Raj Mukherji

President Obama discusses urban issues with Jersey City leaders. From right to left: Mukherji, County Executive Tom DeGise, Mayor Jerramiah Healy, and County Freeholder Jeff Dublin

Raj Mukherji is an Assemblyman in the New Jersey State Legislature who represents New Jersey's 33rd Legislative District, and is the former Deputy Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, the second-largest city in New Jersey.^[1] According to Politicker, Mukherji is one of New Jersey's "100 most politically influential personalities."^[2] Mukherji became embroiled in controversy when he was appointed by the Mayor of Jersey City 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,^[3] 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.^[4]

During his tenure, the JCHA was applauded by HUD for attaining the highest score for Section 8 management among similar agencies in the state.^[5][6] But while under Mukherji’s leadership, the agency came under fire for its strict “One-Strike” eviction policy, enabled by federal legislation enacted under President Clinton, allowing housing authorities to evict entire households where a resident is charged with a serious crime (without being convicted).^[7][8] While defending the legislation, Mukherji convened public hearings prior to ordering an overhaul of the One-Strike policy, telling Jersey City Independent that the policy had “served as a deterrent and important tool to reduce drug-related and violent criminal activity in public housing (…but) certain revisions may be appropriate to ensure an equitable policy and eviction process… We want to be fair and equitable to criminal defendants, as the presumption of innocence must be sacrosanct, while being mindful that our foremost responsibility is to do all that we can to keep our tenants safe.”^[7][8] Under Mukherji, the JCHA was showered with federal grants and aid from the Obama administration, which twice dispatched U.S. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan to Jersey City to announce tens of millions in competitive federal grants the agency had won.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14]}

A co-founder and managing partner of a New Jersey public affairs firm^[15][16][17] ranked third in the state^[5][18] as well as a real estate developer,^{[19][20][21][22][23]} Mukherji reputedly has ties to New Jersey Democratic establishments and the Obama administration.^{[19][24][25][26]}

Mukherji was previously the CEO of an Internet and software development company he founded while in the sixth grade,^[27][28] later acquired by a federal contractor,^[5][17] and was designated the Downtown Redeveloper in Fanwood, New Jersey in 2005.^{[19][20][21][22][23]} He has starred on an episode of MTV’s Room Raiders^[29] and has appeared as a guest commentator on FOX News,^[26] My9,^[30] a guest of Steve Adubato on PBS, on Fox's Good Day NY, and on Capitol Debates on TV Asia.^[31]

He holds a masters from the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall Law School, and he has performed on Broadway.^[5][17] He began college at the age of 15, as an emancipated minor, at Bard College at Simon’s Rock.^[32] In 2011, he was named an annual "Legends" honoree by the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce.^[16]

Military and political service

Labeled a "wunderkind" by the media,^{[19][27][28][32]} 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.^[27] He served in military intelligence.^[5][32]

Mukherji was appointed by then-U.S. Senator Jon Corzine to his Military Academy Board in 2003.^[5] In 2004, the Governor of New Jersey appointed him to the Governor’s Council on Volunteerism and Community Service.^[28] He was also a Superior Court-appointed member of the Juvenile Conference Committee.^[5] He was also selected to participate in the Junior Summit international forum conducted by the Media Laboratory at M.I.T.^[5][33]

According to The Jersey Journal, he is declining the $110,056 salary and a city-issued car, instead opting to earn one dollar per year due to "the austere economic climate."^[34][5]

Philanthropy

Mukherji is a co-founder and serves on the Board of Directors of a nonprofit provider of new construction and home conversions for low-income disabled veterans.^[5][35]

References

External links