21 Jersey City community groups have written a letter to City Hall asking for planning and zoning board, as well as historic preservation commission, meetings to transition to fully hybrid, remaining virtual in the interim, but it doesn’t currently look like that will happen.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We, the undersigned, implore you to keep all Jersey City Division of Planning Meetings virtual until a fully hybrid option is available. This includes: Planning Board, Zoning Board, and Historic Preservation Commission meetings,” the letter, sent to Business Administrator John Metro on Friday, says.
” … By encouraging holistic community participation, the governing boards can hear from the greater scope of residents who know the particularities of each neighborhood, and therefore ask more nuanced questions, resulting in comprehensively better decisions for the city.”
The letter also cited child or elder care responsibilities, disabilities or age-related mobility challenges, working nights, as well as transportation and/or health concerns as reasons why engaged residents could not attend meetings in person.
The Jersey City Council meetings have been livestreamed via Microsoft Teams since a community push in August 2022 led to the change a few weeks later.
In neighboring Hoboken, the council meetings are streamed live on Facebook and YouTube, while West New York is still hosting all of their governmental meetings on Zoom.
Otherwise, the vast majority of public meetings in Hudson County have returned to in person only.
Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), a declared Jersey City mayoral candidate for 2025, wrote a letter in favor of a hybrid format going forward.
” … I wholeheartedly support the implementation of hybrid public meetings as a means to enhance public participation, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability,” he wrote.
“By embracing this innovative approach, our community can ensure that all voices are heard, regardless of physical limitations or geographical constraints. I kindly request you to consider my support and advocate for the adoption of hybrid meetings in our community.”
Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione noted that all public meetings are posted on the Jersey City TV YouTube channel and their decision is consistent with other governing bodies in the county.
“The meetings will still be accessible online for viewing. However, just as the county commissioners have already returned to all in-person, we are transitioning our board and agency meetings back to in person to ensure consistency, with engagement occurring in person throughout the city,” she said.
The letter to Metro was signed by the Lincoln Park North Neighborhood Association, McGinley Square Community Board, Project Greenville, Friends of Liberty State Park, Friends of Van Vorst Park, Riverview Neighborhood Association, Jersey City Birds, SMUSH Gallery, Hilltop Neighborhood Association, West Side Community Alliance, Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, Journal Square Community Association, Jersey City Mamas, McGinley Square Special Improvement District, Safe Streets JC, Highland Ave Neighborhood Association, Bike JC, Sgt. Anthony Park Neighborhood Association, Harsimus Cove Association, Van Vorst Neighborhood Association, and the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association.
There is no excuse to not do this. None. There could be 18 or more council candidates in 2025. Obviously, O’Dea’s 9 will be on board with it. More will follow.