Tag Archives: Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis

MAYORS CORNER-BAYONNE MAYOR JAMES DAVIS-Hudson County Resource Fair Comes to Bayonne Saturday, March 16

            Hudson County Executive Craig Guy is bringing several county services to Bayonne for a resource fair on Saturday, March 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The event will take place at Nicholas Oresko School (School #14), which is located at 33 East 24th Street, by Avenue E. 

            Representatives of county departments and agencies will be on hand to help you obtain services and information that deal with economic relief, childcare, small business, transportation, rental and housing assistance, mental health, senior care, employment, veterans’ services, the Hudson County Schools of Technology, the Hudson Regional Health Commission, the Hudson County Improvement Authority, Hudson County Cultural and Heritage Affairs, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, Hudson County Corrections, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, among others. 

At the resource fair, flu shots will be available. If you have not received your flu shot yet, please take advantage of this inoculation.

The fair will provide a great opportunity for Bayonne residents to learn about services that could help them and members of their families.  I urge our residents to stop by the resource fair to learn about county services.  You might discover something new and could meet people who would help you in a time of need.

            During 2024, there will be resource fairs in all twelve municipalities in Hudson County.  County Executive Guy is holding these fairs so that more people can learn about the services that the county has to offer them.  Last year, the State of New Jersey concluded that 30% of the state’s residents are not aware of the benefits that they are entitled to receive.  As a result, county governments and other agencies are improving their efforts to reach out to the public.  The City of Bayonne appreciates the efforts that Hudson County is making to assist and inform our residents.

            Other Hudson County resource fairs will be held or have taken place in Kearny – March 2; Union City-March 30; Jersey City-April 13; Hoboken-April 27; North Bergen-May 11; West New York-May 25; Secaucus- June 8; Harrison-June 22; Weehawken-July 6; Guttenberg-July 30; and East Newark-August 3.  Times and locations will be announced by our county government.

I would like to thank County Executive Craig Guy and all of the representatives of county departments and agencies for planning this series of resource fairs for the people of Hudson County. 

STATE ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS IN SENIOR FREEZE PROGRAM FOR PROPERTY TAXES

MAYOR’S CORNERBayonne Mayor James Davis’s Column

Mayor Davis 2018 Inaugural
Bayonne Mayor James Davis

In mid-February, the New Jersey Department of the Treasury began mailing applications for the 2023 Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Program. The state has announced good news for senior taxpayers. The program has increased the income limit so that more people are eligible to apply. The New Jersey Treasury Department also eased the residency requirement for first-time applicants.  I would like to thank our state leadership for making these welcome changes to the tax system in New Jersey.

According to the New Jersey Treasury Department, “Senior Freeze reimburses qualifying seniors and disabled residents for increases in property taxes or mobile home park site fees on their principal residences. A new law passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Murphy…expanded the program to increase the income limit for the program to $150,000 (previously $99,735 for the 2022 season), and to eliminate the requirements that an applicant must be a New Jersey resident for ten consecutive years.”  The reimbursement takes place after the year in which the property taxes were paid.  That is why the program just announced in 2024 is called the 2023 Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Program.

According to the New Jersey Treasury Department, “To qualify for the reimbursement, taxpayers must meet all the eligibility requirements for each year from the base year through the current application year. Eligibility must be continuous; otherwise, a new base year must be established.”

The state announced the following requirements for taxpayers to be eligible for the 2023 Senior Freeze:

  • Be age 65 or older on December 31, 2022, or receive Social Security disability payments on December 31, 2022, and also on December 31, 2023; and
  • Own and live in their home or lease a site in a mobile home park for a manufactured or mobile home that they owned since December 31, 2019, or earlier; and
  • Paid all 2022 property taxes by June 1, 2023, and all 2023 property taxes by June 1, 2024; and
  • Their annual income was $150,000 or less in 2022 and $163,050 or less in 2023. With some exceptions, all income must be taken into account, including Social Security, pension, etc.

Bayonne to Hold Health Fair on Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Rain Date is Thursday, October 5

            Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne will hold a health fair on Wednesday, October 4, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., in Fitzpatrick Park, which is located on Avenue C, between 26th and 27th Streets. 

            The fair will offer Bayonne residents the opportunity to receive health screenings, health information, and other services.

            Participating organizations include healthcare-related organizations, public agencies, and non-profit services.  Up to thirty groups are expected to participate. Participation is subject to municipal approval.

Mayor Davis said, “The 2023 health fair will provide our residents with a great opportunity to receive health services and information in one convenient location.  This will be the first municipal health fair in Bayonne since 2019.  The event did not take place during the Coronavirus pandemic. The City of Bayonne is very happy to bring back this important health fair for our residents.”  

In the event of rain on Wednesday, October 4, the health fair will take place on Thursday, October 5, at the same hours and location.

Mayor Davis concluded, “I would like to thank the Bayonne Health Division, our Clinic Nurses, and all of the participating organizations, agencies, and services for coming together for this event.  I urge Bayonne residents to drop by the health fair and take advantage of this great opportunity to improve your health.”

For more information, please call the Health Division Clinic Nurses at 201-858-6140 or 201-858-6139.

Bayonne Mayor James Davis -PROGRESS TOWARDS A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

Mayor Davis 2018 Inaugural
Bayonne Mayor James Davis

          Last week, in our City Council Chambers, Bayonne residents had their first opportunity to view plans in person for the proposed 34th Street pedestrian bridge.  Once plans are finalized, that bridge will be constructed over Route 440 between the 34th Street Light Rail Station and the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor (the former Military Ocean Terminal).

          There is a clear need for better, safer ways for pedestrians to cross Route 440 than running across the highway.  Lives and public safety are at stake. Pedestrians have died in the Route 440 corridor in recent years. The need for safe pedestrian crossings has increased as economic development has taken place in the Route 440 corridor. There are various locations where pedestrian bridges could be placed along that highway.  We decided to start with the 34th Street Light Rail area because there is already a pedestrian overpass there linking the Light Rail station with the parking lot. This proposed bridge would connect directly to the existing Light Rail passenger overpass.  TY Lin, the engineering firm that has the contract for the bridge concept development study, has offered various options for solving the pedestrian safety problem around 34th Street and Route 440.  The engineers have presented options that include various types of bridges and upgrading the highway crossing without building a bridge. Let’s be clear.  We want a bridge.

The staff of TY Lin believes the best option or preferred alternative would be a single-span, prefabricated, steel truss bridge over Route 440.  This proposal would include fully enclosed stairs and an elevator building at the east landing of the bridge, across the highway from the station.  That plan would offer a sidewalk at the east landing that would connect to the sidewalk on Goldsborough Drive and at Port Terminal Boulevard.  They are major streets at the former Military Ocean Terminal. The engineers envision a twelve-foot-wide space inside the bridge to provide safe access for pedestrians and bicycles. At the public information session on August 2, members of the public suggested that the bridge be enclosed for safety reasons.  Several residents also called for more sidewalks in the Route 440 corridor.

At the City Council Caucus on Wednesday, August 9, at 6:00 p.m., TY Lin will offer a presentation about the proposed bridge to our City Council Members.  This Caucus meeting will be televised on Optimum cable Channel 78 and on Verizon Fios Channel 42.  We expect at least one more opportunity after that for the public to offer comments in person about the bridge proposal. 

This bridge project began when the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority awarded Bayonne a $550,000 planning grant.  Later, the City of Bayonne received more than $4 million in federal funds for bridge construction through the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.  The federal money came from the Liberty Corridor program, a transportation aid package that Senator Bob Menendez championed when he was still in the House of Representatives.  

Where do things stand now?  There is a concept for the bridge, along with a preferred option for building that bridge.  We have more than $4 million for construction.  After receiving more public input, we can move towards preliminary engineering, then to the final design of the bridge, and, ultimately, to construction. 

As we continue making progress on this project, I would like to thank all of our residents who have offered ideas and expressed concerns about the safety issues on Route 440.   If you would like to offer comments or suggestions to TY Lin about the proposed pedestrian bridge, please go to https://34thstbayonnepedestrianbridge.com/contact.

We look forward to working with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to provide more safe crossings in the Route 440 corridor.  

Memorial Day Parade Back Again in Bayonne Monday, May 29

The Bayonne Memorial Day Parade will take place on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023.  Last year, the City of Bayonne worked in conjunction with the veterans of the Memorial Day Parade Committee to bring the parade back after an absence of two years. Mayor Jimmy Davis said, “As the son of a proud Korean War veteran, I was very happy that we found a way to revive the parade in 2022.  I am glad to say that the successful collaboration between the veterans and the City of Bayonne has continued in 2023.”

Pete Amadeo, the Supervisor of the City of Bayonne’s Recreation Division, has worked with Barry Jones, the parade chairman, and the other veterans on the Memorial Day Parade Committee to invite various organizations to take part in the parade in both 2022 and 2023.   Mr. Jones is an Army veteran from the Vietnam era. 

There will be a ceremony at the traditional start of the parade on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, at 10:00 a.m., at Fifth Street by the World War I Monument.   Immediately after the ceremony, the march will begin at 5th Street and will proceed up Broadway.   It will pass the reviewing stand in front of American Legion Post 19 and will end at 32nd Street and Broadway. 

The grand marshal of the parade will be Carlton Rhodes.  In 1990, he served as President of Chapter 151 of the Vietnam Veterans of America. He has held the position of State Secretary-Treasurer of the Vietnam Veterans of America New Jersey State Council for 28 years.  Mr. Rhodes served as Commander of VFW Post 7470 from 1983 to 1984, and Quartermaster of VFW Post 7470 from 1984 to 1989.  He is the current Senior Vice Commander of VFW Post 7470.  His volunteer experience has included volunteering at the VA Lyons Hospital, the Chapel of Four Chaplains in Philadelphia, the Memorial Day Committee of Bayonne, and Faithful Navigator of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. Mr. Rhodes is a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Catholic War Veterans, the VFW, and the American Legion.  Mr. Rhodes trained as an aircraft mechanic and an electrician. He was employed as a Maintenance Supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service.

Mayor Davis stated, “From the American Revolution to the present, more than 42 million Americans have served in our military during war.  Of them, more than one million died in the service, whether in battle or elsewhere during wartime.”  Mayor Davis concluded, “Veterans often remind us that ‘freedom is not free.’ That means that America’s fighting men and women have purchased our freedom with their sacrifices since 1775.  We owe our freedom and our way of life to them. Please show your gratitude for those who gave their lives for our country by coming to the memorial ceremonies and to the parade.”

State to Launch Arrive Together Program for Sherif’s Officers and Mental Health Professionals in Bayonne

          Speaking at a press conference at the Bayonne Community Museum on April 20, state, county, and municipal officials discussed the start of Arrive Together in Bayonne, a joint program for law enforcement officers and mental health professionals.  Started as a program in Cumberland County, New Jersey in 2021, Arrive Together is expanding gradually to other parts of New Jersey.  The program pairs mental health professionals with law enforcement officers to respond to emergency calls for service involving persons with mental health issues. 

          Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said that she was “very excited” about this pilot program, which will operate initially two days a week in Bayonne with Hudson County Sheriff’s Officers and mental health professionals. 

Bayonne Holds Ceremony to Celebrate Federal Grant for Special Needs Ballfield 

            On Saturday, January 28, the City of Bayonne’s Recreation Division held a ceremony to celebrate the $1 million federal grant it will receive to construct a ballfield for the Buddy Baseball program at 11th Street and Avenue E.  Buddy Baseball, a popular activity for young people with special needs, was established in Bayonne seven years ago. 

Bayonne to Hold Opening Ceremony for Phase II of Dennis P. Coins Park Renovations

Bayonne Mayor Dennis P. Collins

Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne will hold an opening ceremony for Phase II of Dennis P. Collins Park renovations on Tuesday, November 1, at 4:00 p.m.  The ceremony will take place at 1st Street and Avenue C.

          Phase II of the park renovations has included the construction of several new facilities.  They include a hockey rink, a multi-purpose, elevated seating area, a playground for ages 2-5, a playground for ages 5-12, basketball courts, an exercise and training area, and a large gazebo.

The play area for the younger children has an amusement park theme. It includes a “Miltyville” ticket booth that is a tribute to Uncle Milty’s, the amusement park that stood on a portion of today’s park property in the 20th century.  The kiddie play area has a roller coaster theme. 

The multi-purpose, elevated seating area can be used an outdoor classroom or as an audience area for games or performances.

The gazebo measures fifty feet across.  It will include tables for sitting.  The gazebo is located between the hockey rink and the playground area.

The Gorman Field parking lot will be repaved.  Another parking lot has been expanded.  Gorman Field has received new sod, along with new fencing and a sprinkler system.   The field is not yet ready for use, but will be opened in the spring.  The new sod requires time to develop roots.

The park is named after Dennis P. Collins, who served four terms as Mayor of Bayonne from 1974 to 1990.  Mr. Collins was a City Council Member before that from 1962 to 1974.  Following his twenty-eight years in elected office, Mr. Collins worked as an Aide to Congressman (now Senator) Robert Menendez, Sr. and to former Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr. 

Detective Seals Memorial Celebration Set for Saturday, September 17

Detective Joseph A. Seals

Event to Feature Music, Food Trucks, and Inflatables

          Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne will host a memorial celebration in honor of the late Detective Joseph A. Seals at DiDomenico-16th Street Park in Bayonne on Saturday, September 17, from 2:00-8:00 p.m.  The event will feature bands, food trucks, and inflatables.  Joseph A. Seals, a Jersey City police detective and a former Bayonne resident, was killed in the line of duty in Jersey City in 2019 after encountering two subjects who were linked to a homicide.  Mayor Davis said, “I urge everyone to come out for this event to pay tribute to Detective Seals and to support Garden State Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.).  Detective Seals gave his life after eighteen years of outstanding service in law enforcement.  Let us honor him as a community on September 17.” 

Bayonne Switching to Night Recycling Pick-Ups Effective October 4

Mayor Jimmy Davis announced that the City of Bayonne is switching to night-time pick-ups of recycling effective Tuesday, October 4.  The new schedule will cover cans & bottles and mixed paper & cardboard.  Mayor Davis said, “The major reason for the change is that night-time traffic is lighter than morning traffic.  The recycling trucks will have an easier time getting around without commuter vehicles and school buses on the city streets at the same time.”  Mayor Davis continued, “It will be easier to identify missed pick-ups, if they are still on the streets in the morning.”

            Bayonne’s existing three zones for garbage and recycling will remain the same.