At the only Bayonne mayoral debate hosted by Hudson County View at Bayonne High School, the three candidates discussed issues ranging from the current budget deficit preserving Bayonne Medical Center, public safety, and much more.
By Dan Israel/Hudson County View
The candidates in the non-partisan May 12th municipal election are Councilman at-Large Loyad Booker, former Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski, and Business Administrator/Board of Education President Mary Jane Desmond.
“I touched the community. I understand their needs, their wants. And that’s what I intend to do as mayor,” Booker said during introductory remarks.
“Sometimes, when you love something so much, it hurts when you see it in decline. I’m running for mayor because I feel like Bayonne needs real leadership, leadership that will put the Bayonne residents first,” expressed Ashe-Nadrowski.
“I really think there are many things that do work here, but there’s lots of things that can be better here. I know how to work with anyone to get the job done, and I know how to rally troops to give their best, and I have enjoyed every minute of this past year learning about the city. So I think I have the leadership skills to bring us forward,” Desmond stated.
HCV publisher John Heinis, who moderated the event, asked the trio to discuss the recent votes on data centers, with last night’s discussion prompting Ashe-Nadrowski to take aim at Booker today.
Another question was about 967 WARN notices being issued at Bayonne University Hospital, which operator Hudson Regional Hospital called standard operating procedure despite closing Heights University Hospital in March.
In response, Booker said he is not familiar with that as a policy, but has had several conversations regarding the hospital and wants to work with collaboratively with stakeholders towards a solution.
Ashe-Nadrowski said that she already took action while on the council, establishing hospital zoning under the facility to prevent any other uses.
Desmond highlighted that HRH’s excuse that the layoff notices were part of the change in ownership was false because they had already negotiated a contract with the unions, arguing they were trying to get employees to reapply for their jobs to take away their benefits.
As Jersey City and Hoboken face respective $255 and $17 million budget deficits, the candidates called for various ways to address Bayonne’s anticipated multi-million dollar budget shortfall.
According to Ashe-Nadrowski, the details of the budget remain unknown as it hasn’t been introduced yet, alleging the administration was waiting until after the election, but stated that there have been funding, spending, and priority problems.
While there was a surplus months ago, when then-Mayor Jimmy Davis gave his last State of the City Address, she decried that the city is now facing potentially $22 million in debt.
As a result, she urged state legislators and Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) to find more state funding to make Bayonne affordable while still providing services.
Desmond expressed that the budget would be introduced by the end of the month, with the current administration trying to be “disciplined” and keep tax increases to a minimum, while crafting an asset management plan and locating new recurring revenue.
She explained that the nearly $170 million budget consists of $50 million for public safety, $30 million for health benefits – with 17 percent of that going to retirees – and the rest to pensions, and other monies for operating budgets for the various departments.
Further, Booker contended that the deficit was actually $5 million, reduced from $22 million after Bayonne began selling city-owned property to fill those gaps, and committed to approving the budget at the next council meeting.
Desmond also noted that the larger structural deficit still exists dating back many administrations, with most issues right now due to health benefits premiums soaring by 37.5 percent.
Ashe-Nadrowski slammed the one-time land sales to help the budget deficit, claiming it led to Jersey City’s current financial woes, while also highlighting the need to budget for retirees better.
On plans for the future of the Newark Bay Bridge, all three candidates favored the two-bridge proposal, citing traffic issues and the need for highway access while also criticizing outside opponents.
“You can’t repair that bridge anymore,” Desmond said.
“There are neighbors who are really getting involved with this whole bridge situation that really doesn’t affect them. The fact of the matter is, we want Bayonne to be taken care of,” asserted Booker.
Ashe-Nadrowski said that as a councilwoman at-large, she was the only person calling to meet with both Fulop and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka who led opposition to this, adding that Bayonne officials don’t “show up to take their seat at the table.”
On responsible development and making Bayonne more affordable, Desmond said the city needs a new Master Plan and to construct more affordable units for low- and moderate-income residents instead of just receiving state credits for rehabilitating existing units.
Booker agreed, stating that residents are being priced out of their homes in Bayonne, and called for more workforce and low-income housing in the city to address that.
Ashe-Nadrowski called for constructing affordable housing with an emphasis on seniors and veterans, something the city can require of developers “knocking down the door” to build in Bayonne.
On the planned ferry terminal at MOTBY, Booker and Desmond remained optimistic the terminal would advance soon considering the active lease with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and ferry operator New York Waterway.
While Booker noted they recently held a ceremonially ground breaking and that the ferry would be operating by Spring of 2027, Ashe-Nadrowski remained skeptical considering this was the third such event.
“Every time Jimmy Davis was up for re-election, the ferry came up again,” Ashe-Nadrowski exclaimed.
Desmond indicated that NY Waterway will operate the ferry, but the floating terminal cannot be further constructed until June due to fish spawning season, so the city is constructing the walkway and parking lot in the interim.
When asked about speedily constructing the planned pedestrian bridge over Route 440, Booker said the project is already in the works “at no cost to the taxpayers” to be completed by fall.
Desmond added a great deal of progress has been made as engineering specifications have been completed and put out to bid for various contractors.
Ashe-Nadrowski said the bridge has been a “long time coming,” noting that lives have been lost down there with a serious accident occurring recently, but called for government leadership to have quicker follow-through, noting this has been too many years in the making.
