A Jersey City councilman and other local government advocates had spent the past year seeking to qualify a municipal ballot initiative to end "pay to play" -- the practice of government contractors donating to local political campaigns -- in the city. They got enough signatures to put the measure on the November ballot. Last week, the political establishment caved, and the council adopted the initiative directly as a new law. So there's no need for an election. The new law prevents anyone who has donated more than $300 to a candidate or $500 to a local political party from receiving a city contract.