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Resident alleges municipal-court "ticket fixing" in Jersey City, asks Hudson County to seek audit
Summary
At the Feb. 27 Hudson County commissioners meeting, Eve Taylor alleged that the Jersey City Municipal Court has ignored years of code-violation summonses and that a landlord has repeatedly avoided fines; she urged the County to seek independent auditors or a State Comptroller review.
Eve Taylor told the Hudson County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 27 that the Jersey City Municipal Court has failed to enforce building- and fire-code summonses for years and that tenants remain at risk.
"The Jersey City Municipal Court still, as of last week, refuses to enforce Building Code, Fire Code, and Chapter 260 tenant protections," Taylor said. She told the Board she has pressed the court for enforcement repeatedly and contended a landlord, identified in the transcript as Muhammad Shaheed, has failed to appear and has not been fined for longstanding violations.
Taylor said she has taken her concerns to other authorities, requested auditors, and asked the County to help. She asked commissioners to seek an independent audit from the New Jersey State Comptroller or IRS to "straighten the city finances immediately." Commissioner William O'Dea replied that he would try to contact the State Comptroller's office.
Taylor's remarks were made during the public-comment portion of the Hudson County meeting. The Board did not take formal action at the meeting to initiate an audit; commissioners said they would seek additional information and follow up with appropriate agencies. Taylor said she had multiple open cases and asked for help beyond what she could pursue alone.
What happened next: Chairman Anthony Romano closed public testimony and the meeting proceeded to other agenda items. Taylor's allegation is on the record; County staff and commissioners said they would consider next steps, including contacting the State Comptroller.
