In a letter to the editor, Jersey City Ward B resident Kayla Burell, of the Lincoln Park Neighborhood North Association, explains why she feels the city can do better with the appointment process for the vacant Ward B council seat.
Dear Editor,
I am one of the apparent other candidates for the interim Ward B City Council position recently vacated by Mira Prinz-Arey.
I learned Friday in a local news site who the three interested applicants are (and that I was one of them), and who the Mayor will nominate for confirmation at tomorrow’s City Council meeting.
I am writing to express my deep disappointment with the lack of basic due diligence and transparency in the selection process for this important position, which directly and specifically represents thousands of people and businesses in Ward B in critical city decision-making.
I was not vetted in any way upon expressing interest in the position. In fact, there was no application process whatsoever—no document or person asking basic questions about my ties to Ward B, the nature of my interest in the position, or whether my personal or professional interests might present serious conflicts that could impede my ability to represent Ward B effectively.
Given how unclear, rushed, and closed-off this process has been, can we assume no serious vetting was done to assess whether the Mayor’s nominee has any serious conflicts of interest?
Specifically, does working for a law firm that represents multiple developers in Jersey City—with frequent matters before the Council—require the nominee to abstain from important Council votes impacting the future of Ward B?
Would she abstain on matters where her firm’s clients are interested parties? Is that what’s best for Ward B? Similarly, would her service on the MUA Board present conflicts requiring her to abstain from votes on MUA bonding used to cover City shortfalls?
Would the people of Ward B have a voice that actually represents them when decisions are made on key issues like PILOTs and redevelopment plans if their Council representative must recuse herself due to ethical concerns?
What are her ties to and service within Ward B since being redistricted into it in 2022?
I don’t know the answers to any of these questions.
And I wasn’t asked any myself—about my background, my vision for Ward B, or any potential conflicts—because there was no transparent process for evaluating candidates.
The people of Ward B deserve to know who is chosen to represent them and why.
This “process” has been entirely opaque and off-the-books. I was never interviewed or meaningfully contacted by anyone from the administration or City Council regarding my candidacy.
The City Council deserves answers before confirming any nominee, because the people of Ward B deserve effective, dedicated, and unconflicted representation on the City Council.
I urge Mayor Fulop and the City Council to treat this interim appointment with the seriousness it deserves.
Ward B deserves a transparent process and a thoughtful selection. This role should not be viewed solely as a placeholder—it’s a vital voice for our community.
Whoever fills it should be prepared to continue the important work of community engagement, advocacy, and fair representation.
Ward B deserves better.
Kayla Burell
Jersey City Ward B resident
