Former Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell and his slate have released a quality of life plan that explains how they keep streets clean, enforce community policing and build an animal shelter in Bayonne.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“As public servants, our primary responsibility is to listen to those we hope to serve. For the past several years, during the current administration, there has been one group of people that have been getting a lot of attention: wealthy out of town developers,” Team O’Donnell said in a joint statement.
“During this time, the residents who are the foundation and heart of Bayonne have seen their taxes increase and their quality of life decrease disproportionately. Out of town developers aren’t stressed about trash in the streets, little to no parking, potholes all over town or petty crime but the residents are.”
The five-person council slate, which consists of Dan Ward, Melissa Enriquez-Rada, Sharma Montgomery, Kevin Kuhl and Matt Klimansky, along with O’Donnell, call for enforcement of all municipal ordinances regarding waste and recycling.
Furthermore, the challengers in the May 8th municipal elections vow to bring more community policing, which would require a uniformed police officer in every school, as well as increasing police outreach programs in schools.
On the subject of public safety, Team O’Donnell wants to create a neighborhood watch group in conjunction with the Bayonne Police Department, while also increasing the police presence at Hudson Bergen Light Rail stops.
Arguably the biggest endeavor the group wants to take on is building an animal shelter “with the appropriate volunteer personnel to manage it.”
They also vow to dismiss the current animal control services provider, New Jersey Animal Control and Rescue.
The company owner, Geoff Santini, was recently fired as the head of security at his job as the North Bergen Housing Authority and the FBI has issued subpoenas in relation to his animal control contracts, Hudson County View first reported earlier this month.
NJACR, who have already lost their animal control services contract in Garfield, are expected to be replaced by the Jersey City-based Liberty Humane Society at the Bayonne City Council meeting scheduled for April 18th.
The full plan, which also offers ideas regarding the arts, recreation and veterans affairs, can be read here.
