A closed session decision by the Bayonne Board of Education to evict the Police Athletic League (PAL) from its longtime headquarters was met with opposition last week after an eviction notice reached the PAL at Midtown Community School, where its program has been housed since 1977. The organization was ordered to vacate the premises by August 1. According to Board President Joe Broderick, the proposal to evict the PAL was controversial even in closed discussions. “We polled whether to go forward with [the eviction]. Even at that time, there was quite a bit of debate as to what we should do.”
The polling decision is a part of a larger plan to expand afterschool childcare programs in all Bayonne schools, and does not include the PAL’s night programs, such as basketball and boxing. “Only the programs that conflict with the district’s afterschool program would be eliminated,” Broderick said. “Unfortunately, one of the main concerns was that Midtown has the PAL program there.” He assured that “nothing is set in stone,” and “the program itself is not complete.”
“We here at the PAL have had enough. We give into everything they need. But there has to be a time we need to be left alone.”– K.T. Torello, executive director, Bayonne PAL
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Goals in mind
Like many Bayonne natives, Broderick grew up with the PAL. He said, “None of us are contesting whether or not they’re doing a good job. We know the PAL is a terrific service. I was a PAL guy myself growing up playing in the basketball league.” The BOE’s goal is independent of the PAL’s efficacy, and so is the problem that goal addresses. To justify shutting down the PAL’s afterschool programs, Broderick points to “parents’ increased need for afterschool care” and a currently inefficient afterschool busing system. He said, “With a program at every school, you eliminate the need (and cost) of busing. Right now if your child goes to Woodrow Wilson, and the afterschool program is at Midtown, you have to get them on a bus to send them there or to the YMCA or the Jewish Community Center, or wherever. The idea is to reduce travel times for kids and not increase costs for parents.”
Ultimately, the BOE plans to expand their afterschool program conflict with the PAL’s plan to stay put.
BOE vs PAL
K.T. Torello, PAL executive director, said the PAL eviction effort might not have legal grounds. “Our attorneys feel strongly that we will persevere because the board took illegal action by having the polling in closed doors. After the vote is taken it is supposed to be put up for a motion and be put up on the agenda before McGeehan can send out a letter.” He also said that the PAL does not (and should not) owe the Board of Education any rent nor does he need to give up his space.“We had an agreement with the BOE, and I have signed documents that say once the old school [Roosevelt Middle School] is demolished, then the move into Midtown is at no cost to the PAL.” The PAL’s old building was on the property that the Midtown Community School is on today. The agreement between the Board of Education and the PAL was that the PAL would be allowed to use school space free of charge in exchange for clearing the PAL building to make way for a larger-capacity school.
He called the BOE’s eviction efforts, “bullying tactics.” He said, “They just want to take it over. It’s a grab.” While the BOE is trying to make room for their own afterschool program, Torello points at the hypocrisy of other organizations that use the space free of charge. “The Girl Scouts used this building, and they never charged them,” he said. “The Bridgemen used it, and they never charged them. Why are they picking on one organization?” Torello thinks that the city should not have to choose between expanding the BOE’s afterschool programs and keeping the PAL. “This school is large enough for everyone,” he said.
Aside from his conviction that the BOE’s actions are illegal and will not stand in court, KT Torello is betting on the PAL’s legacy and its support from the community to stay at Midtown. He said, “The PAL has been cherished in this community for decades,” and that he talks to parents about afterschool programs in the city. “I asked our parents who are coming, would you rather have your kids bused to the PAL or leave them at the school,” he said. “Not one says they want it. They don’t want their kids staying at one school all day. They make friends here instead of being in one room all day.”
Broderick, on the other hand, says the issue is about logistics and funding rather than space and reputation. He said, “PAL has been there since 1977, haven’t paid any rent, haven’t paid anything.As soon as we rent out the ice rink, we expect money. The pool, we expect money. The gym is the same. Why isn’t the PAL paying?” Broderick argues that when the BOE does not earn revenue from renting space, those costs are effectively passed along to parents and taxpayers. He said, “If they have documentation to prove they have a legal entitlement to that space, then we’ll see.”
The clash between the BOE and the PAL highlights a national trend: increasing childcare costs. By maximizing the space available for afterschool programs, the district is preparing to meet the increasing demand for childcare. According to a report published by Child Care Aware, the average annual cost for before- and afterschool programs is rising and New Jersey ranks 14th out of 50 in cost of afterschool care. Census data shows that while 70 percent of mothers of children under the age of 18 are employed nationally, wages are fairly stagnant.
“At the end of the day, the BOE and Dr. McGeehan should take a big breath and let the public talk about this.” – Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti
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Backlash
City officials support the need for more afterschool programs. They decry what they say is the clandestine manner in which the board made the decision to evict the PAL and the short timeline given to vacate. Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti said, “Whatever the situation was, it violates the public trust.” He said he took issue with the board’s “secret” process. “That era of closed-door decisions is gone,” said.“We have to make sure that the public doesn’t accept that.” Mayor James Davis echoed this view in a public statement: “This vote, to my knowledge, was not made in public session. There was no public comment, nor was there public discussion on the matter. If true, this was a controversial move made behind closed doors.”
The Assemblyman and the mayor both called for the BOE to allow for a public discussion at June’s board meeting. Chiaravalloti said, “At the end of the day, the BOE and Dr. McGeehan should take a big breath and let the public talk about this. I think the process was wrong. They need to rescind the eviction. They need to evaluate it and accept public comments.”
After the public backlash, the BOE backed away slightly, with Broderick agreeing that public should have a say. “I agree with the mayor that public has a right to speak, and so does the PAL,” he said.“Then we’ll tell our side of it.” He recognizes the eviction notice is not the end. “On paper, it looks like a good program,” he said.“There’s a million things to consider. Does the public want this?”
The PAL is well-known and valued in the community, and prominent local politicians seem to support it staying at the Midtown Community School. “We here at the PAL have had enough,” Torello said.“We give into everything they need. But there has to be a time we need to be left alone.”
News of the eviction came a week before the Mayor’s State of the City Address on June 9. The mayor and Chiaravelloti held a press conference on Tuesday in support of the PAL.
Rory Pasquariello may be reached at roryp@hudsonreporter.com and @BayonneCmtyNews on Twitter.