| Raj Mukherji | |
|---|---|
| Commissioner & Chairman, Jersey City Housing Authority |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 22, 2008 |
|
| Preceded by | Lori Serrano |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania Thomas Edison State College |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2001-2009 |
Raj Mukherji is a New Jersey lobbyist[1] and real estate developer[2] with close ties to New Jersey Democratic establishments and the Obama administration.[3] According to Politicker, Mukherji is one of New Jersey's "100 most politically influential personalities."[4]
Mukherji became embroiled in controversy when he was appointed by Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and confirmed by the City Council to replace Lori Serrano (who had been removed and was later charged with corruption) as the youngest Commissioner and Chairman to ever serve on the Jersey City Housing Authority,[5] the state's second largest public housing authority and an $80 million agency. Amidst his nomination, critics opposed the Housing Authority's plans to demolish and redevelop a six-tower 549-unit public housing project known as Montgomery Gardens.[6] During his tenure, the JCHA was applauded by HUD for attaining the highest score for Section 8 management among similar agencies in the state.[7]
Mukherji was previously the CEO of an Internet technology company, later acquired by a federal contractor, and was designated the Downtown Redeveloper in Fanwood, New Jersey in 2005.[8]
He starred on an episode of MTV’s Room Raiders,[9] and appeared as a guest of Steve Adubato on PBS, on Fox's Good Day NY, and on Capitol Debates on TV Asia.[10]
He holds a masters from the University of Pennsylvania and has apparently performed on Broadway.[11]
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Labeled a "wunderkind" by the Star-Ledger, Mukherji was on the cover of Business News NJ after the September 11 attacks for enlisting in the Marines at the age of 17 while he was CEO of a technology company.[12] He served in military intelligence.[13]
Mukherji was appointed by then-U.S. Senator Jon Corzine to his Military Academy Board in 2003. In 2004, then-Governor Jim McGreevey appointed him to the Governor’s Council on Volunteerism and Community Service.[14] He was also a Superior Court-appointed member of the Juvenile Conference Committee. His leadership and community service efforts have been recognized as a recipient of the Daniel J. O’Hara Memorial Service Award and as an honoree of the local chapter of Optimist International. He was also selected to participate in the Junior Summit international forum conducted by the Media Laboratory at M.I.T.[15]
Mukherji is a co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of a nonprofit provider of new construction and home conversions for low-income disabled veterans.[16]