The Jersey City Council passed a reintroduced bird-safe glass ordinance on first reading after it was vetoed last year by then-Mayor Steven Fulop, along with a resolution calling for the the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Council President Denise Ridley noted many have reached out regarding the debate about bird-safe glass, noting that there was some consideration to hold off on the initial vote.
“Our perception was that it was with the planning department and they’d possibly review it and bring it to us,” noted Ward E Councilwoman Elena Little.
“Advocates on both sides of the issue … were also surprised to see it … when the agenda was published Friday.”
She further stated the planning department wanted to make changes to the ordinance.
“We had considered carrying this to the next meeting. I think we will make a concerted effort to meet with the advocates on both sides of the issue … I think we can introduce it this week and amend it at the second reading,” Little suggested.
At that point, City Clerk Sean Gallagher asked if the governing body would like to proceed with introduction or not, to which Little again said they would amend it before second reading. The piece of local legislation was a hot topic at Tuesday’s caucus.
Councilman at-Large Rolando Lavarro asked if that would require an additional public hearing, to which Ridley said any amendments should be reviewed with the city’s Law Department.
“ … We might have to go back to first reading if the changes are substantial,” she noted.
“We will work to get amendments to you in a timely fashion and go from there,” Little told new Corporation Counsel Sarah Levine.
Ward C Councilman Tom Zuppa stated he already has meeting scheduled with advocates, explaining he remained concerned about possible costs related to buildings with bird-safe glass and how it could affect affordable housing units in Journal Square.
“ … We’ll be able to make this work,” Ward D Councilman Jake Ephros declared.
“It’s maybe not exactly where it is supposed to be … I do very much support having a bird-safe buildings ordinance in the books … I want to make sure we do this in a way that doesn’t hurt affordability and overburden the Planning Department,” Little added.
The City Council introduced the ordinance on the books unanimously (9-0).
During the public comment, Lauren Morse, of Jersey City Birds, spoke in favor of the ordinance.
“Bird-friendly design standards, there is no specialty glass mandate in those standards. We support the goals. There’s no evidence it stalls or slows housing construction. Millions of birds migrate through here,” she said.
“ … It’s quite cruel to the wildlife that crash into the glass and die,” also claiming that patterned glass could help prevent this. Unfortunately, the pro-developer facts that have been going around are misleading … and we will continue to debunk them.”
The Jersey City Council also passed a resolution calling for ICE to be abolished, consistent with the stances of Mayor James Solomon and Hudson County Executive Craig Guy.
The council voted unanimously (9-0 )at the beginning of the meeting to add it to the agenda late. As the vote was taking place, Ward B Councilman Joel Brooks thanked Lavarro for getting the measure on the agenda.
“You can say ‘you are pro-law enforcement and so you want to support ICE’ … I have worked with law enforcement when I was a prosecutor for Hudson County. I’ve seen law enforcement. What’s going around the country is not law enforcement,” exclaimed Zuppa.
“ … Law enforcement follows the rule of law. Law enforcement follows the Constitution. And when they do not do that, it is incumbent on all of us to challenge it. it is okay to question authority … Overstaying your stay is a civil penalty, not a criminal penalty,” Zuppa added.
He compared such an offense to running a red light before adding “he without sin shall cast the first stone.”
Ward D Councilman Jake Ephros, an immigrant advocate who filmed a viral video when ICE arrested 10 people in the Heights earlier this month, had a lot to say on this topic.
“I’m extremely grateful to the hundreds and hundreds of members of community that braved minus 11-degree weather to march through our neighborhood in the Jersey City Heights … We want ICE out of Jersey City,” he asserted.
“We’ve had eight or nine deaths by ICE in custody across the country this year alone and it’s not even March. I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of it.”
Little added that ICE “has been acting as a rogue paramilitary force. They have been executing citizens exercising their 1st Amendment rights,” also stating that the organization has been around for less time than any member of the council in terms of age.
“ICE is not a long-standing pillar of American government. It was formed after 9/11. It is younger than every single member of this Council. Abolish ICE!” she exclaimed.
Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore said that while some people believe being against ICE means you’re against law enforcement, he said there is a big difference, stating that ICE agents are “thugs” that tear families apart.
“We come from a marginalized community … We understand the fear that’s going on. We know what it means to be separated, see families broken apart,” added Councilman at-Large Michael Griffin.
Lavarro commended anti-ICE protestors before he gave succinct remarks on why he was a resolution sponsor.
“ICE agents are terrorizing communities across America. They’re doing it right here in Jersey City. Our immigrant neighbors are afraid to go to work,” Lavarro said, exclaiming that ICE murdered Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
The council passed the resolution unanimously (9-0).
