Steve Fulop on Homeland Security

Denounced theory that Jersey City Muslims cheered 9/11

Under his leadership, Jersey City has become one of the state's fastest-growing municipalities, and its most politically progressive. It's also the most diverse city in the nation, according to a 2015 report, with nearly 40% of residents foreign-born.

A lot of people seem surprised that Jersey City's sizeable Muslim population has thrown its support behind a Jewish mayor. How did that develop? Fulop answered, "Pakistanis were the first to support me. We also have a huge Egyptian community. I've spent a lot of time with them, over holidays, in mosques."

Signed up for Marine Corps after Sept. 11

When he witnessed the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001, Steve made the life-altering decision to leave his job at Goldman Sachs and enlist in the United States Marine Corps. As a member of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, he was deployed to Iraq. Steven and his unit were awarded the Overseas Service Ribbon, Meritorious Masts, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Steve came home a profoundly changed person to a profoundly changed nation, but his need to serve remained. He focused it on his own community, where he became president of both the Historic Paulus Hook Association and the Downtown Coalition of Neighborhood Associations.

End veteran homelessness