Administration’s Efforts to Leverage Development and Private Sector for Community Benefits comes to Fruition
JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins City Council members to announce the approval to move forward with the Laurel and Saddlewood Court project as passed 7-1 by the municipal council last night. Construction will include over 800 residential units, of which 5% is mandated affordable housing, as well as major onsite stormwater capture improvements, a public park, and a new 50,000 square-foot public school for PreK-5 students – valued at nearly $25 million, at no cost to taxpayers.
Small Business Grants Distributed across the City to Help Struggling Stores Reopen and Remain Open after Pandemic Causes Months of Closures and Lingering Limitations
Community-Driven Park to replace Troubled Park Space with Upgraded Amenities and Features to Attract Community Engagement
JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today the $2.5 million investment to build the new Bethune Park to enhance accessibility for local residents and increase community engagement with special design features including a stage for live performances and community events, amphitheater seating, a retail area for Farmers’ Markets and food trucks, passive seating areas, and a large playground for kids of all ages to enjoy.
“We’ve been working with community members to come up with a plan that is most beneficial for the surrounding Jackson Hill/Greenville neighborhood,” said Mayor Fulop. “This new park is directly in line with our efforts to revitalize the city’s south west side as parks play a key role in sustainable community development, especially in urban neighborhoods.”
After various ideas and drafts over a nearly 10 year period , the Fulop Administration suggested moving the existing Fulton Park – a mostly concrete pocket park in disrepair and tucked behind a large building – to a more suitable and accessible location one block north. The new park will be 20% larger and a significant upgrade with state-of-the-art amenities, located along a main roadway and with greater public safety.
The new park will be located on Martin Luther King Drive directly across from the Mary McLeod Bethune Center, an integral hub for city services and community activities, which can now be extended outdoors to the new park space. The existing Fulton Park site will become a public parking lot dedicated for park-goers and the Bethune Center only.
“This has been 10 years in the making, so I’m really encouraged that this park will move forward to become a gem for the Jackson Hill/Greenville area and serve as a safe space for community engagement,” said Council President Joyce Watterman. “With so many families in the surrounding area, and the Bethune Center across the street, I know the new location along MLK will be much better utilized.”
“Jackson Hill is excited to see more outdoor space for residents to enjoy, for family-friendly outdoor entertainment and gatherings,” said Michele Massey, Executive Director of the Jackson Hill Special Improvement District (SID). “Our goal is to see a farmers’ market, to have more families utilizing the playground equipment, and to offer much more in partnership with the Bethune Center.”
The resolution for the new Bethune Park passed the City Council on August 12, 2020, and construction is expected to start within the next two months.
First Phase of Program Targets Local Small Businesses; City will Match NJEDA Grants, Doubling Financial Assistance for Local Small Businesses Amid Crisis
JERSEY CITY – Following Mayor Steven Fulop’s announcement that he will introduce an ordinance with the Jersey City Municipal Council to freeze rent increases within rent controlled buildings, Mayor Fulop is unveiling a program of local grants to support small businesses that are facing financial hardships due to the current Covid-19 crisis.
The small business grant program will entail the City of Jersey City matching 100% of any state grants awarded to Jersey City applicants of the NJ Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program, which goes live from Friday, April 3rd to April 10th. The local Jersey City program will be administered through the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation (JCEDC), a 501c3 nonprofit.
“We’ve been working to stay ahead of the curve by anticipating our residents’ and business owners’ needs to survive this pandemic not only from a health standpoint, but also economically which could further devastate our community,” said Mayor Fulop. “We decided to structure local programs that fully complement the state and federal program so that our local businesses can get a much needed advantage. We are achieving that here with short term grants up to $10,000 per business.”
The Administration will use available CDBG funds to match the $1,000 to $5,000 in state funding being made available to small businesses and nonprofits with a physical storefront.
“As a city, we believe in small businesses and their contribution to the economy, which is why providing a matching grant program is essential,” said Council President Joyce Watterman. “Small businesses are the backbone of our city, and are among those who need financial help the most right now. This financial boost will really help businesses get back on their feet.”
The JCEDC is already working with local community partners to highlight this opportunity for small businesses and nonprofits, which is the latest step towards providing financial relief to those who need it most during this crisis.
“The money we match will be used to help with payroll and provide working capital with the goal of retaining employees,” said Vivian Brady-Phillips, Vice Chair of the JCEDC. “The business owner must certify as to the COVID-19 related need for financial support and be committed to retaining employees. This is key for both businesses and the workers who also live in our community.”
The application for the NJEDA Small Business Grant program will be available on https://cv.business.nj.gov beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
The pandemic we are facing has brought challenges to nearly every aspect of our community. We continue to see the number of positive cases rise. As of today, April 2nd, we have 902 cases and 26 fatalities – both of which are the highest in New Jersey. Our thoughts continue to be with those families that are dealing firsthand with someone that has the virus or a family member that has been lost due to the virus.
You should know that as a City, we are focused very much on the here and now with regards to making sure people are safe – that is our number one priority – but we must also plan for tomorrow, for how our Jersey City community will recover months from now. While we continue to stay home and continue to practice social distancing, we know that many of the small businesses that are the fabric of our community are suffering. From closing their doors indefinitely to having the lay off staff, we know that they have already made challenging business decisions, with a long road ahead. We are now seeing some relief programs in place at the federal and state levels for small businesses. I know for many this will not be enough and for that reason, we are launching some local initiatives to help small businesses and their employees. For those businesses in Jersey City that use the state grant program, we will match at the local level every dollar of the state grant they receive to enhance the help for our small businesses. We will literally double the grant you receive from the state and all you have to do is apply. Our goal with local programs like this is to think strategically on how we can leverage existing programs at the state or federal level and enhance them so that Jersey City businesses gain an advantage. With this program we are launching tomorrow, small businesses and nonprofits with a storefront can receive up to $10,000 as a grant.
I know these times are tough, but you should know that we will continue to work at the local level to confront the challenges together and we will get through this.
Mayor Fulop Announces Plan to Install Electric Car Charging Stations in All Wards; Stations will be Open to the Public
Administration Looking to Transition City Vehicle Fleet to Electric Vehicles; Office of Sustainability to be Created following Adoption of Ordinance by City Council this Week
JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today that the administration is advancing a plan to install electric car charging stations that will be open to the public in all six wards of the
city as part of the Fulop administration’s sustainability agenda.
“We are excited to bring this technology to Jersey City as we know our residents are conscious about reducing our impact on the environment,” said Mayor Fulop. “We also believe that government should lead by example, so we will be looking to transition the city vehicle fleet to electric vehicles and hope this will inspire more residents to do the same.” Continue reading Jersey City to Install Electric Car Charging Stations→
Fulop Administration Has Hired a Over 300 New Officers Since Taking Office in 2013
Fulop Administrations Grows Jersey City Police Department to Largest Size in Two Decades; Graduating Class Brings Department to 932 Officers
Mayor Steven M. Fulop will swear in 25 new Jersey City police officers at a graduation ceremony at City Hall on Thursday. This latest class brings the size of the department to 932 total officers, its largest size in two decades. The Fulop administration has hired over 300 officers since 2013, increasing visibility and allowing for added walking posts in areas where they are needed most. Continuing the administration’s priority on diversity recruitment, the 25 new graduates also include thirteen Hispanic officers, three African-American officers, and two Asian officers. And with five females now joining the department, this class marks one of the largest amounts of female officers graduating from a single class. Another class of officers currently in the Police Academy will allow for an additional 24 officers to graduate this fall, bringing the department closer to Mayor Fulop’s goal of 950 officers.
Revenue Sharing Plan Comes After Fulop Administration Delivers Four Years of No Tax Increase, Sets Fiscal House in Order; EO Uses Rutgers Projections for Impact PILOT Projects Have on Public School System
Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced that today he signed an executive order that will dedicate 10 percent of the revenue from future tax abatements to the Jersey City Public Schools, with the revenue being shared through an unrestricted transfer of funds at the end of each calendar year.
“For the past four years we worked on correcting the fiscal mismanagement and structural deficit that we inherited from past administrations, and were able to deliver four consecutive years of no tax increases and three consecutive credit upgrades,” said Mayor Fulop. “With the city’s fiscal house on solid footing, we believe now is the right time set the standard that tax abated properties contribute to the board of education to relieve the burden on all of our city taxpayers.” Continue reading Mayor Fulop Signs Executive Order Dedicating 10 Percent of Future Tax Abatement Payments to Jersey City Public Schools→
Over 1000 people filled the Newark Ave Pedestrian Plaza in Jersey City
A Jersey City Rally in support of Muslim and immigrant communities was held on Monday evening, January 30th, at Jersey City’s Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza. Over a thousand people jammed the area with signs and chants in solidarity with other rally’s that have taken place all over the United States since the President signed an Executive Order that put a halt on the processing of Syrian refugees and barred immigration from seven countries.
A temporary stay on the ban has been ordered by a federal court judge. Rally’s like the one in Jersey City have been taken place all over the country since Friday, January 27.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop addresses Jersey City Rally in Support Muslim and immigrant communities
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop spoke to the participants of the rally and mentioned “The anti-immigrant and anti-refugee issue is especially personal for me and my family. My family came to this country in response to anti-Semitism in Europe during the Holocaust. As a city, we can play a small role in serving as a haven for residents who are seeking basic human rights, such as safety and peace.” The Mayor also assured the crowd that ” Over the last few days we have worked with advocates of the State of New Jersey and we will introduce formal laws to the city council over the next few days that make Jersey City one of the clearest and strongest Sanctuary cities in the State of New Jersey.”
Kobra’s Iconic Murals Include Portraits of Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Bob Dylan, Nelson Mandela, and John Lennon, with Murals in More than 20 Countries and 30 U.S. Projects
KOBRA
PHOTO CAPTION: International mural artist, Eduardo Kobra, stands in front of his mural of Bob Dylan in downtown Minneapolis.
JERSEY CITY – Fresh off setting the Guinness Book of World Records for the “largest spray paint mural by a team” with his Rio 2016 Olympic Games-inspired “Ethnicities,” internationally-renowned, Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra is bringing his unique vision and talent to Jersey City.
The casket of slain JCPD Officer Melivin Santiago carried into St. Aloysius Church, Jersey City
Outside St. Aloysius Church in Jersey City after the service for Officer Melvin Santiago
Fellow Police Officers carry JCPD Officer Melivn Santiago’s casket into St. Aloysius Church
The funeral for Jersey City Police
Fellow Officers from as far as Philadelphia fill the church for Police Officer Melvin Santiago’s funeral
Officer Melvin Santiago on Friday offered a somber pause, a reflective respite from a very tense week for law enforcement and the public at large.
The 23-year-old was laid to rest at St. Aloysius Church on West Side Avenue, mourned by grieving family and friends, his fellow officers, and elected officials. Also, hundreds of officers from locations as far away as Philadelphia lined the street outside when his casket was brought into the church. Continue reading Fallen Jersey City Police Officer Melvin Santiago Remembered at Funeral→
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