The Jersey City Council expressed dismay about spending $84,890.01 in grant money to purchase police radios as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup security efforts this summer.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“We have to buy Motorola radios because it’s for FIFA. And FIFA has already mandated equipment and uh contracts and interoperability for all the bits,” Police Communications Director Robert Baker Sr. explained. He noted that the radios are nearly $9,000 each.
“We’re required to get certain radios for FIFA’s standards? Is FIFA reimbursing? This is our grant money that we should be able to use for what is necessary,” Ward D Councilman Jake Ephros declared.
“Oh, I wish,” Baker chuckled, indicating that their hands were tied on this.
Ward E Councilwoman Eleana Little asked if there was any way they could fight this.
“ … I know the governor is throwing her weight around with FIFA, can we ask them to pay for our radios, please?” she joked.
“We already have a grant, but they should be paying for things like goods and transportation,” Councilwoman at-Large Mamta Singh agreed.
“Our grant was awarded so we could spend it on city needs, not FIFA’s needs,” Little argued.
To that end, Councilman at-Large Michael Griffin asked what would happen if the governing body voted the resolution down.
“I would need to connect with OEM [the Office of Emergency Management] and look into it,” Corporation Counsel Sarah Levine replied.
Ward C Councilman Tom Zuppa asked for clarification on what meeting FIFA’s requirements means.
Baker explained that police radios with special features are needed to work with the State Police. Therefore, the City Council will vote on acquiring six radios for the bomb squad, along with other police officers, assigned to the World Cup detail.
“This one is in the amount of $84,890.01,” he reiterated, noting that a federal USASI grant from 2024 would cover the costs.
“Who determined we have to comply with FIFA’s requirements or standards?” Singh questioned.
“It’s for FIFA. But what we’re doing is also following the mandated requirements by the State Police who are leading the entire program,” Baker said.
“We’re going to be dealing with about 43 different agencies, all have to be on the same comms and same encryption.”
Zuppa asked how many Jersey City police officers would be traveling to East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium for the World Cup, to which Baker said he didn’t have an exact number off hand.
“Is FIFA paying for our officers’ off-duty time to work for FIFA?” Zuppa asked.
“As far as I know, no. This is like when we had the Super Bowl. We’re paying for everything,” Baker answered.
“How many of our officers are anticipated to be working out of the city during the World Cup? What is the cost estimate for that for overtime? And who is footing the bill? Which no pun intended, is not FIFA,” Zuppa said.
“How many hotels are they gonna have to be at? If they’re trailing these teams to the stadium and back here?” Griffin added.
Little repeated that she’d like to see FIFA cover at least part of the bill, given the city’s well-documented fiscal crisis to the tune of over a quarter billion dollars.
“We would be doing a disservice to our constituents if we didn’t at least push for this. The answer may be no. it will probably be no. But I’m interested in working with the Law Department,” she added.
“Set a meeting,” Levine noted, with Singh adding that there should be a meeting among city officials specifically to discuss the World Cup.
“I know OEM already has a security action plan for FIFA,” Zuppa stated, again pointing out that he wants to know the exact number of Jersey City police officers being prepared to attend the World Cup.
“Just in general, communication around FIFA has been horrible. Communication from the State and everything has been pretty horrible,” Council President Denise Ridley said.
She was unhappy a FIFA fan fest in Liberty State Park was cancelled, costing the city revenue (though Jersey City remains one of a handful of “Flag Cities” for the event).
“Is Jersey City getting any of that money? Are we doing any events? If we could have Jersey City FIFA update for the council, that would be helpful,” Ridley added.
“Is it okay to create a committee with council members who want to get involved on just FIFA-related projects … communicate with the state … and looking to get us more than they’re offering us right now?” Singh questioned.
Levine said that could work, as long as the Sunshine Law wasn’t violated, meaning that no more than four City Council members could be on it. Singh then asked Ridley for her input.
“I don’t know that we necessarily need a committee … nut we definitely need that update. I’m wiling to do that if we have people really willing to volunteer … on FIFA. So, we can discuss it offline,” Ridley concluded.
