Steven Fulop

Steven Fulop
Born	(1977-02-28) February 28, 1977 Edison, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Politician
Years active	2005–present
Known for	49th mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey; Jersey City Council member for Ward E

Steven Michael Fulop (born February 28, 1977) is an American political figure currently holding the position of the 49th mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. Affiliated with the Democratic Party, he formerly served as the representative for Ward E on the Jersey City Council.

Fulop secured his first mayoral victory on May 14, 2013, unseating the sitting mayor Jerramiah Healy. He won re-election in 2017 with 78% of the vote, marking the most decisive win since 1949, and again triumphed in 2021, becoming the first Jersey City mayor since Frank Hague to earn a third term. Opting not to pursue a fourth term, Fulop instead sought the Democratic nomination for governor in the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election, where he was defeated by Mikie Sherrill.

Early life

Born on February 28, 1977, in Edison, New Jersey, Fulop is the son of Jewish parents Carmen and Arthur Fulop. Both parents originated from Romania, with his maternal grandparents having survived the Holocaust. His father was raised in Israel and served as a sniper in the Golani Brigade during the Six-Day War. Later, his father operated a delicatessen in Newark, New Jersey. During his youth, Fulop often assisted at the family deli while his mother worked in immigration services.

Fulop attended Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva, an Orthodox day school located in Edison through sixth grade. He then transferred to Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union (currently known as Golda Och Academy) in West Orange, New Jersey. After two years there, he transitioned to public schooling and graduated from J. P. Stevens High School in Edison.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Harpur College at Binghamton University in 1999, which included a study abroad experience at Oxford University. In 2006, Fulop completed dual graduate degrees: an MBA from the New York University Stern School of Business and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

Finance and military service

Following college graduation, Steven Fulop began his professional journey at investment bank Goldman Sachs, initially working in Chicago before transferring to offices in Manhattan and Jersey City. After the events of September 11, he temporarily halted his finance career to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.

Shortly after completing boot camp, on January 14, 2003, Fulop’s reserve unit was activated and deployed to Iraq. He spent six months serving with the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, providing essential engineering services along with logistics support including water purification and fuel supply vital to military operations. His choice to leave Wall Street for military duty attracted attention from various media outlets.

Upon returning from Iraq, Fulop resumed work at Goldman Sachs. In early 2006, he transitioned to Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. and finished his Marine Corps Reserve commitment holding the rank of Corporal.

Campaign for U.S. Representative

In the 2004 Democratic primary for New Jersey's Congressional District, Fulop ran against incumbent Bob Menendez, ultimately losing by a margin of 12.6% to Menendez’s 87.4%. (Menendez subsequently served three terms in the Senate before resigning in 2024 following a corruption conviction.)

Jersey City Council

In May 2005, Fulop secured election to represent Ward E on the Jersey City Council, overcoming an incumbent despite lacking backing from established leaders such as Congressman Robert Menendez and Mayor Jerramiah Healy. At just 28 years old, he became the youngest council member in over 17 years and ranked as the third youngest ever in the city's history.

Despite being outspent by more than double, Fulop’s success was attributed to strategic campaign methods highlighted by The Star-Ledger, The New York Times, and The Jersey Journal. He won re-election in May 2009 with 63% of the vote. By 2012, The Hudson Reporter placed him fourth among the most influential figures in Hudson County. In 2010, he spearheaded opposition to a proposed gas pipeline through Jersey City’s downtown area.

Legislation

During his tenure on the council, Fulop prioritized ethics reform. In September 2007, he introduced a comprehensive ethics reform package that included limitations on city vehicle usage, prohibitions against officials holding multiple government roles simultaneously, and mandates for income disclosure along with lobbying restrictions. After the council rejected this legislation in a 6–1–1 vote, Fulop advanced two ethics reform measures to be decided by voters.

The first measure focused on curbing "double dipping" by enabling the city to withhold a second salary and associated benefits from officials who receive multiple taxpayer-funded paychecks, contingent upon voter approval. The second measure aimed to prohibit entities contracting with the city from contributing politically to local candidates for a year, thereby preventing developers and contractors from financially influencing elected officials responsible for overseeing their interests.

Political prospects

Following his successful re-election to the council, Fulop was widely anticipated to run for mayor in 2013. His political clout was demonstrated in 2010 when candidates he endorsed won all three vacant seats on the Board of Education.

In September 2016, rather than pursuing a gubernatorial campaign, Fulop opted to endorse former competitor Phil Murphy and instead sought a second term as mayor.

Mayor of Jersey City

On May 14, 2013, Fulop unseated incumbent mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, winning with 53% of the vote to become Jersey City’s 49th mayor. He assumed office on July 1, 2013, with a vision to position Jersey City as the "best mid-sized city in the country." Citing rising population numbers and ongoing residential development, Fulop projected that Jersey City would surpass Newark, New Jersey as New Jersey’s largest city by late 2016.

Recognized as a reform-minded leader during his council service, Fulop campaigned on transforming government operations, enhancing public safety, expanding municipal services, and maintaining tax stability. He is also affiliated with the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition.

On January 3, 2023, Fulop announced he would not seek a fourth mayoral term in 2025. Subsequently, on April 11, 2023, he declared his intention to run for Governor of New Jersey.

Initial Term Accomplishments (2013–2017)

During his initial 100 days in office, Fulop consolidated the Police Department, Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management into a unified Department of Public Safety to streamline operations and lower administrative expenses. He focused on enhancing diversity within recruitment efforts and increased the police force from 778 officers to an anticipated 840 by mid-2014.

To improve accountability and citizen engagement, Fulop established the city's inaugural Citizen Public Safety Advisory Review Board and transformed the "Mayor's Action Bureau" into a more comprehensive "Residents Response Center" with extended hours.

His administration allocated $6 million toward upgrading city parks and expedited the development of Berry Lane Park. To stimulate growth beyond the waterfront area, a tiered tax abatement system was implemented. Additionally, the city initiated a call for proposals aimed at restoring the historic Loew's Jersey Theatre. The first budget under his leadership resulted in a 2.1 percent reduction in property taxes. Moreover, Fulop introduced the Jersey City Mural Arts Program alongside a prisoner re-entry initiative spearheaded by former Governor Jim McGreevey.

In September 2013, Jersey City became the first municipality in New Jersey to require paid sick leave for most workers following legislation championed by Fulop. A committed advocate for LGBTQ rights, he officiated same-sex marriages once legalized in the state, with Jersey City earning perfect scores on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index throughout his administration. In September 2015, the city became the first in New Jersey to broaden healthcare benefits to include transgender municipal employees.

September 2015 also marked the debut of a Citi Bike bikeshare program integrated with New York City's network. The city launched United Rescue, an app-driven volunteer emergency medical responder service designed to decrease EMS response intervals. In October of that year, Jersey City legalized Airbnb rentals and unveiled an open data portal to increase governmental transparency. By February 2016, Fulop had issued an executive order setting a $15 minimum wage for municipal workers—the first such mandate in New Jersey.

Second and Third Term Efforts (2017–2025)

In May 2018, Fulop opposed financial incentives requested by a Kushner family real estate development, which sought a 30-year tax exemption along with $9 million in municipal bonds.

On March 16, 2020, during the COVID-19 health crisis, Fulop mandated the temporary shutdown of Jersey City's Newport Centre and Hudson Mall. This directive was later expanded statewide by Governor Phil Murphy.

During his tenure, Jersey City embraced the Vision Zero initiative, successfully completing a year without any fatalities from road accidents. Fulop advocates for congestion pricing as a strategy to alleviate traffic congestion and generate revenue for NJ Transit and PATH. In January 2025, he proposed implementing a congestion charge targeting New York motorists entering Jersey City.

Katyń Memorial

In May 2018, Fulop revealed intentions to relocate the Katyń Massacre Memorial from Exchange Place, provoking backlash from Polish dignitaries including Senate Speaker Stanisław Karczewski, whom Fulop accused of being a "known anti-Semite." Holocaust survivor Edward Mosberg and leaders of the Polish Jewish community also expressed opposition to the plan.

Although there was an initial agreement to move the monument approximately 200 feet, the dispute concluded in December 2018 when Jersey City's Council unanimously voted to preserve the statue at its original site "in perpetuity."

Dixon Advisory

Beginning in 2019, Fulop's mayoral campaign received considerable contributions from Dixon Advisory, an Australian property investment firm. Fulop maintained ties with the company's managing partner, Alan S. Dixon. Subsequently, Fulop halted property reassessments that might have raised taxes on properties owned by Dixon. Investigations revealed that Dixon provided discounted remodeling services for properties owned by Fulop and assisted in acquiring an off-market "trophy" property. Dixon Advisory eventually filed for bankruptcy, with investors recovering only a small portion of their funds.

Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

In October 2020, Fulop endorsed an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance (IZO) that attracted criticism for its perceived weaknesses. Bassam Gergi from the Fair Share Housing Center described it as "one of New Jersey’s most lenient housing ordinances." Despite widespread public dissent, the city council passed the ordinance with a 7–2 vote.

The Fair Share Housing Center filed a lawsuit challenging the IZO in December 2020. In August 2021, a judge in Hudson County invalidated the ordinance on grounds that the city violated state land use regulations by failing to submit it to the Planning Board prior to adoption.

Waste Collection Tax

In January 2021, Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority implemented a water usage fee designed to finance the city's $15.1 million waste and recycling contract. This charge aimed to ensure that tax-exempt properties contributed fairly to service costs. Although authorized in September 2020 during a period when Mayor Fulop had pledged no tax hikes, residents and businesses criticized it as a hidden tax increase. Prior to the November 2021 elections, Fulop suspended this fee, acknowledging that residents were "being way overcharged" and pledged to revisit the fee calculation method.

2025 gubernatorial campaign

In April 2023, Steven Fulop became the earliest Democrat to declare his candidacy for the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election, seeking to follow Governor Phil Murphy in office.

Transportation proposals

In August 2023, Fulop unveiled a comprehensive transportation plan for the state that included:

• Advocating for Manhattan's congestion pricing and introducing a comparable fee on New York motorists entering New Jersey, with the collected funds earmarked for the Port Authority's PATH network.
• Promoting expansion of NJ Transit services and upgrading stations, financed by reinstating a corporate business tax expected to yield $1 billion annually.
• Proposing the transfer of PATH management from the Port Authority to NJ Transit to enhance prioritization.
• Rolling out a ride-sharing program inspired by Jersey City's VIA initiative across the ten most densely populated cities in New Jersey to mitigate transit shortages.
• Capping in-person MVC visits at 30 minutes while expanding digital service options.
• Emphasizing rail infrastructure projects over highway enlargements.

Affordable housing plan

In October 2023, Fulop introduced a strategy aimed at resolving New Jersey's affordable housing shortage by striving to double the current production rate of affordable units. The proposal consists of:

• Overhauling the Council on Affordable Housing to simplify municipal approval processes.
• Surpassing requirements set forth by the New Jersey Fair Housing Act.
• Facilitating regional development of mixed-income housing adjacent to mass transit hubs.
• Updating incentive initiatives through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
• Reactivating the Office of the Public Advocate.
• Guaranteeing dedicated funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to assist households earning up to 80% of Area Median Income.

Personal life

Fulop maintains a second residence in Narragansett, Rhode Island, a community with deep family connections. He made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the town council to prohibit public parking on his street.

A dedicated endurance athlete, Fulop has completed multiple marathons and finished the 2012 Ironman U.S. Championship in less than 12 hours.

Prior to his time on the city council, Fulop served as president of both the Downtown Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (DCNA) and The Historic Paulus Hook Association in Jersey City. Additionally, he has held board positions with the Columbia University Alumni Association and the Learning Community Charter School located in Jersey City.

External links

• Official website