Nine Jersey City council-at-large candidates participated in the West Side Community Alliance’s forum hosted at the Hank Gallo Community Center on Thursday evening.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Cynthia Hadjiyannis moderated the forum and Art House Executive Productions Executive Director Meredith Burns, running on former Gov. Jim McGreevey’s slate, noted she’s a fourth-generation city resident during her introduction.
“We serve the entire city through free and low-cost programming. I never thought I would get into politics … I’ve just found a lot of head-scratching things,” she noted, stating that it’s common knowledge that rent and taxes are too high.
Fernando Garcia, a part of Mussab Ali’s slate, explained he is a professor at NJCU and Hudson County Community College (HCCC), also highlighting that they are calling for a free, city-run bus system
Michael Griffin, a member of Ward E Councilman James Solomon’s ticket, explained he’s from Monticello Avenue and emphasized that he’s helped protect homeowners into selling their homes, as well as that his slate doesn’t take developer donations.
“I’ve help protect homeowners,” he said.
Griffin explained he worked to prevent homeowners from being pressured into selling their homes for less than their worth. He also said they don’t take donations from developers.
Ira Guilford, running alongside Garcia on Team Ali, said he excelled and sports and is a financial advisor running a non-profit. He lamented rental issues and also pitched the idea of a fast and free bus system.
Dr. Floyd Jeter, running with Council President Joyce Watterman, said he teaches at NJCU, along with being the city’s Diversity and Inclusion Office director, as well as being a lifelong resident.
“I am about youth programs: We gotta make sure our economic system is correct,” began before eventually proposing a dashboard to actively display city spending to increase transparency.
Saundra Robinson Green, a part of Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea’s (D-2) slate, said she founded a non-profit and a business.
“I’m very inexperienced with politics, but I am here with a purpose … solving problems,” she declared.
Kristen Zadroga-Hart, another Team O’Dea member, said she has been an educator for years, helping troubled youth. Currently, she is the athletic director at McNair High School.
“On West Side Avenue, too many stores are closing down … If I was young today, my mom would not let me walk down the street,” she declared.
Hadjiyannis eventually asked the candidates if they would commit to holding community meetings if elected.
Burns said she is familiar with businesses and neighbors in every ward, so she had no problem to hosting community meetings. She noted she could not stay long since she had to head to another event where she was being honored.
“I’m definitely willing to hold regular town halls with constituents,” Garcia replied.
“Team Solomon is committed to hosting 100 community meetings per year,” Griffin asserted, exclaiming that Mayor Steven Fulop’s approach is to “ask for forgiveness, then permission” from the community which is unacceptable.
Guilford said he supported community meetings as well, noting that the city should have satellite offices, with office hours, as well as auditing city agencies and contracts to save taxpayer dollars.
“I grew up in downtown Jersey City and now I can’t afford to live there,” Jeter noted, pledging to be accessible, which he said the current administration largely is not.
“It’s like where’s a Waldo?” he added to chuckles.
Robinson Green said many in the city feel forgotten, calling for for ward liaisons to report back to City Hall
“You need to be held accountable citywide,” Zadroga-Hart noted, committing to holding office hours at the City Hall Annex.
“Are they departments that get too much or little funding?” Hadjiyannis asked.
Garcia said infrastructure was a priority, claiming that green spaces don’t have the proper upkeep, while Griffin said the recreation department is wildly underfunded.
“One area is definitely recreation: Our children are our future,” Griffin stated, also taking the time to mention that Solomon wants a municipal inspector general with subpoena power to investigate any potential malfeasance in the city.
“Jersey City prioritizes big business: We need to invest in our traffic enforcement,” he added. “We need more police officers period,” stated Guilford.
Jeter said transparency is very important and said focus groups could be effective.
“For too long City Hall has been muting people because they don’t want to hear the truth,” he asserted.
Tina Nalls, the third at-large member on Team Ali, arrived late and said she wanted to prioritize housing, recreation, and senior programs. She also called for more transparency at City Hall.
Kenny Reyes, also ob Team Watterman apologized for being late before advocating for big business to help raise city revenues.
“Our taxes keep going up and our services are going down,” Zadroga-Hart asserted, calling on ending the waste services contract with Regional Industries and bringing it in house. She also envisions more park funding outside of downtown and a city grant department.
Hadjiyannis then asked about their public safety priorities.
“Having more participation of police in the community is going to help our numbers,” Guilford said.
“We need preventive programs in place. Youth programs are a big thing we need to invest in,” replied Jeter.
Nalls shouted “Justice for Drew!” before calling for better mental health priorities and responses in the city, as well as more crossing guards.
“I believe the whole city is understaffed,” she declared.
Robinson Green said her youth group receives grants, so it has experience in the area. She explained that giving children activities to exert themselves keeps them out of trouble.
“You gotta find the right leader: Do a national search,” Reyes said.
“We need to bring back foot patrols,” Zadroga-Hart declared, criticizing cops who sit in their cars to applause and endorsed the ARRIVE Together program for mental health assistance.
“We don’t need a national search!. We have the talent here to do that!” Garcia replied, indicating that schools could also host recreational activities.
To that end, Griffin said hosting an open gym at Public School No. 12 was effective in the past.
“We have a plan to create … summer jobs to get them off the street. Andrew Washington was shot on two different occasions. We need to be talking about that too,” Griffin responded.
He also called for more foot patrols and no cars stopped in front of homes with lights shining, a tactic he called emblematic of “a police state.”
Hadjiyannis also asked for their takes on affordable housing and displacement.
“We’re being priced out everywhere,” Jeter said, calling for a city-run homebuyer program and taking more action against negligent landlords.
“We need to create co-ops for working people,” Robinson Green said as a homeowner solution, while Reyes wanted to see developers provide more money to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund more.
“We need to support ADUs (Additional Dwelling Units) … so we can house more people: We need to teach people to use Aspire credits so they can buy housing,” Zadroga-Hart argued.
Garcia said since homeownership is not as common as it used to be, measured need to be taken to improve rent control measures.
In the case of Griffin, he feels that $1,000 or $1,500 a month was what a legitimately affordable apartment costs, which is why Team Solomon would work towards that. He also wants a homebuyer program.
Councilman-at-Large Daniel Rivera, running with O’Dea, former Council President Rolando Lavarro and Mamta Singh, both part of Team Solomon, Rev. Tami Weaver-Henry, on Watterman’s slate, as well as Jennise Sarmiento and Israel Nieves, both of Team McGreevey, did not attend.