The man who was struck by an officer in 2017 had sued in federal court over the incident. File photo.
A Jersey City man who was struck by a police officer in 2017 will receive a $925,000 settlement from the city after the City Council approved it to end litigation between the man and the city over the case.
The council unanimously approved the settlement at their Oct. 13 meeting, stating that the Jersey City Insurance Fund Commission will issue a check in that amount to Jonathan Sanders, the man who was hit, in a trust by his attorney, Joel Silberman.
According to the resolution, Sanders had sued Jersey City, the city’s police department, and officers Morton Otundo, Francisco Montero, John Saleh and Albert Bauer in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleging that his civil rights were violated and that he suffered injuries.
The Jersey Journalreported back in May of 2017 that per Silberman, Sanders was punched when police responded to a report of “an aggressive man walking a ‘large’ pit bull without a leash and arguing with pedestrians.”
Video surveillance footage without sound of the incident posted by NJ.com on YouTube shows a six-and-a-half minute video that begins with Sanders conversing with at least three officers before the physical altercation.
At around the 4-minute and 30-second mark of the video, Sanders is seen reaching out to his dog, who is running around him, Otundo and another officer, and then extends his left arm to Otundo’s right shoulder when he is then hit by Otundo and falls onto the floor. Otundo then appears to be pinning Sanders onto the ground in the rest of the video.
Silberman told the Jersey Journal at the time that Sanders suffered fractures on his right eye socket, sinus wall and nose, and had to undergo reconstructive surgery in which a titanium plate was used to restore structural integrity to his eye socket.
“Absent such surgery, Mr. Sanders’ eyeball would have receded into his cheek,” Silberman told the Journal. He then said that “in the absence of such video it is likely that the officers involved would have maintained the version of events contained in their perjure-laden reports.”
A police report written by Otundo, according to the Journal, claims that Sanders was yelling obscenities at him and the other officers, and appeared to be intoxicated. He also claims that he pushed Sanders, and, because of his intoxicated state, fell to the floor and struck his head.
The resolution for the settlement states that “upon conducting a thorough assessment of the file, facts and the relevant law, a jury could plausibly conclude the plaintiff’s civil rights were violated and render a verdict in excess of the amount of the settlement, which would include compensatory damages and counsel fees.”
“Therefore, given the risks, costs and possible outcome associated with trial, Corporation Counsel recommends this settlement be approved,” the resolution concludes.
It is unknown if any disciplinary action was taken against the officers sued in the lawsuit. Otundo died in an off-duty motorcycle accident last year. A Jersey City spokesperson did not respond for comment about the settlement by the time of publication.
“The matter was settled in satisfaction with Mr. Sanders, and he’s happy to bring closure to this matter,” said Silberman in a brief comment to the Hudson Reporter.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
The Jersey City Council at their Oct. 13 meeting at City Hall. Screenshot via City of Jersey City on YouTube.
The Jersey City Council has adopted the creation of a new affordable housing overlay that Jersey City officials say will encourage more affordable housing in the city.
Originally announced back in July, the city said that the overlay would require developments that opt into it to build affordable housing at 10 to 15 percent of the total number of units. In return, developers would be allowed extra density.
The ordinance says developers who request or obtain additional units above the maximum permitted use per acre in the overlay must fulfill “certain community benefits and performance standards for the successful implementation of this overlay and the objectives of the Master Plan.”
All developments in the overlay will be subject to two main tiers: Tier 1 will require developments in low, moderate or middle income census tracts to provide 10 percent affordable housing, while Tier 2 will require those in upper income census tracts to provide 15 percent affordable housing.
Developments that also obtain tax abatements, also known as payment in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) from the city, must also provide 15 percent affordable housing.
At least 20 percent affordable housing will be required from those that get low income housing tax credits and/or tax-exempt bond financing from the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency, funding from the Economic Development Authority Aspire program or similar program, and/or any other similar state support.
During public comment at the Oct. 13 meeting, a number of people, including those from neighborhood associations, were critical of the ordinance, and asked the council to table it instead.
Susannah Karlsson of the Lincoln Park North Neighborhood Association read a statement from more than a dozen other neighborhood organizations, saying that the community had not had an “ample opportunity” to consider the ordinance when it comes to regulating developers.
“In reality, the overlay is a veiled density increase in yet another developer giveaway that threatens to fundamentally change the character of our city’s low-density R-1 neighborhoods, covering more than 30 percent of Jersey City,” read the statement by Karlsson.
The statement argued that the new overlay would remove any limits on density and allow developers to increase the number of units in their projects if they include one or more affordable units.
Resident Barbara Camacho said that the ordinance will “shift the burden to the residents” and argued that it expedites gentrification.
“I understand that we need affordable housing, but we can’t then increase density without control and call it affordable housing,” she said. “Because as you’ve seen, that doesn’t actually result in affordable housing and nothing in this particular ordinance ensures that.”
On the other side, a few public speakers supported the new overlay, with Jimmy Lee of SafeStreetsJC saying that affordability in the city “is a really difficult issue” and that they should treat it like a crisis.
“I really think we need to do something about improving affordability,” he said. “That there are incentives here; this is exactly the trade that we want to make. That someone’s going to make money, but they have to give something back and give something in terms of affordability for the city.”
Planning Division Director Tanya Marione said after public comments ended that the overlay wasn’t about increasing density, but increasing housing variety and housing types.
“What that does is structure the conversation to say ‘This is the box you are allowed to build in. If you would like more density, more housing variety to help us with our housing shortage, our housing affordability, scarcity and crisis, you can do so through expedited review’,” said Marione.
“Every single one of the affordable housing overlay districts in this country have one thing in common: expedited review,” she argued. “Otherwise, it can take anywhere from six months if you’re lucky, to two years to get that project through. I don’t know what else to say. I hate feeling like I’m being in a position of fighting with neighborhood associations.”
Councilman Rich Boggiano said after Marione’s comments that they want the opposite of more density, and argued that “we’re being destroyed in a city with parking, overcrowding, ridiculous buildings being built.”
“All we’re asking is that it be postponed to November the 9th, if we can work everything out,” he said. “That’s all we’re asking for.”
Councilman Frank Gilmore said that while he’s a recipient of affordable housing and that his Bergen-Lafayette-based Ward F may be the “biggest beneficiaries of such,” he asked Marione “What is the harm in more dialogue?” He said, “I think that’s the point where so many people are frustrated and outraged.”
“That they’re not getting a chance to essentially voice their concerns,” he said. “Again, we may not agree on everything, we may ultimately come back with the same thing, but at the very least people[‘s] input was considered.”
Before the final vote, a number of amendments were added to the ordinance on a 7-2 vote, with Boggiano and Gilmore opposed.
Gilmore made an attempt to table the whole ordinance, but it failed 3-6 with Boggiano, Gilmore and Councilman James Solomon voting in favor of tabling it.
Before the final vote, Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh called the ordinance “good policy,” and said that he’s seen a number of friends that had to leave the Heights. “There is no way to build inter-generational wealth if you’re putting more than half of your month’s salary into rent,” he said.
Gilmore said developers ”have essentially taken advantage of the way things are in Jersey City.”
“Even though it’s the same structure, the same density and everything I’m looking at, kicking out two families that was residing in this house, making way for one-bedrooms and even when it triggers, it’s a three-bedroom, but nonetheless, you’re losing that family cohesion within an R-1 zone,” he said.
The council ultimately voted 7-2 to adopt the ordinance, with Bogginao and Gilmore voting no.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
Pamela Valdez poses with a perfume as part of content created in partnership with Prada Beauty. Photos courtesy of Valdez.
Pamela Valdez is a lifelong Bayonne resident, born and raised in the city, and a fashion entrepreneur. For as long as she has lived in Bayonne, she has wanted to break into the fashion industry.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do since a young age and since high school,” Valdez said. “I always loved fashion specifically. Then when I saw I could get a degree in fashion business, I realized this is everything I want to do.”
Bayonne born and raised
A Bayonne High School graduate, she now studies fashion business as a junior at the Fashion Institute of Technology. However, she is not just a student, but also an active fashion blogger since she graduated from high school at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When I graduated from Bayonne High School in June of 2020, this was still when COVID-19 was still very heavy,” Valdez said. “So I started a blog that month after working on throughout quarantine. It’s called Glamour and Guide. I do interviews on there with other influencers in the industry and business owners.”
Once Valdez hit the ground running with Glamour and Guide, she soon found success with her product reviews, outfit inspirations, video content, dedicated posts, and product photography. A year later, she began her own small business in the city to help others become influencers like her.
“A year after that, I started a social media marketing agency,” Valdez said. “On there, I post opportunities for other people who are into fashion but also want to get into the industry.”
Since founding a social media management agency known as Valdez Agency, she has become not only a student and fashion blogger, but also a small business owner. Starting all that amid COVID-19 may seem daunting, but Valdez has been able to balance her time between these things.
“It was a little stressful, but I’m really good at time management,” Valdez said. “I will do school during the day, and then I’ll come home and I will dedicate a few hours to working on that. On weekends, I will go out with my sister. We’ll shoot content just for the blog or just for my personal social media. Then, throughout the week, I will just post whatever I did throughout the weekend.”
Valdez poses with an iced coffee as part of a partnership with Dunkin’ Donuts.
Content creation on social media platforms
On top of being a student, fashion blogger, and small business owner, Valdez is also a content creator. With a sizeable following on social media, she is a fashion influencer in her own right. Additionally, she is by proxy a model.
While modeling is sometimes part of the gig, Valdez said she is more focused on being a blogger and influencer. However, given the industry, modeling product is something she often does, but is not something she sees herself doing as a day job.
“You do have to show the product, and if it’s a sweater or a pair of shoes, you do essentially have to model,” Valdez said. “I would never do modeling full time, but it is definitely a part of what you have to do.”
According to Valdez, all of her pursuits tie in together being related to fashion and social media. While she plans on pursuing these interests as her full time job someday in the future, after graduation, she wants to begin a career in the fashion industry.
“I would love to do that, but for right now, I am most likely going to be pursuing a job either in public relations for a brand in the fashion industry,” Valdez said. “Or I want to work on the influencer marketing side and then still be able to do this hopefully just for fun on the side.”
Valdez’s passion for fashion, evident in her ventures, is something she wants to keep separated from her career for now. But she does hope to make it her day job as a career one day if she can.
Content created by Valdez for social media as part of a partnership with NARS Cosmetics.
Constant partnerships with big name brands
In the meantime, Valdez continues to study, work hard on her blog and through Valdez Agency, as well as continuing to create content and serving as a fashion influencer. As she flourishes, Valdez continues to forge partnerships with big brand name companies.
“As for the last few months, I’ve actually gotten some really awesome partnerships with Valentino Beauty, Prada Beauty, Giorgio Armani, Urban Outfitters, Revlon, and Amazon,” Valdez said. “Those are definitely some of my favorite ones that I’ve been reached out to through emails to be a part of. They’re so fun to work with them.”
As part of her various partnerships, Valdez will create content with a product from one of the aforementioned companies. In most cases, she works with them to ensure they approve before posting the content with the aim of influencing others to purchase whatever the item in the post may be.
“I’ll get an email from either a PR agency or someone who has a client that is a beauty brand or a fashion brand,” Valdez said. “They will say they found me on TikTok or they found me on Instagram and they want to do content. They want me to give them content in exchange for products. Sometimes they are paid, sometimes they are gifted. They will just mail me the products and say this is what we’re looking to do and what we want to get from you.”
After creating the content, sometimes Valdez needs to run it by the companies to confirm it is what they want. Some companies will request changes, while other times she doesn’t need permission from the company to post the content.
“Before I post it, we’ll go through that process,” Valdez said. “But if not, I usually post whatever I want on my own, if there’s more creative freedom.”
As part of a partnership with Home Depot, Valdez filmed an ad for the company.
Helping others achieve what she has
Given Valdez’s passion and talent for both content creation and fashion, it was only natural that she would open a small business to help others. The Valdez Agency aims to help others interested in becoming like her find their footing in a huge industry and even larger social media platforms.
And Valdez isn’t done expanding her content creation. She plans to continue to increase her social media presence to more platforms in the coming months, seeking to create more detailed content.
“I really want to go on other platforms, maybe YouTube, and eventually start a podcast and go more in depth about everything,” Valdez said. “On TikTok, I feel like everyone is kind of just there for like a short video. But I would definitely love to go on other platforms and go into more detail about everything, and how other people could do it too. Just like more behind the scenes on everything.”
Valdez believes that anyone can work to be like her, with a presence as a fashion blogger and influencer as well as a small business owner. She said that true passion about the field helped her make it and can help others too.
Her advice to others seeking to follow in her footsteps: “Lay out all of your interests and what you want to do. I knew from the beginning that I really love fashion. So I tried a bunch of different things. I did multiple internships to see what I’m most interested in. Then I realized social media was definitely something I enjoyed. After doing those internships and putting myself out there online, and really just going at it without thinking of other’s opinions, I was able to learn so much. I definitely would recommend trying out some internships, see what you’re most comfortable with, and going full force into it.”
Valdez models her outfit as part of her fashion content for social media and her blog.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
An aerial rendering of the existing site looking south, via Google Maps.
North Bergen is considering allowing redevelopment in a large area along Tonnelle Avenue. Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance approving a redevelopment plan for the area at its October 12 meeting after it was introduced in September.
The ordinance authorizes North Bergen to establish a redevelopment plan and designate the township the redevelopment entity for a number of properties on Tonnelle Avenue. The ordinance also amends the zoning ordinance of the township to establish specific development regulations in this area.
Redevelopment plan approved by board
The total redevelopment area is approximately 7.164 acres in the central portion of the township on the western side of Tonnelle Avenue also known as Routes 1 and 9. The area forms a row along the western side of the street between 51st Street to the south and Hudson Bread to the north at 5601-5711 Tonnelle Avenue.
The redevelopment area is bordered within 200 feet on the south by the Tonnelle Avenue Station of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and associated parking lot, and bordered by an active rail yard to the west. To the east, on the other side of the street, there is a gas station, residential dwellings ranging from one and two-family homes to a garden apartment development, heavy commercial and industrial uses, a house of worship, and the historic Hoboken Cemetery. Hudson Bread borders the redevelopment area to the north.
The properties consist of ten parcels of land including: 5401 Tonnelle Avenue; 5409 Tonnelle Avenue; 5419 Tonnelle Avenue; the rear lot of 5419 Tonnelle Avenue; 5013 Tonnelle Avenue; 5117 Tonnelle Avenue; 5211 Tonnelle Avenue; 5319 Tonnelle Avenue; 5501 Tonnelle Avenue; and the rear lot of 5013 Tonnelle Avenue.
On September 6, the Planning Board reviewed the redevelopment plan, recommending it to the Board of Commissioners. This paved the way for the board to introduce the ordinance in September, and held a public hearing and voted on the matter in October, although no township official or member of the public spoke on the topic.
When the ordinance was introduced, Township Administrator Janet Castro said: “This is ten parcels. This ordinance is just designating us as the redevelopment agency and accepting the Planning Board’s recommendations and those land uses. We have not received any formal plans yet.”
Inside the redevelopment area on Tonnelle Avenue
Some of the buildings in the redevelopment area located in the I Industrial Zone are in better condition than others.
5117 Tonnelle Avenue is currently home to a one-story bagel restaurant with seven parking spaces known as 51 Bagel. Constructed in 1967, the building was recently renovated.
5013 Tonnelle Avenue is presently outdoor storage for masonry building materials which are stacked high on pallets. Various forklifts, mid-sized and large trucks, vans, and other miscellaneous vehicles traverse the property, which is devoid of any permanent structures.
5211 Tonnelle Avenue is currently home to a one-story commercial building for the sales and display of masonry, building materials, and related merchandise known as Reuther Material Co. There are several angled parking spaces in front of the building and several rows of parking to the northeast of the building on the site.
5319 Tonnelle Avenue is presently utilized by a building materials company for the indoor and outdoor storage of masonry materials and it was formerly used for the manufacture of concrete block and other products. The property consists of a large materials storage building centrally located, and a collection of attached storage buildings and overhangs at the north of the property. A new small office building is under construction, east of the central storage building.
5419 Tonnelle Avenue is currently a vehicle towing establishment with a one-story building in the front of the property, known as Tumino’s Towing. An auto repair garage is attached to the rear of the office building. A front fence restricts access to the parking area, with several parking spaces in a single row in front of the building.
Some properties better off than others
5401 Tonnelle Avenue presently consists of five small adjoining one-story buildings in the southern property line and a large auto repair building on the western end. A driveway and parked vehicles are located on the northeastern end of the property.
The easternmost building has the design of an old retail building but is utilized for storage of tires, known as Good Deal Tires. The adjacent building is a garage also used for tire storage. The remaining three buildings are also garages with space for one to two vehicles at a time, all leased to individual tenants.
5501 Tonnelle Avenue is currently a centrally located one-story building, an attached metal garage to the west, detached metal garage to the northwest and parking areas to the north and south.
In the north parking lot, the township observed several mid and large sized trucks parking along the north side of the building, and a heap of rubble, garbage, and building materials at the northwest corner of the property. In the south parking lot, school buses, jitney vans, recreational vehicles, mid-sized trucks, truck cabs, and personal vehicles ranging in condition from aesthetically acceptable to damaged were observed.
5013 Tonnelle Avenue is presently a narrow dirt lot used for the parking of trucks, personal vehicles, and shipping containers. There are no permanent structures on the property, with the property having been vacant since June of 2021.
Details of the redevelopment plan
According to the ordinance, the redevelopment plan allows for permitted uses including: multifamily residential; shopping centers; hotels; wholesale business, storage and distribution warehousing; the storage of trucks, buses, passenger and commercial vans, taxis, cabs, and limousines; light manufacturing, employing a process free from objectionable odors, fumes, dust, vibrations, or noise; motor vehicles repair uses; and any uses in existence at the time of the adoption of the redevelopment plan. The redevelopment plan, however, forbids automobile body repair shops.
The redevelopment plan permits buildings up to 60 feet in height above the elevation of Tonnelle Avenue abutting the property for multi-family residential buildings, shopping centers, and hotels. For wholesale, storage, distribution, warehousing, and light manufacturing uses, the maximum building height is 60 feet from above the elevation of Tonnelle Avenue abutting the property, but will not to exceed 75 feet above the average grade surrounding the building.
For storage of trucks, buses, passenger commercial vans, taxis, cabs, and limousines, the maximum building height is 35 feet. For motor vehicle repair uses, the maximum building height is 30 feet. For these uses, the minimum buffer from adjoining residential uses is 25 feet.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
Architectural plans for the residential redevelopment the financial agreement supports.
West New York has approved another financial agreement to support waterfront redevelopment.
Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez and the Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance at their September 28 meeting authorizing the payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement with Toll Parcel H Urban Renewal, LLC.
The site is located at 8 Avenue at Port Imperial, on the eastern side of Port Imperial Boulevard, in the town’s Controlled Waterfront Development Zone. The redevelopment area is currently vacant and surrounded by fencing, with plans for a multi-story residential redevelopment.
Site changed hands from redevelopers many times
Pursuant to the redevelopment plan for the site, Roseland/Port Imperial, LLC and the town entered into a redevelopment agreement in 1996 for the site.
In 1998, the rights and obligations of Roseland/Port Imperial, LLC under the Redevelopment Agreement were assigned to and assumed by Roseland/Port Imperial Partners, L.P., an affiliate of the redeveloper which acquired the title to lands comprising the redevelopment area.
By 2006, the site was owned by K. Hovnanian at Port Imperial Urban Renewal VIII, LLC, which had assumed the outstanding obligations of Roseland/Port Imperial Partners, L.P. under the redevelopment agreement.
On June 7, 2017, Toll Bros., Inc. entered into a contract to acquire the project site and subsequently assigned its interest in the agreement to its affiliate Toll Port Imperial, LLC. West New York consented to the transfer on September 21, 2017, by adopting a resolution authorizing it.
Through an assumption agreement on February 1, 2018, Toll Port Imperial LLC assumed the outstanding obligations of K. Hovnanian at Port Imperial Urban Renewal VIII, LLC under the redevelopment agreement for the site.
On July 8, 2021, the West New York Planning Board granted Toll Port Imperial LLC amended final major site plan approval with variance relief for redevelopment of the project site with an approximately 73-unit residential redevelopment, with 133 off-street parking spaces and eight on-street parking spaces, as well as other amenities and site improvements.
Previously approved as a six-story condominium building back in August of 2018, the applicant was granted permission to construct a 10-story building with the same number of units. The building has a larger footprint at the base that shifts to a smaller shape after the fourth floor, becoming a mid-rise tower.Amenities include a pool, private terraces, a common terrace on the roof, and green roofs, among other unspecified amenity spaces.
The application for the changes was heard in May of 2021 and approved by the board, with a resolution adopted later in July. Through an assumption agreement to be entered into between the parties, Toll Parcel H Urban Renewal, LLC took on the outstanding obligations of its affiliate, Toll Port Imperial, LLC, under the redevelopment agreement for the project site and will redevelop the site consistent with the terms and conditions in the redevelopment agreement and the site plan approval.
Financial agreement necessary to support the project
Toll Parcel H Urban Renewal, LLC has expressed to West New York that the project would not be feasible in its intended scope without financial assistance by the town, according to the ordinance. In order to improve the feasibility of the project, Toll Parcel H Urban Renewal, LLC filed an application with the town for approval of a long term tax exemption and financial agreement from West New York.
According to the ordinance, in addition to the profit limitations in the Long Term Tax Exemption Law, the nature of the project will entail an “inherent profit limitation” for Toll Parcel H Urban Renewal, LLC through the extra costs, issues, and responsibilities associated with the project “that are not present outside of the redevelopment context.” The ordinance states that there is a need recognized by the town to provide incentives to make redevelopment feasible.
After review of the request with the town attorney, redevelopment counsel and the town’s financial advisor, Mayor Rodriguez recommended that the application for the financial agreement be approved. In order to enhance the economic viability of and opportunity for a successful project, the town will enter into a financial agreement with the entity governing payments made to the town in lieu of real estate taxes on the project pursuant to the Long-Term Tax Exemption Law.
The PILOT will be for a 20-year term with an annual service charge based on 12.5 percent of annual gross revenues for years one to five; 13.5 percent for years six to 10; 14.5 percent for years 11 to 15; and 15 percent for years 16 to 20.
According to the ordinance, the town has found that the projected Annual Service Charge over the 20-year term will generate an average annual revenue for West New York of approximately $2,127,295 for the property. The ordinance states that the relative stability and predictability of the Annual Service Charge will make the project more attractive to investors and lenders needed to finance the project.
It is also estimated that the project will create jobs during construction and permanent jobs. According to the ordinance, West New York has determined that the benefits of the project significantly outweigh the costs to the town.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance. While this PILOT is for a portion of the site referred to as “Parcel H,” which consist of the eastern half of the site, this is just Phase 1. Phase 2 entails the redevelopment of the western half of the site known as Parcel F, with a seven-story residential redevelopment.
Officials have failed to respond to multiple requests for comment by the Hudson Reporter since the meeting in September. The next Board of Commissioners meeting is October 19 at 7 p.m. For more information, go to westnewyorknj.org.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
The first building in the city's Bayfront project will be constructed along the Hackensack Riverfront. Photo provided by the City of Jersey City.
The first building in Jersey City’s ambitious Bayfront redevelopment project was unanimously approved by the city’s Planning Board on Oct. 11, bringing a total of 210 units within a six-story mixed-use building.
The building, which had a redevelopment agreement for it approved back in July, will obtain the address of 445 Route 440 and Kellogg St., and will be developed by Bayfront Development Partners, a joint venture between Pennrose and Omni America, at the beginning of 2023, according to the city.
The Bayfront project is the city’s plan to turn a formerly contaminated 100-acre site once owned by the Honeywell Corporation into a mixed-use redevelopment alongside the Hackensack Riverfront.
The building will have 35 percent affordable housing, which will result in 74 affordable units, 12,410 square feet of retail space, 52 parking spaces and 143 bicycle parking spaces.
Civil engineer Joe Mele explained that the building will have the parking garage in the center of the building. The ground floor will have 5,310 square feet of commercial space, along with residential units on all levels.
There will also be two public parking spaces alongside the new Armstrong Ave. north of the building that will be designated for drop-off and pick-up for the day care center.
Architect William Stein then explained that the building will have 35 studios, 109 one-bedrooms, 43 two-bedrooms and 23 three-bedrooms, and that the affordable units will have the same designs as the market-rate units.
The ground floor will have two residential lobbies in the northwest and southeast corners, and the retail spaces will be on Kellogg St. on the south side of the building, which are anticipated to be a credit union and a technical training center.
The second floor of the building will have the daycare center, a landscape amenity terrace and other amenities such as fitness and yoga rooms, a children’s playroom, a co-working space and a community lounge. Floors three to six will then consist mainly of residential units.
The building will include commercial space, a day care center, amenities and a terrace space. Image by Dattner Architects via Jersey City Planning Board application.
The terrace space on the second floor will have walking paths, seating, cooking and grill areas, a fire pit, and other passive recreational elements. Apartments at that level will also have private terraces.
Bayfront Development Partners’ attorney Thomas Leane had Stein confirm that the building will have 32 moderate-income units and 42 low-income units, while the remainder are market rate. They also went more in-depth that 13 studios, 31 one-bedrooms, 15 two-bedrooms and 15 three-bedrooms will be affordable.
Leane also said a parking lot to the east of the building will be undeveloped “for the foreseeable future that is contemplated in the redevelopment agreement,” and that will be a service parking lot maintained by the redevelopment agency.
The commissioners voted 8-0 to approve both the subdivision and final site plans, and a few praised the project for the amount of affordable housing it will provide.
“This is the first time we are having so [much] affordable housing,“ said Commissioner Dr. Vijaya Desai “That’s what we need on all the applications.”
The day after the plans were approved, Mayor Steven Fulop said in a press release that they are “making strides to bring this groundbreaking vision to reality.”
“[…]maximizing the opportunity to build a premier residential and retail waterfront area that best serves the residents of Jersey City by prioritizing affordability, jobs for residents, quality public spaces, and attracting interest and investment to the south and west areas of Jersey City,” he said.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
Speed limit signs are already in place on Riverside Station Boulevard, but now the town is introducing an ordinance to back them up. Image via Google Maps.
Secaucus is seeking to lower the speed limit on Riverside Station Road, the main thoroughfare through the Xchange residential development in Secaucus.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli and the Town Council have introduced an ordinance that would amend the Code of the Town of Secaucus, Chapter 127 “Vehicles and Traffic” to lower the speed limit on that road to 15 miles per hour.
According to the ordinance, the mayor and council recognize that the safety of all motorists, passengers, pedestrians, children, residents and visitors is of utmost importance. The town previously enacted an ordinance to assist in alleviating dangerous situations on the town’s streets, promote safe passage, address traffic flow, and specify penalties for violations
Upon the review and recommendation of the Secaucus Police Department’s Traffic Division, modification of the speed limit on Riverside Station Boulevard Drive to 15 miles per hour is recommended in the interest of public safety in light of the roadway’s purpose, use and traffic volume. The council did not discuss the ordinance at the September 27 meeting when it was introduced.
After the meeting, Town Administrator Gary Jeffas the ordinance would bring everything into compliance for the proper speed limit on that block. Residents may know that there are already 15 miles per hour speed limit signs on Riverside Station Boulevard, but this ordinance was necessary to make it official.
“The speed limit signs were up, but in our formal ordinance, it didn’t say 15 miles per hour,” Jeffas said. “Most residential streets are automatically 25 miles per hour under our ordinance. It was always the intent to have that be the speed limit, but we had to put in our ordinance so that if anyone was ticketed or anything, then our ordinance matches the street signage.”
Updating fees for after hours building inspections
Another ordinance introduced by the council would update the fees for after hours inspections.
According to the ordinance, the mayor and council recognizes that the safety of all residents and the protection of human life, buildings and structures is of great concern. Secaucus addresses inspections and Certificates of Continued Occupancy through the town’s Construction Department in the Town Code, Chapter 64.
Secaucus’ Construction Department conducts Building Code and Certificate of Occupancy inspections in multi-family dwellings in conformance with the state standards in the public interest. Sometimes, the department performs said inspections after regular business hours as needed, and the fees for said inspections are recommended to be updated to cover said costs, according to the ordinance.
Fees for after regular business hour inspections and per diem Construction Code Inspectors would be altered under the proposed ordinance. Building Code Inspections and Habitability Inspections conducted after regular business hours, and the rate of per diem Construction Code Inspectors would be increased to $50 per hour.
The rate is presently $37 an hour. And currently, this only applied to dwellings consisting of four or more units. Otherwise, there are no other changes to that chapter of the Town Code.
While there is another council meeting on October 12, this ordinance and the other will be up for a public hearing and final passage at a meeting later in the month. The next meeting the ordinances may be heard it is on October 25 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at the Municipal Complex at 1203 Paterson Plank Road.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
Doris "Toni" Ervin, Alexander Hamilton and Kenny Reyes are vying for the three available seats on the Jersey City Board of Education. Photo by Mark Koosau.
On the other side of the recent elections for the Jersey City Board of Education has been the “Change for Children” slate, who for the past few years have had financial backing from real estate developers.
After being mostly defeated in the past two elections, an incumbent who ran on the slate is running for a second term this year alongside a candidate giving it another go on the same slate, as well as a former City Council candidate running for the board.
The three of them, Trustee Alexander Hamilton, Doris “Toni” Ervin and Kenny Reyes spoke to the Hudson Reporter on what their priorities would be for the school board if they get elected in November.
Meet the candidates
Trustee Alexander Hamilton is running for a second term on the school board, having been first elected in 2019 under the same slate.
“I think that this board needs someone who understands finances, someone who gets the fact that there needs to be more review and process of how the budget is created, and really prioritizes what we’re going to do,” he said.
“You cannot create a budget unless you have a plan,” he said. “So in other words, when you go to taxpayers and you say ‘we’re going to raise the budget to a billion dollars’, you need to tell people exactly what it is you’re going to do with that money.”
Trustee Alexander Hamilton (yes, his name is Alexander Hamilton) is running for a second term. Photo by Mark Koosau.
Doris “Toni” Ervin is a professor of child development and education at Hudson County Community College, and the lead trainer for the resource and referral agency at the Urban League of Hudson County. She ran on the same slate last year.
“I’m running for the Jersey City Board of Education because I want to support children’s learning, as well as support and protect our taxes,” she said. “We have this big budget which has caused many crises within our families, within our city, putting a bigger hardship on our families, as well as not seeing the success that we need to see.”
Kenny Reyes is a former City Council candidate who ran for the Ward F seat in 2013. He currently works in the recruiting business with Onward Search, and is also a business development executive there.
“The reason why I am running is because there’s been a massive lack of transparency and accountability with the board with these massive tax increases that’s been going on now,” he said.
Budgets are on their minds
The slate members were critical of the recent budgeting process, saying that there’s a lack of transparency and accountability with it, and that their top priorities if elected would be to focus on the budgets.
The school budgets increased since 2018 after lawmakers in Trenton made changes to the state aid funding formula that have caused Jersey City to lose millions in funding.
The 2022-2023 school budget adopted totaled $973 million and came with a $1,611 tax increase per household. Reyes said that the budget was “an exorbitant amount of money to educate our kids,” and later called the taxes “just out of control.”
“We have to understand how are we going to allocate resources for any kind of capital projects, allocate research when it comes to the teachers contracts that’s going to come up next year as well, allocate resources when it comes to the laborers of the school district, and most importantly, our stakeholders, our children,” he said.
Hamilton, who voted against the budget, said that the reason why he did so was not because he was against kids receiving an education, but that it has gone up “to a tremendous amount of money.”
Kenny Reyes is a former City Council candidate who works in a recruiting business. Photo by Mark Koosau.
“It’s cost our residents a tremendous amount of money,” he said. “People are having to move/leave Jersey City; we don’t want to do that. But of course, if we’re also going to charge more money, we need to see better results by education.”
He said that they need to “get a hold on what this budget is, to outline where the waste is” and that they should allocate a budget officer to the district. He also said that they’re not able to pay their teachers “properly” and that they should make sure they get the “right” teachers that can help them expand.
Ervin said that her main priorities would be working with the budget they have and put in accountability, and creating a plan “that we know will make sure that the main outcome is that our children are successful.”
“Making sure the benchmarks or even looking back at things we’ve done before that didn’t work, and trying to find something else that we could put in place that will work,” she said. “That will make them successful, that would generate the achievement that we’re looking for for our children to be successful.”
She said that recruitment efforts should focus internally in the school system because they have a number of teacher assistants who have the ability “to do a lot of things.”
She also said that she’s looking into programs such as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) to help children become more engaged and motivated to participate in school.
Real estate money
Since 2019, the “Change for Children” slate has gotten financial backing from a number of real estate developers, either via direct contributions or indirectly via a super PAC that supports them.
One of the developers that has contributed to the slate’s efforts is the LeFrak Organization, who notably played a role in redeveloping the Newport section of Downtown Jersey City.
When inquired about the pastcontributions from the developers, Hamilton said that he has “no issue” with it because he believes that “it would behoove everyone, especially real estate developers to have good schools.”
He also mentioned that they’re running against the “Education Matters” slate that is backed by the Jersey City Education Association union, and talked about what it means for contract negotiations next year.
“Would it be beneficial for Jersey City to have every single board member be supported by the union at this time, or would be beneficial to have at least three individuals who can make good points about the way things should be when it comes to negotiating with the union?” he said.
Doris “Toni” Ervin is a Hudson County Community College professor who ran on the same slate last year. Photo by Mark Koosau.
“What I care about is the fact that the real estate companies and developers want the same thing we want,” he continued. “They don’t want to pay high taxes. They live here. They want to continue to build for us? Great, have them build schools. They would like the schools to be better so real estate values go up and neighborhoods are safer. Who doesn’t want that?”
Ervin, who also received contributions from developers last year, said that they could work with developers “to get things done as an incentive,” arguing that they have the know-how for development and infrastructure.
Reyes followed up on Hamilton’s comments about the union and alleged that the other slate’s interest “is only for the teachers.”
“The developers that you mentioned before, we’re not beholden to them at all,” he said. “We don’t respond to them in any kind of way. Their interests and our interests are aligned.”
The LeFrak Organization had also notably taken part in a lawsuit in 2018 to overturn the city’s payroll tax that was created to fund the city’s school district, but was upheld by the state courts all the way to the state Supreme Court.
When asked about whether the developers’ opposition towards the payroll tax had anything to do with their involvement in the local school board races, both Hamilton and Reyes denied that.
To November we go
As Election Day inches closer and closer, the slate emphasized their criticism of the budget, and that they would bring accountability and transparency to the board if elected.
As he seeks a potential second term, Hamilton says that he wants to be sent back to the board so that they can get control of their fiscal budget. As for the potential first term seekers, Reyes says that they understand those who can’t “really afford this increase in taxes,” while Ervin said they will make sure the budget is “streamlined.”
“We need to get this under control, because we want to make sure that every taxpayer, every citizen, every resident of Jersey City has the right to stay here, and their children are entitled to a quality education,” said Hamilton.
The general election will take place on Nov. 8, with three three-year terms open on the Jersey City Board of Education.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
The mobile MVC has been making its rounds across Hudson County since 2021. Photo courtesy of the town of Guttenberg.
Instead of having to wait in line at the Motor Vehicle Commission, the town of Secaucus is bringing the MVC to residents.
On Friday, October 21, the mobile MVC will be at the Secaucus Recreation Center Parking Lot at 1200 Koelle Boulevard. The MVC will be on site to assist residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The services available will include registration renewals, handicap placards and permits, non-driver IDs, with license plate drop-offs with no registration required. Customers will need six points of ID and must bring their social security card as well.
The services are available by appointment only. Register online at Secaucusnj.gov/DMV.
A total of 35 available times will be provided. The event is courtesy of the Secaucus Police Department, Mayor Michael Gonnelli, and the Town Council.
For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].
Afaf Muhammad, Christopher Tisdale and Noemi Velazquez are running on the "Education Matters" slate. Photo by Mark Koosau.
In recent years, control of Jersey City’s Board of Education overseeing one of New Jersey’s largest school districts has primarily become a battle between two slates, one backed by the Jersey City Education Association – the local teacher’s union – and another backed by real estate developers.
Candidates on the union-backed slate, known as “Education Matters,” are going for it again this year, having previously swept the last two elections since 2020. This time around they’re being led by an incumbent who ran on the opposing slate for her first term, an independent candidate from last year, and a teacher who’s a newcomer to politics.
The three slate members, Trustee Noemi Velazquez, Afaf Muhammad and Christopher Tisdale, talked in an interview with the Hudson Reporter over eggs and hash browns at a diner in Journal Square on what they plan to bring to the Board of Education if they get elected in November.
Meet the trio
Trustee Noemi Velaquez is seeking a second term in office, having been first elected in 2019. She taught in the Jersey City school district for over 40 years, having been a teacher for 18 years before working in administrative roles such as supervisor and special assistant to the associate superintendents.
“To be honest with you, I always feel that the first time you do something, it’s a learning experience,” she said when asked about why she was running for reelection.
“Through my learning experience, and as much as I have experience within the district and within the pedagogy, through my learning experience, I realized that there’s still a lot to be done, and that I can come in and offer much more assistance.”
Afaf Muhammad is a Hudson County Democratic committeewoman in her third term, and previously ran as an independent last year. She is a mental health first aid instructor with the city’s Department of Health and Human Services, and also does volunteer work in the city.
Trustee Noemi Velazquez is seeking a second term on the board after being first elected in 2019. Photo by Mark Koosau.
She said that she had wanted to run on the “Education Matters” slate last year, but that there were “a lot of misunderstandings” in getting into a meeting for it, and instead ran as an independent.
“This year, running with the JCEA [backing], I think that I had a little bit of ego issues, so I had to put that stuff aside, and understand that there’s a bigger meaning for what I’m doing, and a bigger calling for me being on the board,” she said.
Christopher Tisdale is running for public office for the first time. He is currently an English teacher at Englewood and also teaches composition at Kean University.
“I’m not a politician at all, so that’s just the truth of it,” he said. “I’m just a passionate educator who believes in opportunity for all students and choice education, making sure that students have a voice, and that parents are given with options for what it is that they want for their students.”
Their top priorities
When it came to what their top priorities would be if they were elected in November, Velazquez answered that she will support Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez and her initiatives, saying that “change is coming, and change has already begun.”
“Her initiatives are focused on improving the district, improving pedagogy, improvement,” she said. “Anytime that our initiative is an improvement? Yes, I will. But that doesn’t mean that I sign everything. I’m not a rubber stamp. I question, I challenge, and I strongly discuss when I am not sure or I’m not contemp with something.”
Muhammad said that her top priority would be the environment of the classroom and school, saying that she sees a number of places where students’ behavior is “not being addressed properly.”
“I always teach children ‘hands to yourself, watch your language, it’s only one snapshot that a person has to see you behaving in a manner to have you be known that way all through your life’,” she said.
Afaf Muhammad is a Hudson County Democratic committeewoman making another run for the Board of Education. Photo by Mark Koosau.
Muhammad continued that as a trustee, she would focus on parent involvement and the support of teachers in the classroom, and the way that students’ behavior is addressed.
Tisdale added to Muhammad’s comments by saying that the issue of the environment is predicated on “effective” leadership, and wants to ensure that they have “quality people” in positions for teachers, administrators and personnel.
“If that means that we need to look at everybody in position, and the certifications they hold, and the positions that they’re in in order to ensure that they are where they’re supposed to be, I’m for that,” he said.
“But I want to ensure that we definitely have quality people in place to do the job that we say that we’re going to do in order to move forward and strategic planning to move the district forward,” he continued.
Since then, the way the yearly school budgets are drafted and adopted have become a major focus as the totals have climbed, with the 2022-2023 school year budget adopted in May costing $973 million and coming with a $1,611 tax increase per household.
Velaquez, who voted in favor of adopting the budget, said that she “always” votes for the budget with students in mind.
“When I got on this board three years ago, my focus was to ensure that the classrooms were fully funded,” she said. “That all curricula were current and that the material to address the curriculum was meeting the needs of all of the students. That takes a lot of money.”
Christopher Tisdale is an educator in Englewood public schools and Kean University, running for public office for the first time. Photo by Mark Koosau.
When asked about their thoughts on the budgeting process over the past few years, Muhammad said that she hadn’t “really gave it any thought prior to this time of year,” and argued that there’s “minor things” that don’t involve a budget that needs to be addressed.
Tisdale said that money is needed “to do everything” and that education is a business. “Unfortunately, if an increase is needed because of the state’s inability to fund the school districts and it’s in the best interest of the students, I have to say, I’m gonna vote for it as well,” he said.
When later asked whether they would have voted for the recent school budget, Muhammad answered that she would have to see “where the money was gonna be allocated in-depth” but wasn’t in favor of increasing taxes. Tisdale said that he couldn’t say yes or no, but said that it would’ve been important to look for alternatives such as grants.
Union’s endorsement
The “Education Matters” slate has been endorsed by the Jersey City Education Association, the local branch of the statewide New Jersey Education Association.
Velazquez said that she was part of the union “from the very beginning” and said that the union thinks she can speak for the teachers, students and others in the district. Muhammad said she appreciates them taking her into the slate, and Tisdale said he believes in what they do as teachers.
The move of Velazquez to the union-backed slate comes as a turnaround from when was first elected in 2019, where she ran on the “Change for Children” slate that has gotten support from real estate developers, particularly a super PAC that supports them.
When asked why she decided to switch sides, Velazquez answered that the NJEA also has a super PAC (called Garden State Forward). “If that’s your question, that’s your answer,” she said. She also claimed that she never met any developers, and that they never questioned or asked her for anything.
“They endorsed me, I respected them, somebody’s gotta pay,” she said. “This is a big bill; campaigning, be it for the board or whatever, is huge.”
As November approaches, Velazquez said that their team matters, and that they are focused on “not just on a personal level, but totally on the entire scene, the district itself.” “Not because we have children on the board, but because all of the children of the board are ours,” she said. “That’s what we’re focusing on, and that’s why we’re running with the union.”
The general election will take place on Nov. 8, with three three-year terms open on the Jersey City Board of Education.
For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.
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