Ward E Councilman James Solomon is calling upon Councilwoman-at-large Amy DeGise to resign.
In a press release this morning, Solomon wrote “I am horrified by the video showing Councilmember DeGise’s hit and run crash. Leaving the scene of a crash is illegal. Doing so demonstrated a callous disregard for the life and health of the victim she hit. Public servants must be held to a higher standard. While Councilmember DeGise is entitled to forgiveness and her day in court, both should come as a private citizen. She should resign. If she fails to do so, she should be recalled.”
Yesterday, CCTV footage was released to the public showing DeGise striking a bicyclist as she drove through the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Forrest Street.
The video shows the cyclist, 29-year-old Andrew Black, striking the car, flipping in the air, and falling to the pavement. Black was not seriously injured. DeGise continues driving without stopping and was later issued summonses for leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report the accident.
For several years, DeGise has been a rising star in Hudson County politics. The daughter of Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, the former teacher served on the Jersey City Board of Education, as the Chairwoman of the Hudson County Democratic Organization and was elected to an at-large seat on the Jersey City Municipal Council last year after joining Mayor Fulop’s slate. She has been mentioned as a possible mayoral candidate should Mayor Fulop step down to run for governor, as many expect.