal, March 29, 1995, "Complaints office adds staff-Bigger office, too, in City Hall basement"   One of the new hires is Dan Frohwirth, a $30,000-per-year job doing computer work.   Frohwirth is a psychiatrist.