Jersey City Ward A Councilwoman Denise Ridley is proposing moving a firehouse to a new location on Communipaw Avenue, a site owned by the local redevelopment agency where she serves as the vice chair.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The safety of our residents is my top priority. This move will ensure that our firefighters are better positioned to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies in the area,” Ridley said in a statement.
“The current staging area on Route 1&9 is simply too far from the heart of our community. By relocating the staging area to Communipaw Avenue, we can reduce response times and be ready to protect our residents when they need it most.”
Specifically, she is seeking to move the Engine 10 – Ladder 12 firehouse staging area from 325-353 Route 1&9 Truck to a 408-420 Communipaw Ave.
This location is about two blocks away from the firehouse at 283 Halladay St., which has been closed for repairs for an extended period.
Ridley’s proposal comes as a direct response to the recent uptick in fires within the Bergen/Lafayette neighborhood, including one on Pacific Avenue today, where access to emergency services has been a growing concern.
“Waking up to the news of another fire in Bergen/Lafayette was too much. We need less talk and more action. I will continue to advocate for the resources and support necessary to protect our community, especially in times of crisis,” she added.
Ridley concluded that she is committed to working closely with the Jersey City Fire Department and other city officials to ensure the smooth transition of this important infrastructure change, if this is a viable option.
You mean the firehouse that has been ABANDONED for years, is now not being fixed even though an architect has been selected and on the payroll for YEARS. All city officials have been purposely delaying it for what… now we know. This is a disgrace. People have died because of the lack of urgency from ALL of city officials involved. Where are the good ones? Are there any left here?
So we all are aware- there have been FATALITIES blocks away from the closed firehouse not just in the past few months but spanning several years since it’s been closed. In true emergencies people have come to this closed firehouse pleading for help not knowing it has been vacant. The neighborhood has zero idea they are not safe and haven’t been in a decade.
Condemned by the city and shut down with those firefighters responding from 1 and 9? Why is Ridley saying this is an issue now, all of a sudden? This is her jurisdiction and she has never responded to the pleas of opening it back up.
Something isn’t adding up here. Continue to investigate this and hold all accountable for the corruption about to happen.
It’s election season! Both pretty much do nothing, but always ran on Fulop’s ticket. Because Fulop’s out, Ridley and Rivera have to form their own “identities” swiftly.
I’ve heard it said that the father of Ridley’s new baby is a fire chief or captain. I do not know if there is any truth to this. But that’s what’s going around. Who knows…
You are correct. The “new” location on Communipaw cited by Ridley was designated by the JCRA to the Morris Canal CDC for the purpose of building low income condominiums. This minority developer already had success in constructing low income rentals, but now wanted to create a path to low income home ownership. Headed by June Jones, the Morris Canal CDC did all the preparation necessary to break ground, even weathering the COVID delays. Fulop seemingly was livid that June would not run on his slate during the last mayoral campaign. (His is extremely vengeful and petty.) The JCRA began interfering with the Morris Canal CDC’s construction of the affordable condominiums, yet the MCCDC jumped through all the hoops thrown at them. Then without notice, Fulop de-designated June Jones’s MCCDC from developing the site. This is currently in litigation, so for council persons Ridley and Rivera (JCRA board members) to even publicize this “new firehouse” idea is a breach of duty.