Councilman Lavarro Issues Statement On Solid Waste Suspension

The following is a statement issued by City Councilman At-Large Rolando Lavrro in response to the decision to suspend the MUA/Suez solid waste collection fee.

In response to news that Mayor Fulop had announced that he was suspending the MUA/Suez solid waste collection fee, Councilman Rolando Lavarro said, “I’m glad to see that Mayor Fulop has reversed course on his MUA backdoor tax. To be clear, the original intention of Mayor Fulop’s backdoor tax was never to create ‘tax fairness.’ If it was it missed the mark, and by a whole lot. Scores of people have been complaining for months about the Fulop backdoor tax.”

“The original intention of this backdoor tax had always been to hide a potential tax increase before the American Rescue Plan literally came in and rescued our city budget. Mayor Fulop and his Council allies only acknowledged the backdoor tax when media attention finally brought it to light and when the public was practically standing outside City Hall with virtual pitchforks and torches.“

Councilman Lavarro has repeatedly called for inquiries into, and raised questions about the MUA’s solid waste collection fee.
https://hudsoncountyview.com/jersey-city-mua-approves-retroactive-5-year-contract-with-annual-raises-for-local-68/

In January 2021, Lavarro criticized the MUA’s financial decisions calling the MUA/Suez fee a “backdoor” tax.
https://www.nj.com/hudson/2021/01/jersey-city-residents-should-expect-new-solid-waste-fee-for-garbage-and-recycling-pickup.html

And as recently as the July 9th Department of Public Works Budget Hearing, Councilman Lavarro sought accountability for Mayor Fulop’s back door tax, calling for records and answers as to the assignment of the trash collection contract from the City of Jersey City to the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority.

“Goes to show that independent candidates, activists, and well meaning citizens with some righteous anger can fight City Hall and force changes that benefit Jersey City’s hard working families.”