$2.7 Million Investment Reinvigorates Former Paved Lot into Dynamic 16^th Street Park

 Mayor Steven M. Fulop joined City Council members, the Department of Infrastructure, residents, and community leaders to officially cut the ribbon on the brand-new 16^th Street Park, marking the completion of a $2.7 million transformation from an asphalt basketball lot into one of the city’s most dynamic and inclusive green spaces.

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Most Affordable Housing of Any Private Mixed-income Community This Size in the Country

— Mayor Steven M. Fulop, the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA), and City Council Members joined Bayfront Development Partners, LLC — a joint venture between Pennrose LLC and Paths — to officially break ground today on the first building in the long-anticipated Bayfront Redevelopment Project on May 14, 2025, marking a historic milestone in Jersey City’s largest mixed-income community initiative to date.

Located on the Hackensack River Waterfront, the six-story Bayfront Promenade building will feature 210 residential units, of which 167 units are set aside for low- and moderate-income households:

• 74 affordable units designated for low-income families earning 60% or below AMI.
• 93 workforce units designated for moderate-income families earning at or below 120% AMI.
• 80% of affordable and workforce units in total at Bayfront Promenade.

The post FULL ARTICLE- Jersey City Breaks Ground on Historic Redevelopment Project with 80% Affordable & Workforce Housing first appeared on River View Observer.

JCYMAP is an extension of the Mural Arts Program (JCMAP) created by Mayor Fulop in 2013 to combat graffiti, engage the community, and beautify the city’s urban landscape into an outdoor art gallery.

To mark the 10-year milestone, a special event will feature the opening of a gallery art exhibition and premiere screening of the short documentary ARTISTS THAT INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS, directed by artist Duda Penteado and produced by Unshakeable Productions. The documentary highlights the incredible work of the 2024 JCYMAP participants and their contributions to this year’s mural project. The celebration will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at JC WALLS, located at 90 Forrest Street, Jersey City, NJ.

The post Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Office of Cultural Affairs and Department of Recreation and Youth Development alongside Jersey City artists and arts community to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the robust Jersey City Youth Mural Arts Program.  first appeared on River View Observer.

Jersey City is still beaming with pride after the St. Peter’s Men’s basketball team made an incredible appearance during March Madness.

St. Peter’s gained national attention after knocking out the second-seeded Kentucky in their first game before moving on to defeat seventh-seeded Murray State, advancing to the third round of the tournament, which is known as the Sweet 16.

Saint Peter’s is only the third 15 seed in the men’s tournament history to advance to the Sweet Sixteen and the first to advance to the Elite Eight. They excited the world of sports with their win over Purdue University 67-64

However, Saint Peter’s University’s Cinderella story came to an end on Sunday with a 69-49 loss against the University of North Carolina.

Mayor Fulop noted in an email to his constituents “These young athletes showed the nation what Jersey City is all about and we could not be more proud of the team.
As a proper thank you, the City and community will host a parade Friday April 1st 2022 starting at 2 p.m. as we continue our celebrations. “

The parade will start from the Statue of Abraham Lincoln, proceed straight down JFK Boulevard, and end in front of St. Peter’s University.
If you would like to attend Friday, as we celebrate and show our continued support for Peacock Nation!

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Kobraâ€s Iconic Murals Include Portraits of

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.

Widely known simply as Kobra, the sought-after artist has begun work on a 180-foot tall mural on the façade of 837 Jersey Avenue in downtown Jersey City. 

Kobra, whose murals of notable historical figures include Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Bob Dylan, Nelson Mandela, and John Lennon, are painted utilizing bright colors and bold lines while incorporating a kaleidoscope theme.  Much of Kobraâ€s work represents fraternity, respect for the other cultures and acceptance and love for differences, which was one of the reasons he was approached for the Jersey City Mural Art Program that is rooted in the cityâ€s diversity.

Kobra has worked in more than 20 countries and created more than 30 projects in the United States alone, with murals in London, Athens, Lyon, Los Angeles and New York.

“Jersey City has one of the most diverse and expansive mural arts programs in the country and we couldnâ€t be more excited to welcome Kobra to contribute to the artistic landscape of our city,” said Mayor Fulop.  “His work is recognized around the world and his Jersey City mural will not only be our largest to date, but will also be an iconic image that will draw people here to visit the mural and our entire collection of outdoor art.”

Expected to take approximately two weeks to complete, the new mural will be an exciting addition to the more than 86 other public works of art created throughout the city by local and international artists in the past three years as part of the cityâ€s flourishing Mural Arts Program.

“Itâ€s great to see that Jersey City has embraced street art through its mural program and Iâ€m very happy to be a part of it,” said Kobra.

Launched in 2013 by Mayor Steven Fulop to foster arts and cultural awareness, the Mural Arts Program has effectively transformed the City into an outdoor gallery through the creative works of local, national and international street artists, including Shepard Fairey, Pixel Pancho, Karski & Beyond, Fintan McGee, Faith47, and WK Interact, and local artists Mustart, Fermin Mendoza, Lissanne Lake and Catherine Hart.

The new installation is taking place during Jersey Cityâ€s Annual ARTober festivities that kicked off with the 26th Annual Jersey City Art and Studio Tour (JCAST), a city-wide showcase of the arts featuring nearly 1,000 participating artists in hundreds of venues that include private studios, galleries, local businesses, and pop-up and public spaces.

To further integrate the Kobra mural into the local Jersey City art celebration – which runs through the end of October, – a 10,000-square-foot pop-up gallery has opened in the 17^th Street retail space of the Cast Iron Lofts building that displays a collection of works from nearly half of the participating artists in Jersey Cityâ€s Mural Arts Program.   Entitled “OUTSIDE/in,” the gallery features more than 85 pieces of visual artwork from acclaimed mural artists such as Distort, Emilio Florentine, Hell Bent, John T. Ruddy, Pawn and many others. The exhibition also includes indoor murals and large-scale installations, and is open to the public every Saturday in October from 12pm to 4pm.

The Kobra mural and “OUTSIDE/in” exhibit reflect Jersey Cityâ€s emergence as an important art and cultural destination that attracts the creative class.  The Mural Arts Program has commissioned works that support local art and beautify neighborhoods by programming public spaces with outdoor paintings that deter graffiti and incorporate the cultural and historical aspects of different neighborhoods.  Jersey Cityâ€s Mural Arts program has been compared to those in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Detroit and Miamiâ€s Wynwood neighborhood.  The Kobra mural, and others like it in Jersey City, offer accessible, authentic artwork that can help enhance and re-energize neighborhoods through creativity and aesthetic beauty.

 

The post One of the Largest Names in the International Mural Scene, KOBRA, Begins Massive New Mural in Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

Including Jersey Cityâ€s First Small Business Office, an Audit of the Permitting Process, and a “One Stop Shop” Online Small Business Resource Portal

More Than 450 Small Businesses Have Opened Across Jersey City Since Mayor Fulop Took Office; Package of Initiatives Will Build On Past Success

JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop is announcing a package of three new initiatives to help support Jersey Cityâ€s growing small business community that include a “one stop shop” online portal for small businesses, an audit of the small business permitting and licensing process, and the creation of Jersey Cityâ€s first Office of Small Business. The new initiatives build upon the past successes to provide more resources and information and create a more user-friendly atmosphere for local entrepreneurs.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, adding texture and diversity to our communities and neighborhoods and providing jobs to local residents,” said Mayor Fulop. “The steps we are announcing today will build on our efforts to make small business development a focus of our cityâ€s economic growth by making it easier than ever for aspiring business owners to join Jersey Cityâ€s thriving business community.”

The “One Stop Shop” online portal, which will launch later in the spring, will include a directory of business services and professional development opportunities in Jersey City, a list of Jersey City rules and regulations for operating a business, available funding opportunities for small businesses, as well as a business directory (searchable by location and by type) for networking opportunities.

The Fulop administration will also be creating Jersey Cityâ€s first Office of Small Business, housed within the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), dedicating a single phone number and city staff member to talk to for guidance about anything related to small businesses. The hiring process is in progress for the Small Business Development Coordinator, the first position in this team. Anyone interested in applying should email iteam@jcnj.org.

The administration is also conducting an audit of the permitting and licensing process for small businesses. The Office of Innovation has hired a consultant, Zucker Systems, to analyze the process flow for obtaining all licenses, permits, and approvals for small businesses. Objectives include understanding the current business licensing and permitting process, both as it is perceived by customers and the internal workflow and management; reducing processing times and improve efficiency; improving access to information and the overall customer experience; recommending short, medium and long term actions; and creating a comprehensive action plan to move permitting and licensing to an automated online system.

The permit review process is currently underway with findings and recommendations expected later this year and a new online and automated permitting tool to be in development shortly thereafter.

“The Jersey City Office of Innovation has invested a lot of time and energy to identify the challenges of opening and operating a small business and their efforts are paying off,” said David Diaz, District Manager, Central Avenue Special Improvement District, Corp. “Revamping the permitting and licensing process has been a long time coming and will be a big step to boosting small businesses citywide, encouraging new investment and creating local jobs. Making Jersey City business friendly is a major goal and streamlining the process will be a tremendous asset in growing the small business economy.”

Earlier this week, Mayor Fulop announced two new micro-loan programs to assist local entrepreneurs who wish to invest in their businesses or start a new one, especially in those areas most in need. The two new loan programs expand on the success of the Jersey City Fund, a $10 million fund which launched last September to provide small business loans from $25,000-$250,000, the Cityâ€s new programs help facilitate funding for qualified business owners needing smaller infusions of capital.

The initiatives announced this week are just the latest in a series of steps taken by the Fulop Administration to support local small businesses in Jersey City. From revamping the Buildings Department to expedite approvals to driving new development throughout the city with an innovative tax abatement policy, the Fulop Administration has made improving the business climate in Jersey City a top priority.

These efforts have had a large impact on the economic landscape. Since Mayor Fulop took office, more than 450 small businesses have opened shop in Jersey City. The small business growth has contributed to a net 6,333 new jobs created since July of 2013, as employment has dropped to an historic low of five percent.

ABOUT THE JERSEY CITY OFFICE OF INNOVATION:

The Jersey City Office of Innovation is a newly formed office in City Hall established by a $2.25 million Bloomberg Philanthropies†Innovation Teams Grant awarded in 2014. The program aims to improve the capacity of city governments to effectively design and implement new approaches that improve citizens†lives. The Office of Innovation has prioritized broad input and participation in the process in order to ensure all work reflects the needs and desires of the community. The Jersey City Office of Innovation is developing a portfolio of strategies to help revitalize commercial corridors in targeted, underserved neighborhoods throughout the City, with the overarching goal of reducing commercial vacancies within targeted neighborhoods by implementing initiatives designed to streamline the business permitting and licensing process, improve the neighborhood environments and streetscapes within these corridors, expand resources available to small businesses, amongst other objectives. For more information, visit: www.innovatejerseycity.org.

The post Fulop Administration Announces Several New Initiatives to Support Small Business Owners in Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

1. The mural program was started and continues to be executed through the Mayor’s Office under the direction of Brooke Hansson, and all inquiries regarding the program should be directed to her at bhansson@jcnj.org.

2. The murals program started out as an anti-graffiti project and continues to be an anti-graffiti project which is how it is 100% funded and why it has a graffiti vandal community service component.

3. The name of the mural program was never changed. The brochures are a street gallery map of the mural arts program.

The post JC Mural Arts Program Clarifications first appeared on River View Observer.

Jersey City Police Officer
Melvin Santiago

Archbishop Hebda, members of the clergy, to Kathy and Al McBride, Melvinâ€s brother Alex, all of his family and friends that are here today.  On behalf of the City of Jersey City and the Jersey City Police Department, I offer to you our deepest condolences.

Melvin Santiago was everything we would want in a police officer. He was hard working and conscientious, good and courageous, strong and considerate. To quote the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C., “It was not how these officers died that made them heroes; it is how they lived.”

Melvin had always wanted to be a police officer.  Iâ€ve been told that as a boy heâ€d travel with his uncle to the precinct to learn about the JC Police Department.

From family and friends, weâ€ve learned that Melvin kept that dream alive in his heart and worked diligently in high school and his years in college to qualify as a police officer. And, when the time came to serve, he repeatedly requested to serve in the West District so that he could guard the community which was his home, which was his family.

He was assigned to the West. Captain Mike Kelly describes Melvin as squared away in his work and manner, intent upon learning, and always trying to be better. Mike told me how Melvin would just watch the older guys, watch and learn, that he wanted to bring pride to the West, an bring honor the profession of law enforcement. Kelly would try to encourage Melvin to relax and smile. I personally think that the “Eagles” cap that Melvin wore to work put Mike a bit off.

In the year since Melvin came on the West, he participated in patrols and police work, he chased down perpetrators and arrested them, he was on the front lines of the district and handled everything that came his way.

And whether it was neighbors†yelling, domestic disputes, or the threat of gun violence, Melvin was intent upon good prevailing over evil, protecting the vulnerable, and order maintained in or community.

Melvin represented the best of that thin blue line which protects and defends civilized society from the indiscriminate violence which human beings are capable of.

Melvin understood that serving as a police officer is dangerous, but he also knew that it was the highest calling of service.

And as Melvinâ€s family knows, it was not only his willingness to make the supreme sacrifice, but his daily commitment to service, his quiet, dogged determination to be a force for good, and to give the protection of the law to the entire community — including those who would tear it down.

Melvin never excused himself from the standards that he was commanded to enforce. The self-discipline and principled behavior, which Melvin always showed, is what makes a police officer so unique, and it is also what makes the brother and sisterhood that is law enforcement so sacred.

While we ask you to protect and serve us all, we also ask you to hold yourselves to the highest standards, on the job and also in your private lives. This was a part of his service which Melvin approached with a determination which was exceptional even among police officers.

This morning, in this sacred place, we as a community express our eternal gratitude for the life and legacy of Melvin Santiago, and that of all law enforcement.

Last week when Alex wrote an essay about his brother, he expressed his gratitude in the title, “my hero.” Well Alex, Melvin is also my hero and Iâ€m quite certain heâ€s also the hero of quite a few people in this church

As every police officer will honor his memory each time they don the uniform, let all of us take a moment deepen our appreciation for Melvinâ€s life and sacrifice.

Let us also consider our larger struggle to carve out a space of order and security in this world for ourselves and our families.

Melvinâ€s service and sacrifice are a special part of that struggle, and in light of his courage, let us return to it with a renewed determination and commitment which meets his high standards.

May eternal rest grant unto Melvin, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul and all of the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

The post Eulogy for Jersey City Police Officer Melvin Santiago by Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop July, 18, 2014 first appeared on River View Observer.