Three Jersey City council members have come out in support of hybrid meetings for the planning, zoning, and historic preservation commission as community groups continue to make a push.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I support virtual and hybrid Planning, Zoning, and Historic Preservation board meetings. In-person only meetings are challenging for those who care for children or elderly people, people with disabilities or mobility challenges, people who work evenings or travel for work, or people who have health concerns,” Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey said in an Instagram post.
“I understand the value of in-person meetings, but I do think the Planning Division’s meetings are different than other city meetings and should be treated accordingly.”
She noted that sometimes agendas for these meetings sometimes change once the meeting commences, meaning residents must attend several meetings to voice their opinion on matters that are important to their neighborhood.
“As an example of the value of virtual meetings, there was a project on Glenwood Ave that had been carried over several times. One of the residents, a woman who was 104 years old at the time, was able to ensure she could participate virtually, she continued.
“If the meeting were in person, she would have had to make several different plans to attend, or not have been able to attend at all. She has the longest history of living on the block and her testimony at the meeting gave a perspective no one else could have. A neighbor could have read her statement, but it would not have been nearly as impactful.”
Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore noted that such a move would be in the best interests of good government.
“Covid has changed the way we conduct business, this includes local government. Taking that into consideration I think its in the best interest of good government to make sure ALL meetings of the planning and zoning boards be hybrid. This insures EVERYONE has a say on project thats going to shape the city,” he told HCV.
Ward E Councilman James Solomon also confirmed that he supports such a move, as Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’De (D-2)a, a declared 2025 mayoral candidate, previously did.
“Decisions taken at city planning meetings have some of the most immediate and direct effects on residents, shaping their neighborhoods and living spaces. Moving these meetings to in-person will limit public attendance and therefore limit genuine community engagement,” Solomon said.
“This is a particular concern because proposals at city planning meetings are often delayed multiple times. It is simply not acceptable to expect residents to physically attend meeting after meeting, sometimes up to a dozen times, so that they can comment on decisions that shape their streets and affect their properties.”
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.
Earlier this month, 21 Jersey City community groups wrote 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.
Since then, the Lincoln Park North Neighborhood Association has spearheaded an Action Network petition for the cause.
“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,” city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said earlier this month.
Any council members who don’t support this don’t deserve re-election. There is no excuse for not doing this.