Jersey City\u2019s Democratic mayor has emerged as a top contender to lead New York City\u2019s most influential business group, sources tell The Post.<\/p>\n
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop<\/a> \u2014 who previously defended Big Apple mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani\u2019s controversial plan to open government-run grocery stores and said \u201cI don\u2019t live in NYC nor do I want to\u201d \u2014 is in discussions to become the next CEO of the Partnership for The City of New York.<\/p>\n And yes, he\u2019d have to move across the Hudson River if he gets the job.<\/p>\n Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is in discussions to be the next CEO of the Partnership for The City of New York. AP photo\/Mike Catalini, File<\/p>\n He would replace Kathryn Wylde<\/a>, who is retiring after heading the group representing the Big Apple\u2019s business titans since 2000, sources familiar with the deliberations said.<\/p>\n Wylde made more than $1.5 million in 2023, according tax filings from the nonprofit.<\/p>\n Fulop, 48, ran for New Jersey governor this year but finished a distant third with just 16% of the vote in the Democratic primary<\/a>. He worked for Goldman Sachs during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and then joined the Marines before entering politics.<\/p>\n The three-term mayor defended Mamdani\u2019s city-run grocery store plan in a statement <\/a>on X in June when another writer called it the \u201cmost economically delusional thing I\u2019ve seen in a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t live in NYC nor do I want to but one thing to mention is that I know the idea of public grocery stores has become easy fodder for critics, but if you move past the politics, there\u2019s precedent. This isn\u2019t some radical new idea in the U.S.<\/p>\n The USDA, under both Republican\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/2Vg6eiQy1Y<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) June 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cI don\u2019t live in NYC nor do I want to but one thing to mention is that I know the idea of public grocery stores has become easy fodder for critics, but if you move past the politics, there\u2019s precedent. This isn\u2019t some radical new idea in the US,\u201d Fulop said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe USDA [Department of Agriculture], under both Republican and Democratic administrations, has a track record of funding publicly supported grocery stores, including co-ops and nonprofit retail models. These programs continue to offer financial, technical, and planning support to help bring healthy food access to underserved communities and prices down,\u201d Fulop said.<\/p>\n Fulop said Jersey City \u2014 the Garden State\u2019s second most populous with 300,000 residents \u2014 also experimented to improve access to nutritional flood with the \u201cHealthy Corner Store\u201d model. The program offered assistance to bodegas and small grocers to offer residents healthier food options.<\/p>\n Current CEO Kathryn Wylde announced her retirement in May. Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n Fulop previously defended New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani\u2019s proposal for city-run grocery stores. @ zohrankmamdani\/Instagram<\/p>\n \u201cWe gave it a real shot. It didn\u2019t work as well as I had hoped, but I\u2019m still glad we tried. One major lesson: it\u2019s tough to incentivize store owners to change long-established economic habits, even when the public benefit is clear,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n During his campaign for governor, Fulop objected to the MTA and New York imposing a \u201ccongestion fee\u201d for Jersey drivers to enter Manhattan, even suggesting that the Garden State should impose its <\/a>own reverse or fee to enter the Garden State and fund its public transit.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sources said Fulop\u2019s 12-year record as Jersey City mayor will help him in promoting Big Apple business. Jersey City was among the leaders in the Garden State in building new housing and creating jobs, and keeping crime and property taxes in check.<\/p>\n He also championed other liberal workforce issues such as family paid leave and an increase in Jersey\u2019s minimum wage.<\/p>\n Fulop has been mayor of Jersey City since 2013. Brigitte Stelzer<\/p>\n The Partnership for NYC represents 300 of the Big Apple\u2019s largest corporate, banking and investment, real estate and high-tech firms \u201cworking to advance the city\u2019s standing as a global center of economic opportunity, upward mobility, and innovation,\u201d per the website.<\/p>\n\n