Menendez Lauds Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop As A Fellow Son Of Immigrants

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) this evening identified with Jersey City’s new mayor, Steve Fulop, as a fellow son of immigrants and offered to him his support to help make Jersey City a better place.

“As sons of immigrants we have a lot in common as many children of immigrants do, all those whose families passed the Statue of Liberty on their way to Ellis Island,” said Senator Menendez, a former Mayor of Union City and member of the U.S. Senate’s Gang of 8 who helped create the landmark Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation that the Senate passed on Friday.

“We are all one, one out of many, E Pluribus Unum. And with the new Mayor’s swearing-in, at this moment in time, we are reminded of our families, our hopes and aspirations as a community, and for Jersey City, its future, its citizens, and all those who may soon become citizens like Mayor Fulop’s family, and like my family when my mother came here and gave me a chance to be part of the dream. Today, we are all united. I know he is ready to govern. I offer my support to him to help make Jersey City a better place to live and raise a family.”

The full text of Senator Menendez’s remarks follows:

Today we are gathered to swear-in the new Mayor of Jersey City; a first generation American who grew up in Edison in an immigrant family, the grandson of Holocaust survivors.

And this week, of all weeks, Mayor Fulop’s swearing-in comes on the heels of an historic moment for all immigrants and all descendents of immigrants with the passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform in the Senate on Friday.

To the new mayor and his family, I offer my deepest congratulations and my support.
As sons of immigrants we have a lot in common as many children of immigrants do, all those whose families passed the Statue of Liberty on their way to Ellis Island.

We are all one, one out of many, E Pluribus Unum. With the new Mayor’s swearing-in, at this moment in time, we are reminded of our families, our hopes and aspirations as a community -- and for Jersey City, its future, its citizens... and all those who may soon become citizens like Mayor Fulop’s family and like my family when my mother came here and gave me a chance to be part of the dream.

Mayor Fulop’s swearing-in is about the fulfillment of his personal dreams and the hope I’m sure his mother placed in him – the opportunities she gave him to help him succeed.

He has done her proud -- getting a good education, a Masters in Public Education from Columbia, moving on to Goldman Sachs in Chicago and then in New York and here in Jersey City.

He joined the Marines and served in the 6th Engineer Support Battalion in Iraq, and has earned our deepest thanks and respect for his service.

He was only 28 years old when he became a Councilman, and he has surprised everyone ever since.

He surprised me when he ran against me for Congress, but he lost badly, which didn’t surprise me. I’m glad it worked out differently for him this time.

But today, we are all united, and I know he is ready to govern.

Again, I offer my support to him to help make Jersey City a better place to live and raise a family.

Congratulations, Mr. Mayor, and best of luck as you assume your responsibilities.

Robert Kennedy referred to public service as a “noble profession,” and it truly is.

And I know you will live up to the nobility of service he mentioned – that you’ll serve the people well and bring out the best in Jersey City.

Again, congratulations, Mr. Mayor. May the wind be at your back.

Thank you very much.