Dear Editor:
My wife and I are supporting Chris Gadsden in the upcoming run-off election on Dec. 5 for Ward B City Council because he has been among the few council voices on two very important issues to our family – funding education and traffic safety. Since he won the special Ward B City Council election in November 2016, in less than a year of time on the council, he has quickly earned our support.
This past May, Councilman Gadsden sponsored an ordinance that would have by law sent an amount from tax abatements to the school district equal to what would be due to the district if a tax abated property was taxed conventionally. For too long luxury housing that has been subsidized via tax abatements by everyone else has not contributed to paying for our schools and he wants to change that.
As our streets only become more dangerous, Councilman Gadsden has been the only council person to tackle traffic safety and has supported the work of Bike JC and Safe Streets JC. Back in July, as a promise made to the sister of the woman who was killed at the Communipaw and West Side intersection by a van that something would be done, Councilman Gadsden met with Jersey City Director of Traffic and Transportation and key stakeholders. They discussed surrounding traffic calming and pedestrian safety solutions at Communipaw and West Side and Harrison and West Side and came up with some concrete short and long term solutions.
It is has been more than a dozen years since Ward B has had a council member serve a full term. Ward B deserves stability.
Please vote for Chris Gadsden on Dec. 5 for the Ward B seat.
Sincerely,
Daniel Levin
