The Jersey City Council tabled the second reading on a special improvement district (SID) to aid the Centre Pompidou, while also giving the initial okay to rescind pool fees, at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
The ordinance to eliminate pool fees, which was approved in May 2023 and enacted last summer, was approved unanimously without discussion (9-0). The measure is sponsored by Councilmen James Solomon and Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore.
Additionally, Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano successfully made a motion to table the Cultural Arts Special Improvement District to provide $1 to $2 million in funding annually for the Pompidou.
“This has caused so much disruption to the people in the community. It’s just totally caused a lot of problems,” he explained.
“Listening to all the voices, my council colleagues, this needs further input,” Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh agreed.
City Clerk Sean Gallagher said if it was tabled, it would need to be reintroduced. Business Administrator John Metro said the administration understands that a lot of fine tuning is needed here.
“Some of the comments that were made by the council would trigger substantial changes. So, we’re gonna work with the council on bringing it back, re-noticing, and restarting the process,” he said before the motion to table was approved unanimously (9-0).
During public comment, several residents spoke in favor of eliminating the pool fees.
Gina Davison said the pool fees really aren’t needed since none of the pools are meeting their projected revenues.
“We have removed access for countless families to a critical, healthy, outdoor activity. This is a drop in the buck for city,” she claims.
“But for residents it means the difference between a family being able to cool off in the summer and have a health outdoor family activity or not at all. I guess Mayor Fulop isn’t going to host everybody in his balcony pool so let’s pass this.”
Tina Nalls also said that rescinding the entry fees was the right call.
“I pray you do pass that. To charge money for parents to go to the pool, it’s going to be difficult. In our community we are very poor and we live pay from check to paycheck,” she claimed.
Council-at-large candidate Michael Griffin, who is running on Solomon’s ticket, echoed that sentiment.
“It’s important that the children in our community, especially if they’re in a single parent home with grocery costs rising … it’s important to know that every dollar counts, especially when you’re living paycheck to paycheck.”
“If there’s a heat wave, them kids are gonna want to be at the pool at least five days a week.”
