Several Jersey City residents urge City Council to appoint Tommy Best as rec director

Several Jersey City residents urged the City Council to name Tommy Best to be the city’s Department of Recreation and Youth Development director during public comment at last night’s meeting.

By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View

The prior council voted down Best’s appointment as recreation director in January 2025, as HCV first reported.

LaVerne Webb Washington endorsed Tommy Best for Jersey City recreation director, with Best by her side, along with many other supporters. She also noted he went to the PS 22 school, Lincoln High School, and St Peter’s University.

“We can’t find a better director than Mr. Best here! And we stand behind him as director 100 percent! We will be here back again,” Washington declared.

“You won’t be able to sit in that seat because there will be a thousand people here! We are in protest of not hiring him! I run a nonprofit summer camp. I depend on him to help with my kids! It’s for our children … It ain’t about a dollar bill. It’s about keeping the people in the community to help the community!”

The crowd of a couple dozen people behind Webb-Washington included former Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh and Tina Nalls, an aide to Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore.

“Stop getting people from outside! We should not be making a debate of getting this man a job! … This man has been doing stuff in the community for a long time,” she said to applause, criticizing the administration for brining in department directors from outside the city recently.

“What is the difference between him and the other guy?! Let’s have a meeting. Let’s go over this. And let’s do the right thing by everyone!”

Council President Denise Ridley interjected that she heard the residents loud and clear.

“ … I stand in solidarity with Mr. Best. He served 22 years in our Recreation Department! To be looked over by someone, that is the culture of this city. Someone has influence other than those outsiders,” declared Edward Perkins, adding that Best has added his blood, sweat, and tears to the city.

Further, Rochelle Hoffman said she also wanted more Black officials appointed to city leadership, like Best, and spoke with a supportive crowd behind her.

She also endorsed Sabrina Harrold to be the city’s Human Resources director.

“We as black women want to stand in support of our women who are qualified, who have met the threshold, who can actually be an asset to the city. She has over a decade of HR experience” Hoffman stated.

“We hope the City Council, along with Mayor Solomon, review these resumes because we’re hearing that the resumes were submitted months ago and there has not been any communication. And also Mr. Tommy Best, as I stood up in solidarity earlier … to become Director of Recreation. His qualifications speak for themselves.

She concluded by praising the Hudson County Chronicles for raising the issue.

Jersey City Board of Education Trustee Lorenzo Richardson also articulated his support for Best.

“Tommy Best, I’ve seen that gentleman around the community … Never heard anything negative about the man. Always out there with the kids doing great things … Give this man an opportunity,” he exclaimed.

“He might be the best man for the job. A local is always good,” stated Maureen Nally.

The council took no formal action on the recreation director position at Wednesday’s meeting.

On Tuesday, Jersey City spokesman Nathaniel Styer pointed out that the administration had not yet recommended and/or selected anyone to be recreation director.

“To be clear, at this time, we have not hired a permanent Director of Recreation and Youth Development. Every cabinet-level hire we’ve made has undergone a competitive, thorough vetting process because the people of Jersey City, city employees, and the candidates themselves deserve nothing less,” he said in an email

“When we announce a hire, we want the public to trust they were selected because they are the most qualified, competent person for the job, not the most politically connected.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated on with a comment from Jersey City spokesman Nathaniel Styer.