In an editorial, Jersey City council-at-large candidate Kristen Zadroga Hart gives her take on what public safety in the city should look like.
In every corner of Jersey City, whether you’re raising a family in Greenville, caring for aging parents in the Heights, or walking to work downtown, the question on people’s minds is the same: Are we safe?
As a lifelong Jersey City resident, mother, and public school educator, I understand the fears, frustrations, and hopes of families in our city. I also deeply respect the officers, EMTs, firefighters, dispatchers, and frontline workers who answer calls every single day.
But I also know this: the current system of public safety in Jersey City is not working for everyone. That is not acceptable.
We are dealing with rising gun violence, more overdoses, unchecked traffic violations, and overwhelmed emergency services. At the same time, too many people still feel invisible to those in power.
What we have now is a public safety strategy that is more reactive than proactive. We are paying the price. We need a smarter, more holistic approach that supports both our communities and the professionals sworn to protect them.
Fix Our Broken Emergency Response System
Over the past year, residents across the city have reported unacceptably long 911 wait times.
Just this spring, a mother in the Bergen-Lafayette area shared her story of calling 911 for her son having an asthma attack, only to wait over eight minutes for help to arrive. Thankfully, her son survived. But in a true emergency, minutes matter.
One major issue is the chronic shortage of 911 dispatchers. Jersey City spends thousands of dollars to train and certify each dispatcher, but we consistently lose them to nearby towns and counties that offer better pay and working conditions.
According to recent city employment data, Jersey City’s starting dispatcher salaries lag behind other cities of similar size. This is a silent crisis that affects every resident.
We must invest in competitive wages and retention incentives for dispatchers. We need to make sure every call for help is answered without delay. Dispatchers are not optional. They are essential.
Prevent Youth Violence Before It Starts
Too often, we wait until violence happens to respond. By then, the damage has already been done. If we truly want a safer Jersey City, we must treat youth violence like the public health issue it is.
We need to expand funding for afterschool programs, mentorships, summer jobs, and safe recreation spaces.
Right now, too many young people are left without structured activities, guidance, or opportunity. Studies show that cities investing in youth programs see reductions in crime and improvements in school outcomes.
In New York City, for example, neighborhoods with robust youth employment and after school programs saw a 10 to 15 percent drop in youth-involved violent incidents over three years.
We also need to support organizations already doing this work on the ground, from the Jersey City PAL to art programs to peer-led initiatives.
We can do this by streamlining grant access and embedding them into our public safety strategy. These are not “extras.” They are our frontline defense against cycles of poverty and violence.
Expand Mental Health Crisis Response
Police officers are being sent to handle mental health emergencies they were never trained for. This creates risk for both the officers and the individuals in crisis. We can’t keep putting everyone in danger simply because we lack the right response system.
Jersey City needs to establish and expand non-police mobile crisis response teams. These teams should be staffed with social workers, counselors, and medical professionals.
They would respond to 911 calls involving psychiatric episodes, substance use, and homelessness. This would free up police to focus on crimes that require their training and authority, while giving vulnerable residents the care they actually need.
Other cities are leading the way. Denver’s STAR program diverted hundreds of nonviolent 911 calls from police to social workers and reported zero arrests in its first year. There is no reason Jersey City can’t be next.
At the same time, we must provide mental health support for our first responders. They face trauma every day and need access to regular counseling, peer support, and wellness resources.
A city that takes care of its responders strengthens its public safety from the inside out.
This is not an either-or conversation. We can fight for both accountability and support. We can invest in prevention and in response. We can demand safer streets and a more just city at the same time.
Public safety is not about slogans. It is about smart policy, urgent investment, and listening to the people who know our neighborhoods best.
It is about making sure that help arrives when you call. It is about ensuring that your children have opportunities to thrive, and that no one is left behind.
Jersey City is my home. I’m running for City Council At-Large because I believe we can do better.
I’m ready to fight for a public safety system that protects every family, in every ward, with dignity and fairness.
Kristen Zadroga Hart is a candidate for Jersey City Council At-Large. She is a former public school educator, community advocate, and lifelong Jersey City resident.