Raj Mukherji
Encyclopedia
Raj Mukherji is a New Jersey
lobbyist and real estate developer with close ties to New Jersey
Democratic establishments and the Obama
administration. According to Politicker, Mukherji is one of New Jersey's "100 most politically influential personalities."
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, 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. During his tenure, the JCHA was applauded by HUD for attaining the highest score for Section 8 management among similar agencies in the state.
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.
He starred on an episode of MTV’s Room Raiders
, and appeared as a guest of Steve Adubato on PBS, on Fox's
Good Day NY, and on Capitol Debates on TV Asia.
He holds a masters from the University of Pennsylvania
and has apparently performed on Broadway
.
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. 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.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
lobbyist and real estate developer with close ties to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Democratic establishments and the Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
administration. According to Politicker, Mukherji is one of New Jersey's "100 most politically influential personalities."
Mukherji became embroiled in controversy when he was appointed by Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
Mayor Jerramiah Healy
Jerramiah Healy
Jerramiah T. Healy is the current mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey. He ran for the unexpired term of the late Glenn D. Cunningham and was elected in November 2004. In the special election, he defeated Acting Mayor L. Harvey Smith...
and confirmed by the City Council to replace Lori Serrano
Lori Serrano
Lori Serrano is the former Commissioner and Chairwoman of the Jersey City Housing Authority, the state's second largest public housing authority...
(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, the state's second largest public housing authority
Public housing in the United States
Public housing in the United States has been administered by federal, state and local agencies to provide subsidized assistance for low-income and people living in poverty. Now increasingly provided in a variety of settings and formats, originally public housing in the U.S...
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. During his tenure, the JCHA was applauded by HUD for attaining the highest score for Section 8 management among similar agencies in the state.
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
Fanwood, New Jersey
Fanwood is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,318.Fanwood was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 2, 1895, from portions of Fanwood Township , based on the results of a...
in 2005.
He starred on an episode of MTV’s Room Raiders
Room Raiders
Room Raiders is a "dating/reality" series on MTV.-Premise:On the show, three men or women have their rooms inspected, or "raided" by another single man or woman...
, and appeared as a guest of Steve Adubato on PBS, on Fox's
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
Good Day NY, and on Capitol Debates on TV Asia.
He holds a masters from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and has apparently performed on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
.
Military and political service
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. He served in military intelligence.Mukherji was appointed by then-U.S. Senator Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
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. 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.