In a letter to the editor, Jersey City mayoral candidate Jim McGreevey explains why he feels the BITE Food Pantry should remain where it is ahead of tonight’s board of education meeting.
Dear Editor (this letter was initially addressed to BOE President Dejon Morris),
For numerous years, Bishop Tania Bland, Reverend Deborah Alston, and Minister Rosa Roney have faithfully served the Jersey City community through their pantry, where they provide fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, baby food and formula, baby and adult diapers, free phones, and many other necessities.
These three individuals, as well as their team of volunteers, have served court-involved individuals, returning veterans, working families, parents, children, and any individual who is simply have a difficult time making ends meet.
The food pantry was originally located at the Astor Community Garden for over a decade, located next to Julia A. Barnes Elementary School on Astor Place.
In 2021, the food pantry was moved to the outdoor campus (i.e., parking lot) of Lincoln High School, only a block or two from its previous location.
Since the relocation and under the new name of BITE, the food pantry serves over 3,000 individuals every week on Mondays and Saturdays from 12 to 4 p.m.
Recently, there has been a call for removing the BITE Food Pantry from its current location at Lincoln High School. It has also been noted that the Jersey City Board of Education will possibly take action today to remove BITE from Lincoln High School.
We, as a community, need to recognize the commendable and compassionate efforts of the BITE Food Pantry and the incommensurable good that this organization provides to the community.
Decency requires that the efforts of Bishop Bland, Reverend Alston, and Minister Roney, who operate the BITE Food Pantry from the recognition that there is a need in the community, not be obstructed from the good work they do every week.
This food pantry is a necessary resource for thousands of individuals.
I strongly urge the JCBOE to ameliorate any tensions between the BITE Food Pantry and the local community; if that is not possible, to provide for an adequate time and orderly transition to an alternate JCBOE site, such that BITE may continue their good work to provide foodstuff and hygiene products to the local community.
It is my hope that all parties involved will be able to come to an agreement on the need for BITE Food Pantry and its services to our neighbors. Thank you for your consideration.
Best, gratefully,
Jim McGreevey
Sir, with all due respect and regardless of your soiled past, do you believe hiring two thugs to assault me, a gay committee person is ” honorable” ? That is what Militinia Bland was found liable for. Her sister and Deborah Alston were indicted for lying about me, too. I know of your past, but I thought religion has rehabilitated you. It seems you might both kneel at the same alter. Weren’t you chased out of a charitable program ? Yes, you seem to keep quite the company. Btw… where is Eugene?
What a nothing letter. No solution offered. No explanation of the issue (I sure don’t know). Just “food pantry good”, which no one would deny. JC cannot let this clown become mayor.
It’s a good mission, used to be if it an indicted bishop. Militinia bland is not the person, because of her bad examples of violence and lawlessness, to operate Anything, let alone a charity.
He’s a clown with a horrible past of deceit.
He’s just another Roy Cohen.