To the Editor:
I write this letter to talk about an alarming trend in our Bayonne parks. I have spoken to several parents and I see it almost every day on Facebook; parents who are complaining about older kids, middle school age, taking over the parks with inappropriate conduct.
This is an unfortunate trend and some parents are afraid to bring their smaller children to the parks as a result. There are two issues that are leading to this situation:
First, there are very limited recreational facilities for our youth in this community. It is frustrating. Instead of a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) why can’t we have a FILOT (Facilities in Lieu of Taxes). Instead of our city government giving out PILOTS and Abatements, we can work with developers and say, “You guys are going to build a Recreational Center for the youth in our community.” This was a campaign promise by Mayor Davis that was never fulfilled.
Jersey City residents are benefitting from parks, police stations, and schools built by the developers that are building in their city. Why can’t we?
Second, the lack of supervision at these parks is glaring. I had written a letter two years ago asking for closed circuit cameras to be installed in all of our city parks and have a live feed to the Bayonne Police Station. I am calling for that again and asking for monitors in our city parks. I understand the Bayonne Police are patrolling our streets but perhaps we can have either additional units assigned, the Bayonne Police Explorers could assist, or we could hire part-time security guards assigned during peak park hours.
Members of this community should not be intimidated or feel unsafe in our city parks. It is up to our city government and our elected officials to protect us and come up with a viable solution as I have laid out.
CHRISTOPHER MUNOZ
