Dear Editor:
CivicJC is of the opinion that legislation should be based on solid evidence and not on impulse. It should follow an open and transparent process of robust and informed public debate, taking into account evidence, necessity and the opinion of the public. That stated, we have seen nothing that would indicate a process was adhered to or evidence that would precipitate the need for Mayor Fulop’s proposal to limit chain stores to 30 percent of Downtown retail spaces.
It is hard to argue with the idea of supporting independent, locally owned retail businesses as it serves as a precious reminder that small business is the foundation of our economy. Every Jersey City resident probably has a favorite “mom and pop” business that he or she would like to protect from the threat of national chains and corporate interests. Thus, Mayor Fulop’s proposal has immediate appeal, however numbers speak for themselves. A quick look at the mayor’s proposal begs a raft of questions that need examination and answers before enacted as law.
First, is there really a problem that needs to be addressed? There may not be. Civic JC conducted its own examination and here’s what we found: Of the 179 stores along downtown Grove Street and Newark Avenue, surprisingly, only 21 are part of a chain. This amounts to a paltry 12 percent.
Some might say. But that’s now, what about in the future? Recognizing the need to look forward, we also did an examination of Washington Street in Hoboken, easily ten years ahead of Jersey City in terms of development. There, as in the case of Downtown Jersey City, the percentage of businesses that would qualify as chain stores again falls well below the 30 percent set by the mayor and computes to a mere 20 percent. Removing from the equation banks and utilities such as Verizon and PSE&G (which are, by definition chains), the percentage dropped to 17 percent. These numbers suggest to us that chain stores may pose little threat to independent businesses in the Downtown area.
There are other questions that need to be answered. Where has an identical ordinance in a comparable city been implemented and what were the results? Did shopping options increase or decrease? Did prices go up, down or remain the same?
How would the ordinance affect commercial and residential property values? What is the likelihood that commercial landlords will sue the city if their property values are decreased or income is negatively impacted? What will the cost of such litigation be? Has the city studied and identified whether there are, in fact, independent stores ready to provide the downtown community with furniture, men’s clothing, women’s clothing, children’s clothing, shoes, electronics and the myriad of other items that a vibrant shopping district requires?
Do Downtown Jersey City residents want their shopping options limited in this way or dictated to them?
We have not been provided with the quantitative data that would answer all, or even some, of these questions. We should first seek to find solutions to problems, even those problems that may be in perception only, before imposing restrictive legislation.
We urge the municipal council to ask these hard questions before approving the mayor’s proposal.”
Esther Wintner