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Aaron Morrill

Mayor Spars with Lavarro Over Liberty Science Center High School

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Mayor Steven Fulop and his city council nemesis Councilman-at-Large Rolando Lavarro sparred yesterday over the mayor’s plan to fund the operation of a new “state-of-the-art” public high school adjacent to Liberty Science Center.

At issue during the semi-monthly council caucus meeting was a resolution that would commit the city to contributing $2 million every year for thirty years towards the operation of the public school, which will be run by Hudson County Schools of Technology (HCST) which currently operates five schools open to county residents.

Along with Liberty Science Center, the school will be part of the future SciTech Scity, a 30-acre “innovation campus” billed as a “future technology hub for students, innovators, entrepreneurs, and scientists.” According to the administration, the school will “offer skill-centric science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classes for 400 science-talented high school students in grades 9–12.” The administration claims that students will have access to “a work education program” at “200-plus technology startup companies…that will call SciTech Scity home.”

The school would be built with the proceeds of a $45 million bond offering.

Before yesterday’s caucus, activists like Chris Gadsden, principal of Lincoln High School, questioned the mayor’s plan. “I find [the plan] to be a little bit disrespectful to the budgetary process that’s taking place right now where the Jersey City Board of Education is asking the city to come through on its commitments to fully fund the Jersey City Schools.”

In a letter to Hudson County View, McNair Academic High School Athletic Director Kristen Zadroga-Hart asked “why are we paying the county to build and run a school that will house students from outside of Jersey City on top of the money we already pay from our County taxes? Why not invest that money in our own Jersey City Public School students?”

Several council members expressed concern that Jersey City was shouldering too much of the financial burden given that the school would be open to students from across the county. Ward C Councilman Richard Boggiano said he supported the school but added, “if you’re going to include all 11 other municipalities in the county, they should be kicking in also.”

Council President Joyce Watterman said, “My concern is for the kids who may need extra help to get to that level to even get into a school like this. Lavarro concurred, opining that if standardized tests were the measure for admission, the school would not provide “an equitable opportunity.”

To these concerns, Paul Hoffman, the President and CEO of Liberty Science Center, told the council members, “We’ve already raised $300,000 for 7th and 8th graders who are really into science, but maybe their skills in math are behind some of the other children who are entering the school. So we will work with them to get their skills up so that they can enter the school on equal footing with the other students.”

Hoffman said students would be admitted based upon “science interest and science talent” but that the county had yet to develop the specific criteria.

Hoffman also said that a program in the works called “High Schools of the Future” would train Jersey City students “for 21st century jobs that they could get when they graduate” and involve commitments from employers to hire such students out of the schools.

Lavarro said, “I’m not in favor of a county school. I would like to see every single seat go to Jersey City kids.”

In a similar vein, Ward E Councilman James Solomon questioned why the city would only get a portion of the seats having donated thirteen acres of land for SciTech Scity.

With Hoffman fielding a barrage of questions, Fulop asked if he could jump in and comment.

According to Fulop, Hudson County has committed to allocate sixty percent of the available spots in the school to Jersey City students. “Hopefully it’s more than that.” Normally, based upon its population, Jersey City would receive forty percent of the seats in a county school.

Fulop called it a “gross misrepresentation” to link the city’s donation of land to the plan for the high school. “The idea behind [donating the land] was not just the high school…it was an entire ecosystem that would create scientists… and foster a global brand for Jersey City around science and technology.” The mayor predicted that the 200-plus businesses incubated at SciTech would build their headquarters in and around Jersey City.

“We explored with them this apparatus because there was no other mechanism to create the same kind of educational opportunity, the same kind of flexible curriculum, and we’re having a cost savings for Jersey City residents.”

As to the cost, Fulop said that the $2 million per year “is a massive discount to what the Jersey City taxpayers pay per school…less than $10,000 per student is a huge discount to what we pay for the Jersey City public school system.”

“This is a good thing. And it’s really sad that it’s falling in the social media world into a political conversation.”

Both Fulop and Hoffman said that the previous Jersey City Public Schools administration had been offered the opportunity to build the school but that there hadn’t been a funding mechanism by which it could be done. Nor, Fulop said, did the Jersey City Schools have a way to create “the same flexible board and the same flexible curriculum.”

The mayor called the school a “layup” for the residents and taxpayers.

To Solomon’s concern that the city doesn’t have a written promise from the county to guaranty the number of Jersey City seats, Fulop said that that’s the mechanism used at the county’s Explore 2000 School. “They’ve kept their word and exceeded it every year.”

Hoffman noted that private philanthropists have donated $5 million dollars to a public school. “They don’t have control over this school. That is something which is very unusual that we’ve been able to bring to this.”

“This is not at the expense of the Jersey City public school system.” said Fulop.  “We have committed a lot… in the last year alone.”

Lavarro said he wanted to look at the neighborhood and demographic breakdown of students admitted to the Explore 2000 School. “If that’s the model for admission that’s going to be utilized…to make sure that that’s the model that you want for admission to go into this proposed county STEM school.”

The mayor said he had promised Council President Watterman that the city would “set up a program to make sure that the south side of the city actually has an infrastructure around it to support children actually getting into this school.”

Lavarro called the mayor’s promise to Council President Watterman “a recent conversation” that “didn’t go into the overall planning.” Fulop called it “an absolute false statement.”

Fulop said that Lavarro, as former Jersey City Redevelopment Authority chairman, was “the architect of the deal” and knew that making it a county school was an option.  “The only thing that’s changed is that it’s an election season now.”

Resolution 21-260 is on the agenda for tomorrow night’s meeting of the Municipal Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron Morrill

Council Approves Fair Ballots and Rent Freeze

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Last night, with only two votes in favor and four abstentions, the city council approved a resolution supporting a change in the way candidates for office are listed on the ballot. Sponsored by Ward E Councilman James Solomon, the resolution calls for “the elimination of rows, line and columns” that research shows tend to advantage party favorites at the expense of independent candidates.

In a 2020 paper, Rutgers University Associate Professor Julia Sass Rubin found that under the current system, candidates placed in the coveted “county line” or “party line” have an automatic advantage over those who don’t “regardless of the office being sought.” In order to receive such ballot placement, the candidate must be approved by the mayor and party chairperson, in the case of Jersey City, Mayor Steven Fulop and Hudson County Democratic Party Chairperson Amy DeGise.

In January, a coalition of progressive organizations and candidates filed a lawsuit which claims that the current ballot design process violates several constitutional rights, including freedom of association and equal protection.

Team Fulop members Mira Prinz-Arey, Yousef Saleh, Daniel Rivera and Richard Boggiano abstained, making approval of the resolution possible with only the affirmative votes of Solomon and Councilman Rolando Lavarro. Council President Joyce Watterman, Councilwoman Denise Ridley, and Councilman Jermaine Robinson were absent.

Saleh asked “what is the line going to be replaced with?” Both Saleh and Rivera objected to the resolution’s mentioning of  Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis’s recent announcement that Assemblyman Nick Chiaravalloti would be removed from the party line in the June 8th primary in favor of a William Sampson IV.

Said Solomon, “At the end of the day, voters should pick their representatives, not the other way around. And the line provides such a strong advantage to the party machine across the whole state that it really undermines the core idea of democracy.”

The resolution had overwhelming support from public speakers. Mark Devins noted the many great musicians produced by New Jersey but complained that “our ballot design is not something worth celebrating.”

There was more debate from the public on an emergency resolution imposing a rent increase freeze on regulated apartments, excluding owner-occupied homes with 2 to 4 units, and prohibiting the collection of penalties for late rent payments.

Yvonne Balcer called the measure “nothing but socialism.”  “Where is my tax freeze?” she asked.

Ron Simoncini of the Jersey City Property Owner’s Association complained that the council had not studied who needed relief from rent increases and late penalties. “We see that many people people who are on unemployment received greater benefits than they got as wages when they worked.” He claimed that many people who had kept their jobs had stopped paying rent because “there is no threat of eviction.”

The majority of speakers, however, sided with the ordinance. Eleana Little offered that “to abandon our most vulnerable residents at this time and exacerbate the problem would be a moral failure.”

The council approved the ordinance 6-0.

 

 

 

 

 

Jersey City Times Staff

Councilman Solomon Calls for Better Emergency Alerts

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Ward E Councilman James Solomon is proposing that Jersey City improve its emergency alert system in the wake of two “boil water advisories” that went out over the last six months. The first, on April 28th, was due to a water main break and the second on August 14th, was due to a positive test for E. coli in the city’s drinking water supply.

The August 14 incident was the subject of a report by northjersey.com which found that Jersey City officials waited 12 hours after learning of the E. coli contamination to issue a boil water advisory. According to the report, on the night of August 13, the Municipal Utilities Authority, the agency that manages the city’s water and sewer system, sent an email to Mayor Fulop, his chief of staff, the Jersey City health director and the director of the city’s emergency management office advising them of a positive E. coli test.  The city’s warning, which went out via text messages and on social media the following morning, did not mention E. coli contamination.  That information came out eight hours later in a statement by Suez, the private firm that runs Jersey City’s water system.

When asked about the incident, the mayor’s spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione, said the city acted “immediately.” For its part, Suez said state regulations did not permit it to reveal the positive tests right away.

Solomon has issued a report which he says points to slow decision-making in city government. According to Solomon “many residents, particularly seniors and other vulnerable populations, didn’t learn of [the boil water advisories] until hours or days later.”

Said Solomon, “These boil water advisories revealed deficiencies in our city’s ability to quickly and comprehensively alert the public to an urgent public health threat. These rigorously researched recommendations, if implemented, will make people’s lives better.”

To improve how Jersey City communicates time-sensitive emergencies to the public, Solomon is proposing a five point solution:

1. Jersey City should issue boil water advisories immediately following a confirmed positive test for e-coli or other total coliform contaminants in the drinking water supply.
2. Public health messaging from public officials needs to clearly and accurately describe the nature and severity of the threat.
3. Jersey City should send out a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), which reaches all cell phones in a geographic area, for similar public health emergencies. To do so, it must complete the process of signing up for the the federal government’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.
4. Jersey City should dedicate resources to increasing sign-ups for its two existing emergency alert systems, as currently only a small percentage of residents are signed up.
5. Suez and/or MUA should establish a formal process for the timely dissemination of emergency updates to the City Council so they can share accurate information with the public.

Photo by Stephan Müller from Pexels
Aaron Morrill

Council Approves 50 Story Downtown Project with New School

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A 50-story building with 810 rental apartments and a new pre-K-5 public school are coming to a Downtown block currently occupied by 38 deteriorating single family homes. Last night, the City Council voted 8-1 to to adopt the Laurel Saddlewood Redevelopment Plan and thus give final approval to a project eight years in the making.

Ward E Councilman James Solomon, who shepherded the project through an extensive process of review and community feedback, said, “I don’t believe that this is a perfect project, but I do think it should advance.” According to Solomon, the project begins to baddress a “huge public school infrastructure shortage.” He pointed out that the Downtown schools are already over capacity. With Downtown adding 4,000 new units and no funds to build new schools he lamented the absence of a plan to address the dearth of facilities.

The plan came under criticism from Councilman-at-Large Rolando Lavarro, who complained that at over $2,100 per month the 41 “workforce housing” units included in the project were too expensive to be legitimately called affordable. (Workforce housing refers to housing designed for middle-income earners such as police officers and teachers who make too much money to qualify for various subsidized housing programs.) Solomon said that he was open to Lavarro’s proposal to have the developer, LMC, instead make a payment to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Several council members highlighted the developer’s commitment to contract with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), for doormen, porters and maintenance workers.

Numerous residents of Laurel Saddlewood testified in favor of the project. Leigh Sellinger said, “Our homes don’t really make sense any more. They are old and difficult to maintain. The buildings are safety hazards.”  Said Andrew Prokos, “the homes are not pleasant to look at. We have flooding. When you factor in all of the community benefits, this is a plus for the city.”

The Harsimus Cove Association is withholding its approval until it receives a financial analysis of the school’s operations, according to its president, Sara Ordway.

Debra Italiano of Sustainable Jersey City was “particularly excited about the stormwater management infrastructure that’s being installed” to deal with flooding and the fact that the building is “green certified.”

In addition to building the school, the developer will triple the size of Philippine Plaza, the “park” on the corner of Second and Grove Streets that features a monument to the Filipino community in Jersey City and that is currently kept locked. Plans also call for 14,000 square feet of retail space and a garage for 294 cars.

In other business, the council passed a revised ordinance regulating sidewalk cafes. The new law creates a full-year license to add to the previous seasonal license, allows for semi-permanent roofs and partitions, and regulates the use of heating devices. The ordinance also regulates recorded and live entertainment in the cafes. Each cafe can host two live music events per week each with up to four performers. Amplified music must not be audible beyond the boundaries of the cafe. The ordinance also waives cafe license fees during the Covid-19 crisis.

Last night’s meeting was also the last for Business Administrator Brian Platt, who is headed to Kansas City, Missouri to take the job of city manager. Members of Jersey City’s Municipal Council sent Platt off with fond memories, compliments, and gentle ribbing. Councilman Richard Boggiano told Platt, “I can’t say what I really want to say. I’ve already notified my relatives in K.C. and told them to move.”  Councilwomen Prinz-Arey and Ridley recalled late night calls for help from Platt.  Councilman Solomon lauded Platt’s work putting Jersey City on the forefront of transportation policy.

Current view of Laurel Court of the Laurel Saddlewood Redevelopment Area

Proposed street view of Laurel Saddlewood development from Manila Ave & 2nd Street

 

 

Jersey City Times Staff

Marijuana Should Fund Schools say Lavarro and Solomon

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Ward E Councilman James Solomon and Councilman At-Large Rolando Lavarro are calling for Mayor Fulop and the entire City Council to dedicate any revenues generated by a local marijuana tax to the Jersey City Public Schools.

If New Jersey voters pass state public question #1 this November, they will amend the Constitution and legalize the use of marijuana. The question in part reads: “If authorized by the Legislature, a municipality may pass a local ordinance to charge a local tax on cannabis products.” Both councilmen support the measure and are urging voters to vote “Yes” on state public question #1.

JCPS is grappling with a budget crisis.  A 2018 change in the formula by which the state helps fund school districts hit Jersey City particularly hard. Jersey City was permitted under companion legislation to impose a 1% payroll tax to help fill the funding gap and did so in November of 2018. However, the payroll tax turned out to be only a partial solution. This year, facing a $120 million shortfall, the BOE adopted a $736 million budget. To do so, it hiked the school tax levy by 39% raising it from $136 million to $189 million. This had the effect of raising  the average homeowner’s tax bill over $550.

“Funding our public schools is essential to building a fair and equal city for all. Ensuring tax revenue from marijuana is used for that purpose, and not political patronage, is extremely important,” said Solomon.

Lavarro added that the tax would provide “a stable, dedicated funding source to our public schools, our students and their families, who have endured much turmoil and uncertainty over the past several years.”

Aaron Morrill

Fair Housing Group Calls for Changes to Proposed Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

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A proposed inclusionary zoning ordinance before the City Council tonight is coming under fire from the statewide housing rights organization Fair Share Housing Center. Ordinance No. 20-089 was put before the council two weeks ago by Mayor Steven Fulop and Council-President Joyce Watterman.  Councilman-at-Large Rolando Lavarro has since waged a one man battle — with the support of Ward E Councilman James Solomon – to amend it. Local activists have come out in force in support of Lavarro’s amendments.

Today, Fair Share Housing Center Executive Director Adam Gordon released a statement calling for changes. Citing “serious flaws in the ordinance,” Gordon said “Although we welcome the stated desire of Jersey City’s elected officials to tackle the growing crisis of displacement and rapid gentrification in New Jersey’s second-largest city, the proposed ordinance set to be considered by the City Council this evening is riddled with developer-friendly loopholes.  If adopted without significant amendments, it will produce few, if any, new affordable homes.”

His statement goes on to say  that “The ordinance, as currently drafted, would allow wealthy and politically connected developers to build large numbers of luxury homes while negotiating their way out of affordable housing requirements. By allowing City Council members the ability to waive its requirements entirely whenever it wishes and allowing other buyouts at its discretion, the ordinance will create a political game by which developers lobby Council members to get special treatment for massive developments [instead] of creating one set of rules everyone must follow.  Not only is such legislation inadequate to address the deep need for affordable housing in Jersey City, but it also violates state law in a number of ways. We call on Jersey City’s elected officials to close the gaping loopholes in this ordinance and act swiftly to pass an ordinance that actuallyaddresses the affordable housing needs of Jersey City’s working families.”

 

Aaron Morrill

Solomon Says New Downtown Parking Rules Coming Soon

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This morning, Councilman James Solomon announced that new parking rules are coming to the Downtown, most likely in early January.

Downtown residents will see new residential parking signs going up to extend the hours for resident-only parking. According to Solomon, these changes should make it easier for residents to find street parking each evening.

The changes were passed in the summer of 2019 but the installation of the new signs was delayed due to COVID. The signs will go up this October and November, with enforcement to begin shortly thereafter.

A brief summary of the rules changes are:

  • Evening Enforcement
    • The hours of residential parking enforcement have changed from 8AM – 5PM until 7 AM-9 PM with a 2 hour window for visitors, M-F.
    • To apply for or renew a residential permit, click here. If you already have a permit, you simply have to renew your current permit when it expires.
    • To apply for a visitor’s pass, click here. In the near future, you will be able to use the Park Mobile app to purchase a visitor’s pass online.
  • Residential Zone Boundary Changes
    • Slight changes were made to the parking zones downtown. You can view the map here.
  • Limit to residential permits
    • Those who live in buildings with parking are generally not allowed to get a residential parking permit, unless they qualify for an exemption
    • A limit of 1 permit may be issued per unit for those who have parking available on site if they receive an exemption
Sally Deering

Council Approves New Police Recruits Amidst Pushback

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At last week’s virtual city council meeting more than 50 Jersey City residents called in imploring the legislators to defund the Jersey City Police Department by 50 percent in the 2020 municipal budget. They called for a halt to the hiring of 23 police recruits heading off to the police academy and asked the council to defeat a resolution for a police presence at public housing developments and for additional monies for protective armor.

Residents and Council Divided on Policing

Jersey City resident Vanessa Dodgson-Thomas lives in Ward F and volunteers with the Jersey City Anti-Violence Coalition Movement and other community groups that demonstrate outside Jersey City Hall every Tuesday at 4 p.m. Dodgson-Thomas asked the city council to listen to its constituents and “take action” on their behalf.

“We are demanding a reallocation of Jersey City Police Department funds to services that will better serve the community, particularly parts of the community that are chronically under-funded at the moment,” Dodgson-Thomas said. “Employment programs, mental health programs, affordable housing, better funding for our schools, the list of where these funds could be put to better use is endless. We don’t need investment in more police officers. We need investment in our community. We know Jersey City is not an equitable place to live. We need to change that. Adding another 23 police officers, purchasing armor, placing police officers in Jersey City housing sites and all the while cutting the youth development recreation funding, this is not what the community wants. If you don’t hear that, you’re not listening.”

Elayna Thompson, a member of Solidarity Jersey City and a Ward E resident, asked the city council to make a bigger decrease in the 2020 budget for the police department and invest that money in services that make the community safer and stronger like affordable housing, youth programming, and quality healthcare.

“Why would you reject the proposed budget amendments tonight?” Thompson asked. “Jersey City is facing a $70 million shortfall.”

Ely Tamman of Ward F agreed with Thompson, saying community services are what the people of Ward F need.

“Cops don’t make communities safe, resources do,” Tamman told the council. “We need social workers. We need social services. We need education, mental health access, and youth services. This is what makes communities safe.”

Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley voted in favor of hiring the 23 police recruits because what matters to her in Ward A are the calls she receives for more, not less policing, she said. People who live in public housing developments want a police presence and police patrolling the streets.

“I don’t see defunding the police as a way to go and as a way the residents of Ward A want to go,” Councilman Ridley said. “What matters to me are the residents of Ward A, and what sticks out in my mind are areas like Triangle Park and Neptune Avenue, people stealing things off porches on Cottage Street. I get calls all the time for more policing from people who want a cop patrol in their car. The fact that people who live in housing developments don’t want police presence, they do. They want the police presence, and they want social services. We need to look into better options and find a unique balance between the two.”

Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh agreed with Councilwoman Ridley, and although he voted against defunding the JCPD, he said he hopes in the future the city can reduce the number of police and live in a “community in harmony.”

“I do want accountability for police,” Councilman Saleh said. “I want something sustainable that holds this profession to account.”

Ward E Councilman James Solomon voted against the hiring of 23 police officers stating it sends the wrong message to the community.

“Actions matter more than words,” Councilman Solomon said. “We’re saying with this vote and budget, adding officers is a more important priority for the city than other things we can do. Life-long residents of every ward in the city spoke tonight. It’s important to listen to all the folks.”

Council President Joyce E. Watterman, who voted in favor of hiring the 23 recruits, said that when she took office in 2013, the police department did not reflect the Jersey City community. She said the council made a commitment to do just that.

“We want the police department to reflect the community,” she said. “I’m not against police officers. I don’t want to defund the police. We have good officers who work hard and put their lives on the line, (but) there is racism in police officers.. What (happened to) George Floyd allowed us to have a conversation that was hidden in the background for decades. Police brutality does exist. This racism goes deep. I don’t want to defund the police. I want the police to learn our culture. And we need our own police academy here in Jersey City.”

The resolutions to hire 23 police recruits, to purchase replacement body armor for the JCPD, and to provide on-duty police services to the Jersey City Housing Authority were approved 7-2 with Councilmen Solomon and (Rolando) Lavarro, Jr., dissenting.

Refining Bergen Avenue’s Bike Lane

The council voted unanimously to approve the second reading of an ordinance to amend parking and street cleaning restrictions to accommodate protected bike lanes on Bergen Avenue. Several residents from the Journal Square area called in with their support for the ordinance saying protected bike lanes help those who don’t own cars to safely travel to other city locations. Angela Roo, who lives in Ward B, said that when she worked in downtown Jersey City she could commute safely using the bike lanes.

“Additional bike lanes in Jersey City are actually enabling people who live in areas with worse public transportation to access places in Jersey City (like downtown) that hire numbers of employees,” Roo said. “I was able to go there for recreation and shopping as well. I fully support the continuing expansion of bike lanes in Jersey City.”

Anupama Sapkota, a resident of Ward C, called in support for the bike lane ordinance: “It’s a very important infrastructure that we need to enact in our city,” she said. “There’s been a 13-year study done in the Journal of Transport and Health published in 2019 that states ‘protected bike lanes in a dozen cities led to a drastic decline in fatalities for all users of the road.’ We shouldn’t lose sight that a lot of Jersey City residents are commuters who don’t have the luxury of affording a car. Creating these protected bike lanes will enable us to become a more inclusive community.”

Gary Spingeren, who lives downtown, said he’s all for cyclists sharing the road with car drivers, but unfortunately many cyclists don’t follow the rules of the road.

“I do think we need to make this community more connected and public transportation is a paramount priority,” Spingern said, “but I can’t tell you how many times, either walking or driving in the city, bicyclists continually ignore the laws of the road. I’m more inclined to increase accessibility to current public transportation. Let’s bolster that end of it. We’re trying to make everybody happy, but it’s going to make more problems than it’s worth. We’re going to have accidents pile up and scramble to fix them. I don’t think we have enough available information.”

To clarify, Councilwoman Ridley addressed the significance of the ordinance.

“The bike lanes in effect are already there,” Councilwoman Ridley said. “This ordinance is just controlling the parking situation. This doesn’t remove the current bike lanes.”

Business Administrator for Jersey City Brian Platt agreed with Ridley: “This is just adjusting the street sweeping schedule on the street, moving some bus stops. It’s essentially optimizing the traffic flow based on the feedback we’ve gotten from the residents there. Cars will no longer have to move a couple times a week for street cleaners.”

Councilman Lavarro clarified some of the sticky issues surrounding the ordinance. He said the issues surrounding the Bergen Avenue bike lane are more about how it had been installed. It seems the lane was created without community input.

“Literally overnight, the summer of last year, the bike lane was installed,” Councilman Lavarro said. “Councilman (Richard) Boggiano went on vacation and (when he came back) found a bike lane installed in his ward. That’s how that happened. Members of the community expressed concern including the business district, St. Aedan’s Church, the Coptic church there, (and) the school communities, as well. There was a lot of input not taken in. Churches couldn’t bring a limousine up to a church curb to bring a casket into the church. They talked about children departing and going to school. Throughout this process, this whole issue has been framed as an either-or proposition. Either you have a bike lane or not. We all want the same thing. Bike safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers as well.”

Note: Although council meetings are usually held on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, the next council meeting will be on Thursday, Sept 10, at 6 p.m.

For further recent news about the police in Jersey City, see the following recent Jersey City Times articles:

What Does Defunding the Police Mean?

City Council Focused on George Floyd

Opinion: It’s Time For Community Policing

Juneteenth: A Broken Promise

Construction Photo
Ron Leir

“Non-Essential” Construction Ban Causes Confusion

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Building Industry Struggles to Adapt

“Non-essential” construction projects have been banned throughout New Jersey since April 10, when Gov. Murphy’s Executive Order 122 to reduce the spread of the coronavirus went into effect. Still, due to the numerous carve outs in the Order, many building sites in Jersey City remain active. At the same time, other projects that qualify for exceptions to the ban have been halted.  As a result, many developers and construction workers are left scratching their heads — while also doing their best to make active sites impervious to the coronavirus.

Construction, 1st and Coles Sts

Construction, 1st and Coles Sts., photo by the Jersey City Times

“Some of our employers and property owners are doing the best they can to figure it out —  some are going to lawyers,” said Greg LaLevee, business manager of Operating Engineers Union Local 825, whose members typically work on big construction jobs in the state including the new Rt. 7 bridge linking Jersey City and Kearny.

LaLevee mentioned a nearby project involving remediation —  one of the exceptions listed in the governor’s order —  that, he said, got shut down by local authorities. “That kind of baffled us,” he said.

Questions about who’s enforcing the order and on-site social distancing are still awaiting answers, he added. “I don’t think the full story’s been written yet. It’s going to take time to shake itself out.”

Three of the local’s 7,000 members have tested positive for the coronavirus, LaLevee said.

How vast does the shutdown appear?  Councilman James Solomon, whose Downtown ward hosts a lot of building activity, said recently, “[. . .] my reading of it is that most large-scale construction sites must shut down or be in the process of shutting down.” This is likely because the Order does categorize as “non-essential” residential projects with work crews greater than five and residential buildings with no units under sales contracts. But that still leaves numerous categories of construction the decree deems “essential”:

  • affordable housing projects
  • law enforcement facilities
  • buildings providing for first responders
  • federal, state, county or city government projects
  • healthcare sites
  • business data centers
  • owner-occupied apartments with work crews of five or fewer
  • social services facilities (such as including homeless shelters)
  • schools and education offices
  • utilities firms
  • transportation projects
  • building related to essential retail or online retail

Most other types of construction are deemed “non-essential.”  That said, the Order does allow for “any work on a non-essential construction project that is required to physically secure the site of the project, ensure the structural integrity of any buildings on the site, abate any hazards that would exist on the site if the construction were to remain in its current condition, remediate a site, or otherwise ensure that the site and any buildings therein are appropriately protected and safe during the suspension of the project. It also permits “any emergency repairs necessary to ensure the health and safety of residents.”

Construction

Construction photo by Ron Leir

Executive Order 122 also details policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 that active construction sites must follow.

What has the city done in response to the governor’s decree? Mayoral spokesperson Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said this:

“Following the Governor’s executive order, the city created an informational website for full transparency regarding all construction projects. The website includes a process for residents to file complaints, the feedback of which will be shared with the state. We are committed to protecting our residents the best we can within the parameters that have been set by Trenton.”

Residents are invited to email prosecutor@jcnj.org or call 201-547-4900 to report suspected violations.

The website has downloadable application forms for both types of construction. Once completed, Jersey City Construction Code Official Raymond Meyer reviews the applications for prospective authorization.

As of April 21, a total of 138 applications for essential and non-essential work had submitted to the city; all but 19 had been approved.

Based on a random citywide check this week, among those sites where workers — all wearing face cloths — could be seen going up and down exterior lift elevators, carrying lumber and tools, mixing cement and the like were:

180 Morgan St. off Marin Blvd. (abating hazards, site safety and site security); 99 Hudson St. (residential with contracts); 75 Park Lane South at Washington Blvd. and 14thStreet (residential with contracts); 170 Erie St. off 10thSt. (site safety and structural integrity); 348 Baldwin Ave. (site safety and structural integrity), 184-190 Academy St. between Summit and Baldwin Aves. (abating hazards, site safety and site security); 55 Jordan Ave. off Mercer Street (abating hazards, site safety, site security and structural integrity); and 136 Summit Ave. at Fairmount Avenue (abating hazards, site security and structural integrity).

Many of these sites were residential high rises.

Work is also continuing at the following school-related projects: 275 Washington St. (also listed as 25 Columbus Blvd.); 102-110 Brunswick St.; 130 Essex St. at the intersection of Carbon Place and West Side Avenue; 150 Bay St.; 178 Newark Ave.; 26 University Place Blvd.; 321 Warren St.; and 88 Regent St.

There is also construction going on at two public housing sites — Holland Gardens, 235 16thSt., and Booker T. Washington, 62 Fremont St. — that fall under the affordable housing allowance.

No construction activity was observed at either 662 Summit Ave. (off State Highway 139) or 75 Jordan Ave. (between Vroom and Mercer Streets). The city has listed no reasons for the apparent stoppages. It’s possible the owners or builders concluded they failed to meet the criteria for continuing work and therefore never filed applications.

Assuming the city has allowed for a limited amount of work to secure a building before shutting down the project, neither the governor’s order nor the city has proscribed how long that work can continue.

Construction Summit Ave

Construction Summit Ave., photo by Ron Leir

Jeffrey Wenger, former principal planner for Jersey City and now a private planning consultant, said it typically takes a week or more to wind down and secure a construction site by taking down a crane, installing tiles or strapping down materials on an upper floor, for example.

Indefinite setbacks caused by even the temporarily halting of projects will likely saddle developers with added financial pressures, Wenger said. “If you’re not going to meet your [completion] deadline, it will create strain with investors and lending institutions.  There’s a lot riding on the outcome; stopping a job will be a big deal.”

How big a deal?  Well, former Jersey City Redevelopment Agency director Robert Antonicello, who now runs a commercial real estate brokerage firm, posited: “For a $180 million project, which would be comparable to a Jersey City high-rise now under development,  it would not be unrealistic to expect that for every month the project is down, pending a lifting of the executive order, the owners would be hit with an additional $400,000 to $500,000 in insurance, interest reserves and other carrying costs that they would hope to pick up on the back end.”

How much of that added cost would get “eaten” by the developer or passed on to the building’s occupants remains an unknown at this point, Antonicello added.

Asked to assess how the city is handling enforcement of the executive order, Antonicello replied: “I don’t think the city has been careless with this. And remember, even the governor didn’t want to shut down everything.”

For more on the impact of COVID-19 in Jersey City, see Jersey City Times’ news section.

 

Header: Photo by Ron Leir

Sally Deering

Rent Freeze, 5G Upgrades Discussed by City Council

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Vacant Ward D Council Spot Also Hot Topic

Jersey City’s City Council met virtually Wednesday night to vote on the proposed rent freeze spurred by Covid-19 and on installing 5G utility poles to greatly increase internet speed. They also considered the process for filling the Ward D council spot made vacant by the untimely death of Councilman Michael Yun, among other matters.

Rent Freeze Clarifications

At the April 15 council meeting, Ward E Councilman James Solomon suggested two modifications to the first reading of a proposed ordinance to freeze rent and ban late payment penalties on all units subject to rent control: That the protections apply to all renters in Jersey City and that they be triggered by any future public health emergency, not just by the present pandemic. These modifications were still being debated at the council’s caucus meeting this past Monday night. Councilman Boggiano argued that buildings with fewer than five units should be exempt from the rent provisions. He also said the ordinance should have a statutory deadline.

At this past Wednesday’s council meeting, a compromised was reached on both matters. Members agreed to exempt from the ordinance properties with fewer than five rental units so long as the landlord lives at the address as well (in consideration of Jersey City residents liable to pay property taxes by May 1); members also agreed to a finite term for the ordinance: August 1 (saying the law could be extended if a continuation of the present state of emergency were declared).

At the May 6 council meeting, the original ordinance will be voted down; the revised ordinance to be voted on.

5G Telecommunications

5G Pole

Photo courtesy of Center for Public Integrity

The ordinance to allow Cross River Fiber LLC to install new 5G utility poles and update existing poles with high-capacity fiber optic cables in “certain public rights of way” came up for a first reading.

5G technology dramatically increases the speed and coverage of wireless networks, but it is saddled with the controversial allegation that it is dangerous to one’s health.

“This has been a concern for residents in Ward A,” Councilwoman Ridley said. “I’m currently working with the law department to put regulations on communications, and I’m looking at ordinances from other towns. Whether you believe 5G is dangerous, regardless of that, I am going to vote no.”

Councilman Boggiano agreed with Councilwoman Ridley whereas Councilman Daniel Rivera said he wouldn’t vote on a second reading without further information from petitioner Cross River Fiber.  The council will ask a representative from the company to supply additional information at the next Council meeting.

“We all have concerns,” Council President Joyce E. Watterman said. “If those needs are not met, this will not pass.”

Cross River Fibers LLC would be doing the work on behalf of its client AT&T. The term of the agreement authorizing its use of the rights of way use would be 20 years. Cross River Fiber LLC would pay the city $750 for every pole it installed.

Business Administrator Brian Platt said he will ask the petitioner to attend the May 6 council meeting. He also said the city supports the 5G utility pole installations and upgrades.

“We’re not investing or partnering,” Platt said. “I believe it’s good to bring new technology to the city when we can.”

Ward D Council Member Search 

At the Monday night caucus meeting, the council withdrew a resolution to appoint a replacement for Ward D Councilman Michael C. Yun, who passed away April 6 from Covid-19 complications. The council has until May 6 to make an appointment or continue with an eight-member council until the general election on Nov 3, 2020.

After the meeting adjourned, Councilman Lavarro said by phone that four Jersey City residents had reached out to the council with interest in the council seat: Cynthia Hadjiyannis, Patrick Ambrossi, Sean Connors, and Jocelyn Patrick. Councilman Lavarro said that these candidates would be interviewed before the May 6 council meeting deadline.

Councilman Boggiano said that Michael Yun would want Sean Connors to be his replacement. Councilman Lavarro demurred, noting that although Connors is a good candidate, there are others interested in the position who are “very capable” of filling Councilman Yun’s shoes, including Cynthia Hadjiyannis, an attorney who ran Councilman Yun’s 2013 campaign.

“I think in fairness we should hear out the other candidates,” Councilman Lavarro said. “I spoke to Michael Yun’s son, Benjamin. He suggested his father would have wanted transparency in the process. I remember Michael advocated for that.”

Keeping Parks Pretty

Van Vorst Park Gazebo

Van Vorst Park Gazebo, photo by David Wilson/Jersey City Times file photo

A resolution authorizing the award of a contract for $39,600 to Gene’s Landscaping Inc. for “fertilizing, seeding and aeration throughout various Jersey City Parks” came under scrutiny. Jersey City resident Jeanne Daly phoned in during the public comments part of the meeting and said she saw the landscaper in her neighborhood with New York State license plates. She  asked the Council to veto the resolution and award the contract to a Jersey City landscaper.

“There’s no reason that Jersey City cannot hire a local company for this job,” Daley said. “This is a non-essential business. There’s nobody in the park, and an investment of over $40,000 (sic) at this point in time is extravagant and a big mistake. We need someone in Hudson County, and we need to hire local.”

Council at Large Rolando R. Lavarro, Jr., noted only two quotes were solicited for the contract and that Gene’s Landscaping had been the lower. He said it might be prudent to take a second look and maybe a formal solicitation.

“At this time, we’re not using the parks,” Councilman Lavarro said. “We don’t want our parks to suffer, but we want to make a good faith effort to find local contractors.”

Councilman Robinson agreed that the city should “take care of our own.” He also said that it might take too long to solicit another bid given that constituents expect their local parks to be maintained at all times.

“I think we have to do a better job to make sure we are looking out for Jersey City up front,” Councilman Robinson said. “We missed an opportunity here, but I don’t want to miss the opportunity to have our parks cared for.”

The council approved the resolution 5-3 with Councilmen James Solomon, Lavarro and Boggiano dissenting.

In attendance at the virtual meeting: Council President Joyce E. Watterman, Council at Large Daniel Rivera, Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley, Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey, Ward C Councilman Richard Boggiano, Ward E Councilman James Solomon, Ward F Councilman Jermaine D. Robinson; Council at Large Rolando R. Lavarro, Jr., and City Clerk Sean J. Gallagher.

The next virtual council meeting will be held Wed, May 6, at 6 pm.

To view the virtual council meeting, go to: cityofjerseycity.gov/vcm