Fulop Administration Celebrates Milestone Achievements of In-House Animal Care and Control Services

 Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are proud to announce that since transitioning to a municipally operated Animal Care and Control, the full-service animal shelter continues to meet and exceed the administration’s initial goals of ensuring humane treatment and enforcement for all animals in need with a high-performing shelter that is already receiving national recognition for its achievements.

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Since the city took over operations at the animal shelter in January, over 1,000 animals have been surrendered by owners.  This year, Animal Care and Control successfully saved over 90% of the dogs and cats under their care.

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Mayor Steven M. Fulop, the Department of Infrastructure, and the Division of Parks joined community members and local officials today to cut the ribbon at two revitalized neighborhood parks, Pavonia Marion Park and Thomas McGovern Playground, marking another significant step in the city’s commitment to equitable, high-quality open space for all residents. 

With a combined investment of more than $2.6 million, the transformative upgrades mark another milestone in the city’s mission to enhance community infrastructure, promote healthy lifestyles, and prioritize environmental sustainability.

 “Investments in our parks are investments in our people,” said Mayor Fulop.  “These two renovated parks are prime examples of how we are working together with residents to reimagine our public spaces in a way that is community-driven, environmentally responsible, and future-focused.”

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Valentine’s Event Makes Love Connections for Residents & Stray or Abandoned Animals in Need

Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and community members to celebrate the successful transition to full-service Animal Care and Control now run by the City of Jersey City to ensure humane treatment and enforcement for animals in need by establishing 24/7 operations, on-site dog licensing with adoptions, expanding operating hours for more public access, and working with the community to create a robust volunteer program.

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Beginning today applications are online

Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins the Office of Cultural Affairs and Art Fair 14C Executive Director Robinson Holloway to announce the premier of Jersey City Art Week – a new partnership between Jersey Cityâ€s largest visual arts events.

The Jersey City Art and Studio Tour (JCAST) and Art Fair 14C are joining forces to host concurrent events in October, creating a super-sized visual arts experience that will showcase Jersey Cityâ€s vibrant arts and culture scene.  Jersey City Art Week will attract local, national, and international artists to Jersey City alongside fine art exhibitors.

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Following Successful First Round of Grants Awarded to 89 Artists and Arts Entities, Latest Tranche Further Expands Opportunities 

 Mayor Steven M. Fulop, City Council members, and the Arts and Culture Trust Fund Committee announce this Monday, January 23, applications will open for the second round of Arts and Culture Trust Fund grants to expand arts education and programming citywide.  Following the successful first allocation of grants, totaling $900,000 awarded to 89 artists and arts organizations last year, the City is looking to promote even more applicants from Jersey Cityâ€s flourishing arts community with this latest round of funding. 

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City Council Votes Tonight on Nearly Doubling the Size of Much-needed Park Space in Ward F

 Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins City Council members, the Jersey City Parks Coalition, and community members to announce the expansion of the new community-driven Fairmount Square Park with the acquisition of an unsightly car storage lot to increase the size of the new neighborhood park in Bergen-Lafayette by 40%.

Following the success of the Cityâ€s 2019 pilot program to replace the underutilized space with a functional park, which has remained in place since, the City conducted a traffic assessment and held numerous community meetings to incorporate residents†input into the new vision for a safe outdoor recreational area to benefit the neighborhood.  With the acquisition of the additional property currently used to store cars for an auto body shop, the City will expand the park by an additional 3,200 square feet.

“We are creating this brand new park at the residents†request, and today, weâ€re taking it a step further by transforming an adjacent scrap yard into green public space to foster community and promote physical and mental activity outdoors,” said Mayor Fulop.  “After hosting numerous community meetings and surveys, this transformational park is the latest example of how we continue to look for ways to help neighborhoods in all six wards meet their fullest potential by listening to the residents†needs and turning their input into actionable steps to improve the community and quality of life overall.”

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Mayor Fulop and Jersey City Together Target Underlying Contributors of Long-term Community Violence Exacerbated by the Pandemic

Mayor Steven M. Fulop joins Jersey Cityâ€s Division of Community Development (DCD) to announcethe launch of a new grant-funded Violence Prevention Program designed to acknowledge, target, and respond to the uptick in violence resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The RFP was designed in conjunction with Jersey City Together.

Jersey City has dedicated $500,000 in the first tranche towards the Violence Prevent Program Request for Proposal (RFP). Eligible organizations can apply for funding to launch this program focusing on helping the Cityâ€s youth, adults, and seniors within low- and moderate-income areas as defined by HUD. The RFP is open through February 18, 2022.

“We are committed to driving down crime and violence in our area, and this community-based Violence Prevention Program will leverage our local resources to address the underlying conditions that result in long-term violence,” said Mayor Fulop. “With this program, we want to ensure safer, healthier, and equitable communities by providing at-risk residents with the tools to heal from traumatic experiences, while also providing the support and skills to achieve their short- and long-term life goals.” 

The comprehensive Violence Prevention Program will address structural inequities and invest necessary resources. The new initiative will complement programs implemented in the last year, such as Mental Health First Aid efforts, as part of a comprehensive approach to address domestic violence issues, homeless outreach, violence prevention, and mental health support – all of which have seen stark increases since the onset of COVID-19.

“Jersey City Together fully supports allocating and investing in proven violence prevention strategies for our City. Community-based violence reduction models like these use outreach, connecting individuals to social services and other supports to respond to the problems we face, as a proactive approach to prevent violence from occurring,” said Bill Lillis, a member of Jersey City Together’s strategy team.

The program is shaped by community-based prevention frameworks utilizing intervention methods that are proven effective, including:

·         Community mobilization efforts

·         Youth outreach

·         Public education

·         Leadership involvement

·         Mentorships

·         Trained credible messengers

·         Social services navigation/support

·         Life management action plans

“The program will serve at-risk individuals who experience violence within their community while centering the needs of constituents. This directly aligns with our mission ‘to strengthen Jersey City through fostering strong partnerships and responsibly investing our funding resources in the community,â€â€ said Community Development Division Director Deja Anderson.

The deadline for submitting proposals is Friday, February 18, 2022, at 11:59 pm.  Applicants should be proficient in languages found within Jersey City. The Request for Proposal application can be accessed through the Jersey City website here.

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