Former Gov. Jim McGreevey, a Jersey City mayoral hopeful, is opposing pool fees for residents, noting that Union City and Secaucus do not charge residents, while Newark charges residents just $5 for the entire summer.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Although some Hudson County municipalities do impose daily fees for admission, Jersey City should not impose such fees. Jersey City public pools have historically been free for residents and serve an integral component of our communities,” McGreevey said in a statement.
“Indeed, numerous families and residents use these pools during the summer months for recreation and exercise. The new fee schedule is largely a consequence of Jersey City budgetary constraints and fiscal challenges. To partly address a $57 million budget shortfall for the 2024 budget year, the City amended the public pool fee schedule and also reduced the budget of the Department of Recreation and Enrichment by more than $1 million …”
The Jersey City Council approved pool fee increases for adults back in May 2023, as HCV first reported, with those hikes taking effect today.
The ordinance proposed $3 fees for adult residents (18 to 61), $2 for children (17 and under), and $1 for seniors. Adults and children would pay $1 extra on weekends and holidays, while senior fees would remain the same.
Non-resident adults and children would double, with the holiday and weekend fees raising to $8 and $6, respectively, while senior fees would remain stable at $2.
The imposition of fees for using our public pools is arguably a consequences of Jersey City’s fiscal and budgetary problems. As I have previously noted, costs incurred and deferred by Jersey City will eventually fall to Jersey City taxpayers,” McGreevey added.
” … Jersey City should not be making it more difficult to access recreational facilities. Rather, the City must expand recreational opportunities, reopen Pershing Field Ice Rink, eliminate the present fee schedules for public schools, and address the various budgetary concerns through other means that are less burdensome and more significantly responsive to addressing the fiscal concerns.”
McGreevey is currently running in a field of four declared candidates for the non-partisan November 4th, 2025, which also features Hudson County Commissioner (D-2) Bill O’Dea, Council President Joyce Watterman, and former Board of Education President Mussab Ali.
Shortly before the ordinance came before the council on second reading, O’Dea came out hard against it.
“As I have previously noted, costs incurred and deferred by Jersey City will eventually fall to Jersey City taxpayers,” McGreevey added.”
That’s generally how government works. Businesses too. You want something, you pay for it.
The reliance on property taxes is kind of archaic. But I don’t see any bold initiatives from any candidates to change that.
POOL. FEES. ARE. REASONABLE. . WE NEED. MORE. POOLS. WITH. HIGHER FEES. TO. ENTER.
Has Jimmy actually move out of his multi-milliore BF’s mansion and into Jersey City ?
Old Lies, new lies, McGreevey’s lies matter.
Machiavelli