Jersey City Ward C council candidate Kevin Bing has unveiled his plan to aid small businesses, including how to utilize American Rescue Plan dollars and making the ward a “15-minute neighborhood.”
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Having personally led my family-owned business through the pandemic, I know the struggles of maintaining a small business as our economy still recovers from COVID-19. This plan seeks to offer new ideas to issues that have kept us back these past eight years,” Bing said in a statement.
“Our approach involves rethinking our streets, putting direct cash payments to increase worker paychecks, and prioritizing diversity of use in new development. It’s time for Ward C to have leadership that is accountable to our small business community. On the city council, I will be that independent voice who defends small business in Jersey City by building and sustaining vibrant commerce throughout Journal Square and the Heights.”
When explaining the concept of the 15-minute neighborhood, Bing says that the goal is to accomplish every day errands in a 15 minute walk or bike ride.
“We can make Ward C a 15-minute neighborhood by installing traffic safety improvements that make pedestrians safe, encouraging development of mixed-use retail/residential units, and building new pedestrian plazas on retail and storefront heavy streets,” he noted.
As far as the $145.8 million Jersey City received from the American Rescue Plan, Bing suggests the city makes direct payments to small business that suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with implementing loading zones for new retail developments.
Furthermore, he calls for “vibrant commercial districts” with a diverse variety of businesses for the 30,000 residential units planned for Ward C.
Bing is challenging incumbent Rich Boggiano, who is running on Mayor Steven Fulop’s ticket, along with fellow first time candidate Tom Zuppa in the November 2nd non-partisan municipal elections.
