Dear Editor:

I have seen the video, and I have read the various comments from the public. Given the available information, I still maintain that Amy DeGise should vacate her seat on the council immediately. The public’s demand for DeGise’s resignation will only increase as she stubbornly holds on to her council seat. This incident is not going to be swept under the “political carpet.”

I have been writing “letters to the editor” since 1973. A number of my articles, from the mid-1970’s and early 1980’s, have addressed the total disregard for the “rules of the road” that some cyclists have. To this day, a number of bicyclists continue to be reckless and a menace on the road. That said, given the video, it appears that Andrew Black ran the red light, which is a traffic violation.

By the same token, as revealed by the video, Amy DeGise failed to stop, offer assistance, and immediately contact the police. Instead, as the video clearly shows, Amy DeGise continued to drive her SUV; she didn’t even bother to “brake” after the collision. In New Jersey, a driver involved in an accident is legally obligated to stop his / her vehicle. Amy DeGise did not do so. She left the scene of an accident, and she reported that accident six hours after the incident had occurred.

Had Amy DeGise behaved responsibly on July 19 by stopping, offering to help Andrew Black, and promptly contacting the police, then the thunderous public outcry calling for her resignation would be nothing more than a mere, meaningless whisper. The story would have been – it could have been – about how Amy DeGise was involved in a traffic accident with a bicyclist who ran a red light. But, given DeGise’s actions on July 19, that is no longer the case.

Perhaps Amy DeGise was “confused.” Then again, it is quite possible that Amy DeGise spent the six hours prior to reporting the accident to the police discussing “options” with her “counselor.” One can argue that Amy DeGise decided to report the accident when it was convenient for her to do so.

The “who caused the accident” question became irrelevant after Amy DeGise fled the scene of the accident. The question has now been elevated to one of “political privilege.” No one, especially an elected official, is above the law — and that goes for a Hudson County “Princess” as well. If anything, an elected official should be held to a higher standard. By leaving the scene of the accident, Amy DeGise behaved with callous, arrogant impunity, as if her elected position, her family connections, and her political associations entitle her to an aristocratic exemption from the consequences of her actions, her “tremendous mistake.”

Granted, Amy DeGise is entitled to due process. However, her total disregard for the law; namely, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report that accident in a timely manner, is an embarrassment to Jersey City’s Council and the current administration.

Having said that, Amy DeGise should be held accountable for her actions on July 19. She should accept responsibility; and, by doing so, Amy DeGise should do the honorable thing. She should immediately step down from the city’s council. Amy DeGise’s continued presence on the council further impugns the credibility and reputation of that body.

John Di Genio

Dear Editor:

Amy DeGise remains defiantly recalcitrant. The calls for Amy DeGise to step down from her seat on Jersey City’s council have fallen on deaf ears. Instead of doing what is in the best interest of Jersey City, Amy DeGise arrogantly and stubbornly continues to hold on to her At-Large council seat.

On another note, instead of encouraging Amy DeGise to behave responsibly, to be accountable for her reprehensible actions, and to do the honorable thing, Tom DeGise lashes out at the local media. Perhaps that rant on Facebook helped to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that Tom DeGise is now experiencing. But, the anger is misdirected, and the situation remains unchanged.

Amy DeGise has behaved like a spoiled brat, an “entitled princess,” who believes that she has aristocratic privileges that renders her immune to the consequences of her actions. It seems that whenever “Princess Amy” gets into a fix, Daddy opens his bag of tricks and “fixes” everything. Unfortunately for “Princess Amy,” there aren’t too many tricks left in that bag.

Those elected to public office are expected to have integrity and behave ethically; that includes meeting their obligations as citizens, honest brokers, and law-abiding stewards. Amy’s deportment, her abominable disregard for the law, and her obnoxious exploits as a scofflaw, suggest that she is incapable of holding a position of public trust.

Amy DeGise has made a mockery of Jersey City’s governance structure. She also has made a travesty of the political system. Amy DeGise’s continued presence on the council is an embarrassment. With the exception of the two independent members on the council, her “Team Fulop” colleagues have remained publicly silent and, at best, “uncommitted.” The extra baggage that Army DeGise is now carrying makes her a lame duck and renders the council ineffective.

Amy DeGise – “Princess Amy” – is the “enfant terrible” – the bane – of Jersey City’s council chamber. Jersey City needs to move on from Amy DeGise’s upstart ways and her puerile, impudent actions.

“Princess Amy” needs to step down – And the sooner, the better.

John Di Genio

Dear Editor:

The bicyclist ran a red light which is illegal in the state of New Jersey last time I checked. Closed circuit video footage proves it, and it is obvious to those with their eyes wide open. But could he have made a human error and truly believed the light was green?
In the crash report, the bicyclist told cops he had a green light and the right of way. He also told the media the same. Facts are always important, and the fact here is that he either lied twice adding insult to injury or his action or decision was not intentional. Any court in the country can examine the video footage and see clearly as day that the proof is the truth.

What irritates me is it is peculiar how certain politicians fiercely demanded the video footage right away! As it turns out, it is this evidence that proves Councilwoman Amy DeGise, the motorist, was not the guilty party. Ms. DeGise undoubtedly made a report to the lawful authority. They were so quick to judge her and came to adverse conclusions before they had all the facts. My suspicion is that certain politicians were just looking to vilify the Councilwoman At Large.

Mary Jean Perkins

Dear Editor:

When I watched the video of the accident involving Councilwoman Amy Degise and a bicyclist, I got flashbacks of the time a speeding bike came inches from slamming my automobile at a high speed, while pulling out of a Hudson County supermarket. A few more inches and he would have been dead; speedo shorts, fid bit, helmet and all. Yep, he almost hit my automobile just like the bicyclist was the one that hit Amy Degise.

The CCTV Video Cameras show proof that the cyclist ran the red light which is against the law, at the intersection of MLK Drive & Forrest Street, striking the vehicle with force.

My opinion is that so many of the bike riders are guilty of this infraction, it’s impossible to count them. We just Thank God that nobody was killed this time. Evidence proves that the bike hit the car at a high speed after running that very red light. My view is that it was not a hit & run crash because she reported it to police. It fact, it was her who was hit. I’m sure she panicked confusingly as any motorist would. Being a council woman doesn’t make her any less human.

Any calls for her to resign because of this incident are ill mannered political grand standing. Remember, running a red light is illegal. Fortunately for Amy, she was not the one who ran the red light. Indeed, the cyclist is the one who should be forgiven and will have his day in court. He is as human as her.

Any attempt to recall her with a few hundred signatures won’t be helpful either. The full video is proof of the most critical evidence. He ran the red light, not her.

James Francis Waddleton