Every year, the mayor delivers a State of the City address to update the community on what the city’s been working on and future plans. Here is a quick recap of what went down yesterday at City Hall.
You can watch the full State of the City address on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDjGZQe395M
Accomplishments Thus Far
1. Surpassing the administration’s staffing goals with nearly 970 JCPD officers.
2. Reductions in all major areas of crime
3. Five straight years without a tax increase and 4 credit rating upgrades.
4. The closing on the property for the Bayfront Purchase Agreement, a nearly $100 million dollar project for one of the largest mixed-income communities in the region.
5. Signing on to the Vision Zero initiative, a national effort towards eliminating roadway fatalities and injuries through a powerful, data-driven Action Plan.
6. The award of $3.5 million dollars in federal funding to begin construction on the City’s portion of the 111-mile pedestrian and bicycle trail which travels across Northern New Jersey following the former Morris Canal route.
7. Increasing the environment protection of our drinking water at the Jersey City Water Treatment Plant.
8. The payroll tax passed for non-local residents on corporations, in which 100 percent of all funds collected will go to Jersey City schools.
What We Can Expect in 2019
1. Begin construction on the second and third building of the Jackson Square development.
2. Redesign and expansion of Caven Point to serve thousands of more residents. The goal is to acquire the land behind Caven Point and use the narrow, longer area for parking while repurposing the current parking lot into additional ball fields.
3. Investment to formally open Reservoir 3 with path, lighting and fencing.
4. Integrate the first city-run bus system in the state. The RFP will soon go out for a partner transportation provider to better connect the south side of Jersey City to the PATH system. City-wide bus route will be re-evaluated to expand mass transit options in the south side of Jersey City.
5. Bring indoor vertical farming facilities throughout Jersey City in different locations that will yield thousands of pounds of healthy food to communities that sometimes struggle for access.
6. Start lead remediation project for Jersey City schools. The MUA will start installing a lead filtration system in certain schools and the goal is to have all schools remediated by January 2020.
7. Charging stations available outside of City Hall, City Hall Annex, and DPW for vehicles and public use.
8. The implementation of the plastic bag ban on June 28th.
9. Plans to create new recreational spaces, including a skate park in Berry Lane Park.
10. Installation of solar panels to Department of Public Works buildings in addition to adding energy-efficient vehicles to municipal fleet.
11. Looking to increase the number of surveillance cameras in the city for the sake of increasing safety on the streets
12. The Newark Ave plaza will be redone with new lighting and pavement.
13. One-stop shop for affordable housing resources built in the Fall. All of the city resources will be aggregated to streamline the process, making it easier for residents to get the help they need.
14. Money put toward enforcement to crack down on bad landlords in the city.
15. Creation of new affordable housing through inclusionary zoning ordinances. Requesting 20% of new projects that get a zoning change to include affordable housing inside the project.
16. New homeless shelters alongside additional affordable housing units with the rehabilitation of St Lucy’s Shelter.
