Thoughtful Leadership: Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and the GenX perspective in The Garden State

Five Dollar Buzz

Steve Fulop is the mayor of Jersey City, NJ. In a few weeks, when the census results are tallied, most observers expect it will become the largest city by population in the Garden State. Seeking election for a 3rd term this coming November, Mayor Fulop takes some time out to check in with The Buzzards.

By 2001, the SUNY Binghampton alum had found his way back to the NYC area after spending some time in Chicago. He was working for the distinguished financial services firm Goldman Sachs on Sept 11 in lower Manhattan when the planes hit the World Trade Center. Not only did he feel the reverberations of the impact physically, but in a greater spiritual sense as well. Shortly after that tragic day, Fulop quickly enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was amongst some of the first troops deployed to Iraq. Mayor Fulop reflects on his military service , his time in office, and his thoughts on the future direction of a city closely intertwined with New York City, just a small distance across the Hudson River. We discuss contemporary police department functionality, the continuing growth of a dynamic city and the current state of the broader U.S. political system from the perspective of 4 GenXers. As we approach Memorial Day, Steve gives us much to be thankful for. An individual who willingly departed a lucrative career to serve his country in a time of war and returned to his home state to serve the public in a meaningful way. He also provides a few entertaining stories along the way including an eventful voicemail from Hillary Clinton and enlisting Mike Tyson to assist at a retirement community charitable event! We salute Mayor Fulop for his service and applaud him for being a transparent politician who takes time out to engage with the public and discuss challenging subjects.