Mayor Jerramiah Healy said he’d put more police on the streets and talked about future development projects in his 40-minute “State of the City” address on Wednesday at City Hall.
“The state of our city is strong,” Healy said, “and continues to be a beacon in these difficult economic times.”
Healy is up for reelection in the May 12 municipal election.
While some critics said Healy ignored important topics during the address, others gave it accolades.
Public safety first
There have been four murders and one hit-and-run death in Jersey City so far this year, and murder and rape statistics increased in 2008 from the year before. Many residents have been concerned that crime is getting worse and that Healy has been putting a sunny face on the issue.
Thus, on Wednesday, Healy started off the address by talking about public safety.
The mayor said he has “instructed” Police Chief Thomas Comey to increase the amount of police officers assigned to street patrol by 15 percent starting March 1.
Healy also touted construction of the new West District Police Station on Jackson Avenue, scheduled to start in three months, and vowed to build another new police station in the Journal Square/Heights area in coming years.
He also pledged more outreach by the police to the community, to gather intelligence on criminal activity and deal with other quality-of-life issues.
“Our residents often have the best intelligence as to where and when criminal activity takes place,” Healy said.
Rising up
The mayor then detailed several upcoming development projects in the city, with special emphasis on his “vision” for revitalizing Journal Square, referring to the redevelopment plan that may bring 10,000 residential units and numerous retail outlets to 244 acres of property.
“As this vision is executed, the economic vitality of the Square will be enhanced by expanding every level of residential and commercial activity in Journal Square,” Healy said.
However, when it came to an arts district downtown known as the Powerhouse Arts District, he only spoke briefly. He said the city was continuing plans for a “vibrant” Powerhouse Arts District and pointed to pending stabilization of the old Hudson and Manhattan Powerhouse. However, several developers in that district have applied to have their projects included in subdistricts that would free them from zoning guidelines for a certain amount of affordable and artist housing.
Also, Healy lauded 369 units of affordable housing currently under construction throughout the city, and 350 more in the planning stages. Continuing the “affordable” theme, Healy said that the municipal tax rate will not increase by the time the proposed $460.2 budget is adopted sometime in April.
At the end of his address, Healy talked of paving more roads, working with the Board of Education to implement an independent curriculum audit of the Jersey City school district, and encouraging businesses to stop using plastic bags.
Not in the address
Some residents appreciated the address, while others said Healy sidestepped important issues.
Downtown residents Liz Long and Holly Tienken, co-founders of a local reusable bag company, Bag the Habit, were honored by Healy during the speech for their work. Afterward, they credited him for his recent “green” initiatives for government operations. The City Council recently passed four initiatives to make city cars and operations run in a more environmentally friendly way.
Tienken said she felt “well-informed” by the address.
Jersey City native Daryn Martin, a longtime advocate for affordable housing, wanted to hear more discussion of that issue, as well as promises to build more.
Mayoral candidate and good-government activist Dan Levin said Healy gave a “comprehensive” speech, but took issue with him mentioning the word change three dozen times. Levin said Healy and his administration do not represent change.
“I think he did a real nice job.” – Steven Fulop
________
“He didn’t talk about anything relating to improving the operation of government; he didn’t mention the city adopting the state’s ethics code; he didn’t mention anything about pay-to-play reform,” Levin said. “I’m looking for a mayor who is first and foremost serving the people, not special interests.”
But Healy’s speech won over one of the mayor’s biggest critics – City Councilman Steven Fulop.
“I think he did a real nice job,” Fulop said. “I think he has a lot to be proud of, and he highlighted a lot of the positive things that are happening in the city.”
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.