The Jersey City Council heard several residents protest layoffs and cuts during a public hearing on the $744,579,144.46 municipal budget at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“The current budget could benefit from the collection of uncollected fines … There’s $100 million in uncollected fines related to Portside Towers alone,” Portside Towers East Tenant Association President Kevin Weller argued.
“There are employees in the City of Jersey City being terminated … There’s plenty of money to make sure we don’t lay off employees: This administration failed our children!” Sabrina Harrold, a former recreation department employee, exclaimed to great applause.
Around that time, City Clerk Sean Gallagher asked for the audience not to react until the speakers were done concluding their individual remarks.
Samuel “Chris” Wilkins, a longtime resident, former standout high school and college athlete, and 23-year rec department employee, decried being unceremoniously laid off recently.
“I’m trying to figure out who do y’all layoff or whose doing the layoffs? Because if you go to my department, if you ask anybody in Jersey City that knows me, I love these kids! This is all I do, this is all I know: I don’t know nothing else,” he exclaimed.
“So me trying to look for another job is impacting me right now because I love what I do. The money that I make from recreation, being honest with you, is not a lot! … I literally gave my life to Jersey City!”
“Let me look into this,” Council President Joyce Watterman said.
“Bulls***!” someone in the crowd yelled.
“ … Be respectful! … We didn’t know about them getting laid off. I’ll find out what’s happening.”
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) activist Cameron Orr supported Wilkins and proclaimed that federal cuts under President Donald Trump (R) are making the situation worse.
“Now is the time for state and local governments to increase our budgets … Working people pay too many taxes. But nobody talks about getting the rich to pay for their fair share: The U.S. has lots of money,” he asserted.
“Our sidewalks are crumbling … We watch funds get prioritized for luxury developments … while infrastructure for the rest of the city is left to rot,” added Danielle Dadamo.
Crystal Thomas also lamented the lack of city-run programs for local teenagers.
“Everything is after they get in trouble,” she lamented.
David Wilson agreed with Weller that the city could increase revenue by collecting fines against large, powerful landlords who are negligent.
Portside Towers West Tenant Association President Michele Hirsch noted that the city’s credit rating had recently been downgraded, while former Board of Education Trustee Lorenzo Richardson criticized the council for not being able to calculate the payroll tax owed to the district.
“For the last 12 years, this administration has not invested in the youth,” Council-at-large candidate Michael Griffin, who is running with Ward E Councilman James Solomon, declared.
“We need to take a better look at the budget. We’re handing out raises left and right … while at the same time raising taxes,” Ward F council candidate Rev. Keith Garvin-Howell, who is running with Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), argued.
“Everyone is walking down the street as high as a George Pine!” he declared, before also alleging that cronyism and pay-to-play are pervasive in awarding city contracts.
Business Administrator John Metro noted that the city’s budget is roughly 34 percent of each city’s residents tax bill, further stating that the rec budget has been increased by about $1 million and included funding for 400 youth jobs.
“The city has been dealing with federal and state grant cuts. We have employees that work on those grants that have civil service and union protection … We have to shift them into jobs …,” he said regarding the cuts.
At that point, the crowd began to get restless again and Watterman calmed them down.
Metro added that they have gotten about $600,000 in cannabis tax revenue and have given it out grants as he fielded more questions.
“Did the reorganization of the recreation department affect anyone’s seniority?” Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore asked.
Metro said he did not believe so, to which Gilmore noted that Wilkins had over two decades of service with the city prior to being let go. That appeared to surprise the BA, who said he would look into that.
“They are charging for some programs in recreation … How is that new revenue affecting the department?”
Metro said park department fees go into a general fund, noting that it will ultimately be up to the governing body to decide what the final budget looks like.
The council took no formal action, with a final budget vote anticipated for next month.
744 millions dollars , and people are getting layoff, 6 hundred thousand dollars from cannabis alone, and not investing in children programs, that affect children. Is wrong. The City hall workers getting raises everyday. But yet people are losing there job. And nobody knows who in charge, that laying them off make no sense.. always leave a last comment by counsel woman Joyce waterman. I look into it. But I’m the mean time, they cannot put food on their table
What about the widowed women or men who lost the 2nd invome and are homeowners paying taxes, water etc. Is there anything in place to help them remain living in Jersey City.