The Jersey City Council discussed several budget appropriations including for the Public Safety Department, as well as a possible measure calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as the war between Israel and Hamas continues, at yesterday’s caucus.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The Department of Finance had seven resolutions on the agenda for appropriation transfers, including $2.5 million for the Department of Public Safety. Councilwoman-at-Large Amy DeGise questioned some of the particulars there.
“With the fire department, it’s 1.4 million? Quality of life is $200,000. The OSHA and the USFA: I’m not sure. These are significant amounts of money. How is that money going to go back into the department to obviously pay people?” DeGise asked.
“We’re just moving funds to cover the divisions within public safety that requires that money towards the end of the year so we won’t be in a deficit position,” Finance Department Budget Operations Director Silendra “Danny” Baijnauth said.
DeGise continued to inquire further.
“The salary and wages it’s moving into with police, communications, traffic, and parking, was this not accounted for? Were there so many new hires within those departments?” she asked.
“There were a lot of hires, but there were also a lot of transfers,” Baijnauth replied.
“Will the numbers end up equalizing when these people move from one department to another so the money was taken out?” DeGise asked.
“Absolutely,” Baijnauth replied.
Business Administrator John Metro said this was done in part to increase 911 dispatchers and their support staff.
“Fire, public safety, $1.5 million, what happened there? I can’t imagine any fire personnel going to the police department?” Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore questioned.
“We budgeted for the required staffing at that time. Obviously, there are separations throughout the year or promotions that are pushed. We account for that at the beginning of the year,” Assistant Director of Finance Kyle Greaves said.
“Initially, you had anticipated promotions in fire?” Gilmore continued, to which Greaves said they did.
“Police, $2.5 million, we got new police officers? Did they get raises? Did people get promoted?” Gilmore pressed on.
“I could give you a similar breakdown. The majority of the overrun would be in overtime. There was a surplus in full-time wages. They just happened to have an overrun in overtime,” Greaves said.
“At what point … are they going to get it together as it relates to overtime? Do they have a detailed plan?” Gilmore asked.
Greaves replied that the finance department is obligated to track spending, therefore allocations would be better addressed to Public Safety Director James Shea.
“If they’re requesting additional funding … they need to be standing beside you giving the justification as to why the funding is needed. And Director Shea is gone. This is why people are in uproar,” Gilmore declared.
We’re seeing irresponsible a lack leadership, a lack of transparency. People are bent out of shape about it. And the person who can give a detailed answer is not here.
Metro noted the transfers were broken down by department in terms of how money was spent and intimated that they can’t predict the future. For example, the conflict in the Middle East caused an increased police presence at houses of worship.
He added that they could further break down costs.
“Can we do that?” Council President Joyce Watterman asked.
Also at the caucus, Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh, who is Muslim, explained that he is planning to introduce a resolution to call for a ceasefire in the Middle East war between Israel and Hamas.
“It has been worked on since October 7th,” he said.
Saleh noted he has worked with both Jewish and Muslim leaders on it.
“Jersey City condemns hate and terror in all its forms. Jersey City condemns the horrific acts on October 7th against innocent Israeli civilians. Jersey City decries the loss of all innocent Palestinians killed in the Israeli reaction to the attacks,” he explained.
“Both Jewish and Muslim communities in Jersey City are grieving the lives lost. We are encouraged by the negotiated humanitarian pause which allows the flow of desperately needed humanitarian aid as well as the release of some of the hostages. We call on President Biden and Jersey City’s congressional delegation to work together and alongside global leaders for an endurable ceasefire.”
Saleh also admitted that the resolution still needs some fine tuning.
“Most of us have been engaged in both the Jewish community and the Muslim community. The Jewish community really just wants you to take the ceasefire out,” Councilman-at-Large Daniel Rivera added.
“That’s not something I’m going to commit to. The Muslim community has made it known they want to see the word ‘ceasefire’ in there,” Saleh replied, emphasizing they called for the release of Israeli hostages.
“We’re going to have lots of people here, and we have to make sure this is on point,” Rivera added.
Ward E Councilman James Solomon said that “there’s a level of trauma that’s very, very high” as the war wages on, regardless of how they vote Wednesday.
He also noted the rise in both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic attacks in the wake of the war.
“There will be no way to do it in a way in which folks are not happy with. A lot of folks have asked for the resolution not to be here,” he stated while commending the efforts to date.
Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey also recognized that the situation was very complex and that it would essentially be impossible to please everyone.
“The word ceasefire is very touching, very offensive. Is there another word that both sides could agree with? Could both sides agree?” Watterman asked.
“I can look at it,” Saleh replied, with Watterman suggesting the word truce, to which Saleh said he was open to.
“This chamber will be packed, and people will express how they feel: Emotions are high,” Watterman added.
“My goal is not to alienate the Jewish community. We’ve delayed the flag-raising for Palestine. I’ve tried to go back to the Jewish community as much as possible to understand their concerns. That commitment still stands,” Saleh added.
City Clerk Sean Gallagher noted that resolution could be added as a late item via a motion at Wednesday’s 6 p.m. meeting, which will also stream live on Microsoft Teams.
