Jersey City Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano expressed anger over the proposed Centre Pompidou-linked Special Improvement District (SID), stating he was kept out of the loop, at yesterday’s caucus meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“The district includes the 2060 Journal Square redevelopment plan area. It exempts out multi-family units with four units or less. It exempts out rent-controlled projects. Every other common entity would be included,” Jersey City Redevelopment Agency Counsel Joe Baumann explained.
“I want this pulled. I spoke to the Special Improvement District of Journal Square. It’s going to increase the taxes, the cost of people doing business in Journal Square. Nobody ever tells me about this stuff. We’re having a meeting Thursday with the SID. I want this pulled until we sit down and discuss this whole issue,” exclaimed Boggiano.
Business Administrator John Metro pointed out that the second reading of the ordinance would not occur any earlier than the council’s December 11th meeting in order to give proper notices to impacted property owners, as HCV had also made note of yesterday.
“I’m tired of this here, when issues coming to Ward C and nobody comes to me and tells me anything about it. I’m not blaming you. But it’s got to stop. You know how many people have called me about this? They’re furious about this.”
“It would only impact those individuals within the SID. It’s not going to impact residents throughout the ward,” Metro said before repeating his request to allow Baumann to finish and for the ordinance to be introduced on Thursday. Boggiano, however, was unrelenting.
“I want it delayed,” he declared.
Ward E Councilman James Solomon was curious about the district’s boundaries, to which Baumann answered that it matches the 2060 redevelopment plan.
“If there’s a property owner both currently in the Journal Square SID, as well as this SID if it’s added, they’re paying both assessments?” Solomon asked.
“Correct councilman,” Baumann replied.
“Does this new special improvement district have the full scope and powers of an SID or is it much more limited in scope to the kind of funding of the cultural institutions?” Solomon asked.
“The ordinance sets it up with more limited powers than the broader powers associated with a Special Improvement District,” Baumann indicated.
Solomon continued by asking if there was any overlap in the powers of the existing SID and the proposed one, to which Baumann said there probably are before Boggiano chimed in again.
“Nobody came to me. Nobody came to the Journal Square SID. I find it embarrassing we were never notified,” Boggiano asserted.
“You’re always welcome to call me,” Baumann stated.
Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh asked if there was a map to outline where the new SID would start and end, to which Baumann said there is.
As a result, City Clerk Sean Gallagher said he’d like a copy that he could attach to the map.
“Would these businesses have to essentially consent to being part of the SID? Who’s going to elect the trustees?” Saleh asked.
“For trustees, there would be seven. Three of whom will be a designee of the mayor’s office, the designee of this council,” Baumann said.
The ordinance notes that the director of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce or his/her designee would be the third member, with that trio the selecting the other four trustees.
“The businesses call me, and nobody says anything, and all of a sudden, this has popped up on us. I should have known about this a long time ago. After Thursday’s meeting, I will let you know,” Boggiano said.
