In an editorial, Jersey City council-at-large candidate Mamta Singh talks about what makes the city great, also stating that the municipal government still needs work.
When I started JCFamilies fourteen years ago, I wanted to build something that would bring all of us together. I was a new immigrant to the United States, and on top of that, I was a new mother. What I wanted the most was a sense of community and belonging.
So I decided to do something about it. It started with a small group of young families gathering for music lessons, story time and puppet shows in my apartment.
Today, JCFamilies is a source of belonging and trusted information for families all across the city, connecting women and children to local resources and opportunities to create a sense of true belonging.
That is something I am truly grateful for — and as I run to represent the entire city as your Jersey City Councilmember-at-Large, I am reflecting on the lessons JCFamilies has taught me about what it means to build a city for everyone.
First and foremost, this city is strong because its women are strong. At JCFamilies, I saw how committed mothers were to building a community where they and their children could thrive — and I saw how hard these women worked to make those dreams a reality.
Women working to ensure their kids have a great education, getting involved in PTA’s, becoming class moms, taking care of their kids and those of their neighbors.
Many of them were a part of the care economy, working long hours at our schools and hospitals on top of being members of JCFamilies. The care economy – our teachers and daycare workers, our women-powered industries — are the lifeblood of Jersey City.
This is why JCFamilies is so committed to women’s empowerment, and why so much of my campaign for City Council is focused on the needs of women and our city’s families: from creating a more affordable city for everyone to making sure our city services are responsive, efficient, and reliable.
What makes Jersey City so amazing is our incredible diversity – no matter where you’re from, how you look, or big your paycheck is, Jersey City welcomes you with open arms.
But, I see so much change happening to the city I love so much. I see a more expensive city, with out-of-control property taxes and rents. A failing school system with leaders too afraid to step up and take accountability for our children’s futures.
Trash on our streets and less safe public space. And all this while wealthy developers get massive tax breaks with no community benefit!
A city with unreliable services and corrupt local government means it’s harder for a family to raise children here – and in a city with taxes this high, our services should match in quality.
I believe that these are simple and reasonable things to expect from our government. More importantly, these are things the government should have already been delivering on.
I’m running for City Council to ensure those needs are fully and finally met.
