Jersey City Ward F council candidate Frank “Educational” Gilmore said that the city offered to nearly triple his salary to get him to drop out of the Ward F council race, though Mayor Steven Fulop’s campaign says there’s “not a single shred of truth to it.”
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“The administration is petrified. They don’t know what to do. Just the other day, they offered me almost a triple of my salary … They offered me a promotion. I said I’m good making $37, $38 [thousand],” Gilmore said.
“But I’m good making what I make, because for me, it’s about serving the people: serving the people.”
He asserted that they offered him the head of a new division to cope with homelessness in the city, a position that would come with the ability to pick his own hours and staff.
Gilmore noted he works for Jersey City in the Department of Health and Human Services in disease prevention, in addition to running his Community Learning Center on Monticello Avenue.
He initially began working for the city’s recreation Department under former Director Ryan Strother.
A city spokeswoman deferred comment to Fulop’s campaign, where spokesman Phil Swibinski swung for the fences in the process of disputing everything Gilmore said.
“Frank Gilmore is nothing short of a conman and a grifter who has a track record of total disregard for both the law and the truth,” he began in an email.
“Whether it is failing to file the proper paperwork to keep his non-profit in compliance and then still soliciting money into it, or the total disregard for transparency he has shown by refusing to file mandatory campaign finance reports, or his many performance issues at work, this claim by Frank Gilmore is exactly like everything else he says, which means there is absolutely not a single shred of truth to it.”
Despite that, Gilmore held firm to what he said at the Carvao BBQ last night.
“This administration is in the business of trying to buy people out, trying to keep people quiet so they can continue to do unethical things. And I’m not just not willing to make those kinds of deals,” he told HCV today, claiming the offer was made in the last three weeks.
“They don’t even like me. Why would they give me a raise? I expected them to say they didn’t say that. I look forward to it not being the truth.”
At his event, Gilmore targeted the city on a number of other issues, including Ward F development projects.
“These developers are making out like fat rats in Jersey City. The quality that they’re building at these rapid rates are not productive, it’s not quality stuff.”
His opponent, Ward F Councilman Jermaine Robinson, has been a big proponent of the Morris Canal Manor project, but Gilmore isn’t so sure the current proposal is the best option available.
“He’s putting a white box there. I’m not blocking the rec center. I’m just not going to have you displace a bunch of people to allow a developer to get 12 extra stories.”
He said the rec center should be built by the Bethune Life Center, which was recently designated as park space.
Furthermore, Gilmore praised the creation of Berry Lane Park, but also criticized its $38 million cost, noting “I’m going to need to see the receipts.”
“I just can’t understand how something that costs $38 million, the sprinkler system has been broken every summer since it’s been there,” he said, adding it also doesn’t have bathrooms or locker rooms.
Gilmore also said he’s the only candidate in the race that has the ability to bridge the gap between the community and the police department.
“Officers I communicate with on a daily basis with on the safety and direction of our community and what we need to be doing, they say ‘Mr. Gilmore, you’re the only one that’s accessible. We can’t even talk to the other people in the administration. And when we talk to them, all they do is give us directions,’” he noted.
“Why don’t you try investing in youth when they’re seven ,eight, or nine so you don’t have to house them when they’re 17, 18, and 19? Because the reality is you’re going to front the bill, either you front it on the front end, or you’re going to front it on the back end.”
Additionally, Gilmore criticized the administration for the 17 homicides in the city this year, most of them occurring in Ward F, already exceeding 2020’s total.
“But this administration will have you believe we’re headed in the right direction. They’re right. We’re headed in the right direction with respect to people lining their pockets. We need to see where the money is going.”
Council-at-large candidate Chris Gadsden, a good friend of Gilmore, said over the hour-long program that he expected him to pull off a decisive upset in Ward F, winning on the first ballot.
Furthermore, former Ward F Councilman Dan Wiley praised Gilmore, describing how he helped him build his block association and his mentoring of troubled youth.
“You can trust them with your future and the future of your children. Ward F has to change. Jersey City has to change,” Wiley said.
Executive Director of the Anti-Violence Coalition Pamela Johnson spoke passionately for Gilmore, noting his work helping the community and troubled youth.
“Team Fulop is only for Team Fulop,” she criticized.
Mayoral candidate Lewis Spears also attended the fundraiser, as did activist Alika Muhammad.
The Jersey City non-partisan municipal elections are on November 2nd.
Gilmore never once used the vehicle that was donated to him from Ellen show for transported the children, its only used for his personal use and her also donated $10,000 of gift money to the jews thinking he would get his foot in the door. He speak of Mr Robinson but Gilmore was caught by neighbors disposing garbage by the Ege Ave bridge from his home instead of calling the city. He used donation money for personal trips… If one can’t see this guy is a fake and still criminals minded. I respect his trying but will never make a difference. He has his drug dealers mentality and have no clue its not about only ex inmates. He have no plan and no clue. Even if I vote for him, he will not win!!!! He only listen to the people that’s not looking for a change. We can’t continue to allow these fakes say the know what the black people need because can relate. There’s no way we should continue to babysit adults that have choices… Im a single black women and I see great improvement in Jersey City. All Gilmore seeking is to keep the people hanging out on the streets as he do everyday.. Gilmore need to be thankful that he has a job with his criminal background.
#DismantleTheFulopRegime
Go Gilmore🙏🏾👊🏽
Jugging by literary style and racist rhetoric Yadda Moore must be Muhammad Akil creation.