Kevin Bing, a former president of the Journal Square Community Association, has jumped into the Jersey City Ward C council race, making it a three-way dance by joining incumbent Rich Boggiano and fellow challenger Tom Zuppa.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Journal Square is the best neighborhood in Jersey City. We have a vibrant and diverse community. On council, I want to deliver on the values and character that make Ward C great and share that perspective with the whole of Jersey City,” Bing said in a statement this morning.
“Whether it is new development, or the challenges we face from the COVID pandemic, Ward C is going through big changes. It’s time to meet these challenges with a bold vision and leadership that makes sure the future we shape is one that works for everyone. Too often we’ve seen political leaders who lack a clear vision of a better future, complain about the way things are, and throw their hands up when asked for a solution.”
On his campaign website, Bing highlights his experience as a community leader who can deliver policy wins big and small. This experience ranges from his work on Vision Zero, the city wide initiative to reduce traffic deaths, to getting a bench installed at a local bus stop.
“No matter the issue, my goal is to improve the lives of the people who live in our community. I want to provide an independent voice on city council. I plan to lead on issues that will make a more equitable Jersey City and deliver on the solutions we can only achieve with a change in our city council seat,” he added.
The Bing for Jersey City campaign will be hosting a series of listening sessions to gather feedback from residents about the issues that are important to Ward C. More details on those sessions can be found here.
Last month, Bing was one of seven Jersey City Democratic committee members who signed a letter asking JCDO Chair Barbara Stamato, along with Hudson County Democratic Organization Chair Amy DeGise, not to fund Boggiano’s re-election.
The reason being was that Boggiano abstained on a resolution denouncing the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, explaining that the didn’t believe this was in the purview of the city council.
After winning as an independent in 2013 and 2017, Boggiano joined Mayor Steven Fulop’s ticket at the end of December, putting their past differences aside.
The non-partisan Jersey City municipal elections are on November 2nd.
Glad to see someone challenge Boggiano. Bing has been an advocate for JC for years, between his work on the JSQ association and Bike JC. I met him once at some community meeting years ago and I always remembered how enthusiastic he was about Jersey City.