Healy: Crime down, ed spending needs a trim

by The Jersey Journal
Wednesday February 20, 2008, 9:00 AM

In a 45-minute State of the City address last night, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy patted his administration on the back for a drop in crime but took issue with the one aspect of government in the city he has no control over: the board of ed.

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There's less crime, more jobs, Healy boasts in State of the City

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
By PAUL KOEPP
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Having recently notched his third year at the helm of New Jersey's second largest city, Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy used his second "State of the City" speech last night to highlight accomplishments ranging from putting a crimp in crime to fostering development in long dormant areas of the city.

Before a politician-packed auditorium at the Franklin L. Williams Middle School 7 in the Heights that included Gov. Jon Corzine, Healy called public safety his "number one issue."

To polite and steady applause, Healy boasted an 11.5 percent overall drop in crime last year, but said more officers are needed and promised 30 more officers would be paid for from state Urban Enterprise Zone funds.

Healy cited the December 2007 unemployment rate of 5.1 percent - compared to 8.2 percent in January 2004 - as proof of job creation in the city and he touted the city's recently created apprentice program to put locals to work on construction sites.

A similar program would target Fortune 500 companies who have set up shop Downtown, he said. Healy laid out plans to increase open space across the city, with the goals of adding 100 acres in new parks and improving at least one park in every ward in each of the next 10 years. The J. Owen Grundy Pier should reopen this summer, he said.

On education, Healy urged the Board of Education to trim excessive spending, saying the city is entering a "new era" with more local control of schools.

Development, he said, should extend beyond the waterfront, pointing to a recent deal with Honeywell International to clean up and develop chromium-tainted sites on the city's west side; a $500 million, two-tower mixed-used development planned for the heart of Journal Square; and the $350 million transformation of the old Jersey City Medical Center into a swanky condo complex.

Corzine sat in the front row next to Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise. Roughly 500 people attended the event.

The loudest applause was for the mayor's summary of bus lines that have recently been saved or replaced. "We have convinced NJ Transit that it is not acceptable to let private bus companies abandon their urban routes," Healy said.

Councilman Steven Fulop, a likely challenger to Healy next year for the city's top post, said he liked elements of Healy's 45-minute speech but wanted to hear more in the speech about taxes.

While the mayor said the municipal tax rate remains steady in his proposed budget, Fulop said property taxes have increased 35 percent in the last three years.

"That's what's killing the residents right now," Fulop said. "We need more controls on spending."

Healy has blamed rising taxes mostly on school and county budgets not under his control.

But according to city officials, the municipal portion of the budget has risen $4 million since July and $9 million since tax bills were sent out this time last year. The city has applied for $8 million in aid from the state to avoid dramatic tax hikes for the fiscal year that ends June 30.

PAUL KOEPP can be reached at (201) 217-2400.

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Complete text of Healy's State of Jersey City speech

by Journal staff
Tuesday February 19, 2008, 11:24 PM

The following is the complete text of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy's State of the City speech, which he gave tonight:

Governor, Members of Congress, Members of the City Council, State Legislators, Directors of City Government, Reverend Clergy, Friends, and others, good evening. Tonight, pursuant to State law, I am here to report "to the Council and to the public on the state of the municipality, and the work of the previous year." Due to the hard work of the men and women of this Administration, Jersey City has become even greater in the past year. By every possible measure, Jersey City is becoming an even better place to live. We have worked hard to make our City safer, more prosperous, greener and more affordable.

There is work to be done and there are tasks at hand in order for Jersey City to become a world class city and one of America's great urban centers. I stand before you tonight committed to continue our goal to make Jersey City even greater.

The fundamental challenge of any government, especially local government, is to improve the quality of life of its citizens. There is no more fundamental or basic quality of life issue than public safety. In order for a civilized society to develop, for people to prosper, and for individuals to be truly happy, they need to have a reasonable assurance that they are safe in their homes, in their places of work and in their neighborhoods and streets.

Those who listened to me campaign for Mayor in the Special Election of November 2004 or again when I ran in May 2005 know that public safety is my number one issue and that the reduction of crime is my Administration's most important goal. We have worked hard to fight crime.

Tonight I report to you that we are well on our way to achieving that goal. For two years in a row, crime in Jersey City has dropped dramatically in all categories. We have hired scores of new police officers. We have expanded the use of crime surveillance cameras. We have implemented a business curfew ordinance to enhance the safety of our neighborhoods. We have instituted a gang task force and the crime fighting method called CompStat, which directs police attention to where crime occurs.

However, we still need to hire additional police officers and I am committed to increasing the ranks of the greatest police department in the State of New Jersey and to do so in a fiscally-responsible manner. This year, we will recruit at least an additional 30 new officers to the police academy using UEZ funds. As long as I am Mayor, we will never let this police department be deprived of the personnel or equipment it needs to do its job.

In the last several years, many American cities have seen an increase in crime. Most disturbingly, homicides have been on the rise in America's urban centers, primarily due to the proliferation of illegal guns. I campaigned on a commitment to do whatever possible to stem the flow of guns onto our streets. We have crafted local legislation. We have fought the NRA in court. We have lobbied in the halls of Trenton and have spoken out to Congress in our Nation's capital. While there is no one easy solution to the problem of illegal guns, and to the havoc that they cause, every initiative to reduce the amount of illegal guns in our streets must be vigorously supported. I will continue to work with my fellow urban mayors in New Jersey and around the country to find a solution for this problem. We also will continue our partnership with non-profit organizations that share our goals and who have worked so hard with us to achieve them, such as the Brady Center in Washington, D.C. and Cease Fire New Jersey. At this time I would like to recognize Brian Miller, the Executive Director of Cease Fire New Jersey, who is here with us tonight and who has worked tirelessly toward addressing the plague of illegal guns.

Having more cops on our streets and implementing smart policing tactics has been successful, as crime has fallen significantly in the past year. But, the real credit goes to the men and women of our Police Department, who put themselves in harm's way and risk their lives on a daily basis so that we all can be safe.

Last year we saw a reduction of crime by 11.5 percent from the prior year. We had 1,527 less crimes in our city last year. Our homicide rate decreased for the second year in a row. Violent crime fell by more than 13 percent last year. I am particularly pleased to say that we had less burglaries and motor vehicle thefts than we have had in 15 years. Indeed, our burglary rate has seen a 50 percent reduction from 1997. Over the past year, we also saw the numbers of homicides, rapes, robberies and assaults go down.

Although Jersey City is becoming a much safer city in which to live, we are not satisfied until we make our city as safe as possible. We have to continue to employ all the tools available to us to make our streets even safer. In that regard, I am committed to working with my Police Chief, Tom Comey, and Police Director, Sam Jefferson to go into our city neighborhoods and to recruit new talent to our police department. It is also important that our police department reflect the diversity of this city. I am proud that Chief Comey and Director Jefferson have initiated efforts to recruit new officers from every ethnic, racial, and religious community in our city.

Public safety is not just limited to fighting crime. In an urban environment, with a dense population and high rise buildings, it is absolutely crucial that our city has an adequate fire department with state-of-the-art equipment. During my administration, we have increased the ranks of our Fire Department by 40 members and have placed a captain on every rig. I am proud of the work that has been undertaken by our Fire Chief William Sinnott and our Fire Director Armando Roman in the creation of a High Rise Unit. Unfortunately, that unit had to respond to the call when the Hovnanian tower currently under construction on Greene Street went on fire only a few months ago. I was impressed, as I stood there that night watching our Fire Department quickly bring the blaze under control. We all stand here indebted to the professionalism, knowledge, and bravery of the Jersey City Fire Department.

Dealing with issues of public safety is a complex process and requires greater solutions than merely enhancing our crime fighting efforts. There is no question that enhanced economic prospects and recreational opportunities will help stem crime. My Administration has worked to create a business-friendly and pro-development environment because we believe that the ancillary benefits of investment are many. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics in December 2007, the unemployment rate in Jersey City is 5.1 percent. Just four years ago, in January 2004, that number was 8.2 percent.

Much of the positive economic development in our city has been centered on the waterfront. My Administration has set out to change that. I believe that a rising tide should lift all boats and bring jobs and future development to all areas of our city.

For years, developers, the building trade unions, and members of the local community did not work together to ensure job opportunities for our local residents. After seeking the input of our concerned citizens, the development community, and the building trades, we promulgated local legislation that would make tax abatements on large projects contingent upon the use of local apprentices. Using union apprenticeships are a proven method of teaching individuals the skills needed to embark on a meaningful career in the building trades. By becoming an apprentice, a person is not only given a job, but they are given the tools to have a life-long career.

While our apprenticeship initiative is still new and the major developments that will fully implement the program have yet to come, the initial results are extremely encouraging. Just this last month our first pre-apprenticeship class of seven students graduated and each student has been accepted into apprenticeship programs. Additionally, we have begun a new class with the assistance of grant money from the State Department of Labor for 30 individuals who will go on to a career in the building trades. Also, more than 70 Jersey City residents were directly admitted into union apprenticeships. They have been working and receiving wages while simultaneously being educated in the skills and techniques of their discipline. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the good faith and diligent efforts of the Hudson County Building Trades and to the hard work of the Jersey City Employment and Training Program that have enabled this incredible initial success to take place.

The great success story that is our Jersey City waterfront should provide many opportunities to our residents. Those opportunities should not be limited to careers in the construction trades. New investments and businesses in our city create important career opportunities such as in the hotel industry. Fortune 500 companies have a significant presence in our city as well. It is my hope that these corporations establish more opportunities to train and hire the greatest resource we have - the people of Jersey City.

I am creating a special task force to be spearheaded by Deputy Mayors Kabili Tayari and Rosemary McFadden that will include the Jersey City Employment and Training Program, the Jersey City Board of Education, New Jersey City University, St. Peter's College, and Hudson County Community College, whose goal will be to interact with the major corporations in our city to provide for increased internships and apprenticeship programs. The companies located in these graceful and magnificent buildings in our city should be providing educational and work opportunities to our young men and women. Every graduating class from these institutions should have students who are hired by the Merrill Lynches or the Fidelity's in an internship program that could lead to permanent employment and to obtain on the job training that is so valuable toward furthering one's career.

It is these types of opportunities that show our youngsters the benefits of hard work and education. As Frederick Douglas said, "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

The most effective way of positively shaping and developing our children is through an excellent education. We must be assured that we have the resources necessary to provide for top quality teachers, facilities and programs. One need only look around this beautiful new school to recognize its potential benefit to our children. I want to thank Principal Susan Decker for permitting me to use this facility to make this address tonight.

Municipal government has not played a large role in educational policy in the State of New Jersey and an even lesser role in Jersey City as a consequence of the State takeover of our schools some 18 years ago. The State Supreme Court acknowledged the unique fiscal challenges that our New Jersey cities face as distinct from our suburban counterparts. It is an unfortunate fact, but a reality nonetheless, that there are disproportionate rates of poverty, higher incidents of crime, single-parent households and even no-parent households, as well as other problems presented by the density of an urban population that require city governments to make much higher expenditures on public safety services.

We recognize that we are entering a new era and that we have to adjust accordingly. While there have been advances as a result of Abbott funding in our Jersey City schools, the State-controlled budgets have increased dramatically. It is time to tighten our belts and to look where excessive spending at the Board of Education can be trimmed.

As the Jersey City Board of Education regains local control, my Administration and the Board will have to jointly ensure that the school budget adequately reflects our educational priorities. Accordingly, I am proposing legislation that would create a "hybrid" Board of Education for Jersey City: a board that would combine members who are elected, members who are appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council, and education experts from our three institutions of higher learning.

We must work together as equal partners and place the best interests of our children as the focus of our attention.

Not only do our children deserve quality education, they need spaces to recreate and play. This year has been a remarkable year for the enhancement of recreational opportunities throughout our city. We have renovated parks in the Heights, Greenville Lafayette and Downtown including Crincolli Park, Riverview Fiske Park, the Bethune Playground, and the Van Vorst Park Dog Run, just to name a few.

I am also pleased to announce that our magnificent J. Owen Grundy Pier, which has been unusable for public events for the past ten years, will re-open this summer in time for our Ethnic Festival Series. The new and improved pier will allow residents and visitors to experience not only the sights and sounds of our cultural community, but also take in the glorious views of the Hudson River Waterfront. Owen Grundy Pier will provide a variety of amenities for patrons, new seating, new promenades, and an entertainment and performance venue. This project was funded in part by the UEZ and Green Acres.

Our parks master plan, which was developed after an unprecedented public participation process, calls for the refurbishing of existing parks and proposes adding 100 acres for the creation of new parks. Our goal is to improve at least one park in every ward every year for the next 10 years. Specifically this year, work will commence on Hamilton Park, Bayside Park, and Columbia Park and Playground. More than half the land acquisition and construction costs will come from grants. We are also on our way toward creating the first new municipal park in Jersey City in years - Berry Lane Park, which will be located in the Bergen Lafayette section of our city. This park will have some 13 acres and provide football, baseball, and soccer fields. When complete, Berry Lane Park will be the recreational gem of Ward F.

Many of you know the pioneer of open space in Jersey City was the late Morris Pesin, who 50 years ago rode his canoe in the Morris Canal, laying the groundwork for what now today is the most visited State Park in New Jersey, Liberty State Park. While Morris is no longer with us, his son, Sam, who is here tonight, has carried the torch and has been a passionate advocate of open space in our city. Sam, please stand and be recognized.

Our Department of Recreation is one of the most active in the state and offers a wide-range of athletic and recreational opportunities ranging from track & field, to swimming, to tennis, to cheerleading, to skiing, to golf, basketball, football, soccer, and many others.

Part of the success of the Recreation Department is due to their innovative approach at improving the locations where our children play. Recently, through $3 million in grants from the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the State, the Jersey City Armory underwent major renovations. Specifically, the Armory now has a state-of-the-art track, a new basketball court, and a four-sided scoreboard. In addition to the "open recreation" for local children, the Armory now plays host to track meets that invite schools from all over the NY Metro area, making it one of the premier facilities in the State. The New Jersey Attorney General's Office cites our Armory as a model for others around the state which may be utilized for recreational facilities for our children.

Government should not only focus on the youngest of its residents, but should also provide opportunities and services for our seniors. That's why our Division of Senior Affairs has the mission of addressing the needs of Jersey City seniors, educating them about our programs, and assisting them in reaching those programs for which they are eligible.

Senior Affairs offers home delivered meals for qualified seniors, operates the two city senior centers, organizes the shopping bus program, provides vouchers for seniors to use at local farmers' markets, and sponsors fun activities. Just a few of these leisure events are the monthly senior movies at Newport Mall, the Senior Celebration in May, and the annual Atlantic City Bus Rides.

For example, more than 4,300 seniors take part in our bus trips to Atlantic City each year. Our senior movies are attended by more than 500 seniors each month. More than $45,000 is provided to Jersey City seniors each year through our farmers' market voucher program. And through both our Home Delivered Meals Program and our Lunch Program at the Senior Centers we serve more than 340,000 meals each year.

These programs provided to our children and seniors require significant expenditure of public funds. Maintaining and increasing the ranks of our Police and Fire Departments require additional costs. We conduct our government in a fiscally-responsible manner. When I took office, I inherited a structural deficit in excess of $50 million and with a need to expend funds to address concerns such as crime and pothole-ridden streets.

Just to give you a frame of reference, every year since I have been in office we have paved more than 10 miles of our city streets. Before I took office, the average miles paved each year was only half that. This year, we will pave 19 miles of city streets investing $12.6 million through a combination of grants and capital funds.Despite our commitment to these initiatives to make our city greater, we have reigned in spending and created additional streams of revenue other than conventional property taxation. Our budget in 2007 was only 2.2 percent higher than the 2006 budget. This is less than the rate of inflation, which is in excess of 4.0 percent and notwithstanding the fact that we have been confronted with some rising costs that we cannot control, such as health care costs and pension benefits. In fact, in the budget that we are about to submit to the City Council, the municipal tax rate remains steady. We will continue to work to do whatever it takes to relieve to the extent possible the property tax burden on our residents and to make life more affordable.

As our City continues to prosper, the reality is that the cost of housing continues to escalate. My Administration has worked diligently to create new affordable housing. The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and our Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Commerce have been working with developers and non-profit affordable housing providers who built 183 units of affordable housing in 2007. Since being sworn into office, this Administration has collected over $12 million in contributions to the City's Affordable Housing Trust Fund from developers who received tax abatements. Nearly $9 million has already been committed to the construction of more than 350 units of affordable housing, throughout the City. There are currently 1,023 affordable units in various stages of planning, with 554 affordable units under construction.

One of the greatest providers of affordable housing in our city has been the Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation, which has built 144 units of affordable housing during the past 15 years. Just this past December, we broke ground with the Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation on eight units of affordable housing on Bergen Avenue. Tonight I would like to thank John Restrepo, the director of the Jersey City Episcopal, for their continued commitment to the people of Jersey City. John, please stand.
While being committed to enhancing housing opportunities for those with low incomes, we also have to do more for our middle class residents. It is completely unjust to have a society in which our firefighters, police officers, nurses and school teachers have difficulty locating quality housing in the community that they serve. Accordingly, we have embraced the use of workforce housing under the Department of Community Affairs' Choice Program. One such building is currently under construction on Martin Luther King Drive that will provide eight units including low income and workforce housing. There are plans for another housing complex on Hague Street and Summit Avenue that will have green building standards, provide 15 units of low and moderate income housing, and 30 units of workforce housing for our middle class. This will also be the first major development of its kind in the Heights in years.

This new development in the Heights is just one example of our commitment to using government to stimulate development off the waterfront. My Administration is committed to work with our State government to attract new commercial investment to our City. I am grateful that Governor Corzine recently signed legislation which provides tax credits to companies that invest in urban transit hub locations. In spite of the uncertain economic climate, Jersey City continues to attract business. For example, the Class A Office vacancy rate has dropped to 10.3 percent, the lowest since the terrible events of September 11th. A month ago, the National Union Fire Insurance, a subsidiary of AIG, announced that they are relocating 500 employees to 101 Hudson. Just last week, AXA, a multinational company, announced that they were relocating 800 employees to the Newport Tower. Jersey City is now the twelfth largest downtown with regard to office space in the United States.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, Jersey City had 359,385 square feet of additional occupied office space, according to the CoStar Group, a leading independent provider of information services to commercial real estate professionals. This is a very strong indication of economic growth and job creation. Our city has been the economic engine that has been largely responsible for the upturn in employment in our state during the past ten years.

I promise you tonight that my Administration will employ whatever incentives are at our disposal to generate the best business climate possible. Incentives from the City and the State will only enhance what is already an indisputably great location that is comparatively inexpensive, home to numerous forms of mass transportation and which is the gateway to the cultural, commercial, and financial capital of the world.

Cultural amenities are critical components to a world class city. We are already a haven for artists and home to excellent retail and fine dining establishments. My Administration has cooperated with those interested in investing in our city to create new entertainment and leisure opportunities. Our annual Jersey City Artists Studio Tour has grown to include hundreds of venues and attracts thousands of visitors. Through funding from our Division of Cultural Affairs, our Division of Economic Development and the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation, Art House Productions recently expanded their innovative program known as JC Fridays. JC Fridays links artists and businesses in order to stage free art events at restaurants and cafes, thus creating new art venues in our city. I wish to acknowledge Jersey City's own Christine Goodman for coming up with this innovative approach to linking our thriving artist community to our vibrant businesses. Christine, would you please stand? This year, we expect JC Fridays to expand even further throughout our city.

Soon, our residents and visitors will walk the cobblestone streets of our Powerhouse Arts District when it finally lives up to its potential. We look forward to dining in the Powerhouse Arts District's outdoor cafes, to viewing diverse art at a plethora of galleries and sculpture gardens, and to listening to music at cabarets and watching plays at a new theater. We will all admire the diverse architecture ranging from historic buildings that pay tribute to our industrial past, such as the Powerhouse Building, and to other stimulating structures designed by world class architects.

Without question, the fundamental key to making that area of our city one of the most unique cultural destinations in America will be to renovate and restore the Powerhouse Building. Steps have been taken to renovate this architectural masterpiece by designating a redeveloper to undertake this restoration. Grant money has been identified for the stabilization of the building, and we will shortly sign an agreement with the Port Authority that will enable the power substation located at the site to be moved. We are grateful for the cooperation we have received thus far from the Port Authority and we will continue to lobby our State government and the leadership of the Port Authority to work expeditiously with us to see that this renovation and restoration take place. We hope that in the near future, funding is made available from the Port Authority and State agencies, such as the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, to bring about the renovation of this great structure, which will serve as an economic stimulus to our entire City and a cultural destination for the entire New York metropolitan area.
Extending economic development beyond the Waterfront faces a number of obstacles. Other areas of our city do not have the same mass transit infrastructure that downtown enjoys and a number of sections of our city face challenges such as serious problems of environmental contamination. Yet there is great potential in the other sections of our city, such as our West Side, and it takes bold governmental action and smart governing to tap into that potential. This is why my Administration took the unprecedented step of initiating lawsuits against a multi-national conglomerate in an effort to clean up and spark the redevelopment of areas along the Newark Bay and Hackensack River along Route 440. Although some thought we were crazy to start a legal battle with a multi-billion dollar corporation such as Honeywell, the litigation prompted mediation and settlement discussions that have created a public private partnership that will transform Jersey City's long-neglected west side.

The development of the West Side is no longer a dream confined to drafts on a planner's shelf; it is becoming reality. Honeywell has agreed to dedicate its substantial resources to remediate the chromium pollution that is the consequence of the manufacturing legacy of its corporate predecessors. Our partnership with Honeywell will facilitate a world class development on the Hackensack River. We are optimistic about this mixed use development that will take place on some 100 acres and consist of to up to 8,000 residential units and entail over a million square feet of office and retail space. This development will be undertaken pursuant to green building standards to produce energy efficient and environmentally friendly structures. It will have bountiful open space. It will generate hundreds of units of affordable and workforce housing. And it will create thousands of construction jobs and permanent jobs as well. We have structured the settlement so that we will obtain substantial financial remuneration immediately in order provide needed property tax relief to our residents, but also to enable the city to obtain revenues from land sales over the years to come.

The environmental remediation will be undertaken by Honeywell at its own expense and will be done pursuant to the DEP's stringent new chromium clean-up guidelines. The DEP has provided great assistance to the city in our efforts to remediate chromium contamination and I express my gratitude to the staff of the DEP and in particular to Commissioner Lisa Jackson, who has created a model for the interaction between state and local government.
In addition to the support by DEP, we have worked in partnership with environmental non-profit organizations, such as the Hackensack River Keeper. We are fortunate to have citizen watchdogs like the Executive Director of the Hackensack River Keeper, Bill Sheehan, who dedicate their lives to ensuring that government and private corporations do the right thing. I would like to recognize Captain Bill Sheehan and thank him for all of his efforts in helping to clean up the Hackensack River and its surrounding environs.

But this development on the Newark Bay, which has the potential to be one of the greatest urban planned communities in America, will not live up to that potential unless there is further assistance from the State. In order to achieve the sought-after densities and for this project to be consistent with smart growth principles, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail needs to be extended less than a half mile from its current western terminus on Westside Avenue. Additionally, longstanding plans to widen Route 440 and convert it into a more pedestrian-friendly boulevard should finally be realized. We recognize the economic challenges confronting the State and the shortage of transportation funds in particular. We support Governor Corzine's focus, intensity, and determination in seeking to relieve our State from the crushing burden of our debt service, which has never been addressed by prior administrations. This could well free-up much-needed funding for urban mass transportation investments in Jersey City.

Transportation needs are not just limited to those who drive on the Turnpike and the Parkway or to those who ride into Manhattan on NJ Transit and PATH trains. For those who do not live in our cities, it may come as a surprise that the main mode of urban transportation is the bus. Many people, especially our seniors, working families, and economically disadvantaged residents, rely on buses to get to work, the supermarket, and the doctor. We have convinced NJ Transit that it is not acceptable to let private bus companies abandon their urban routes. Through our efforts in conjunction with our state representatives, we have been able to save and extend bus service in our city. I am pleased to report that the No. 99 Bus as of yesterday has been replaced by NJ Transit's No. 6 Bus. This will mean riders in Greenville and Lafayette will continue to be served. Additionally, NJ Transit has extended until at least April the continuation of the No. 4 Bus.

Also, NJ Transit will extend the No. 123 Bus from Congress Street to Christ Hospital on Palisade Avenue, so residents will have a one-bus ride to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan.

While we are pleased with the progress we have made on the West Side in remediating chromium pollution and toward redeveloping former industrial sites, there is still significant work to be done in this regard in other areas of our city. This year, it will be a primary goal of my Administration to compel PP&G to come up with an expeditious and thorough clean-up plan for the site of its former plant on Garfield Avenue. This location is prime for positive redevelopment that will create new jobs and improve the area. Located across the street from a Light Rail Station, we will not let this area that has so much potential remain contaminated, blighted, and unproductive. Instead, my plan is to clean up the site and return ratables and job opportunities to our city. We will work with the DEP and PP&G to find a solution, while reserving our right to litigate if necessary.

Cities have always been the center of civilization. Great cities like Jersey City have a center where people congregate to participate in commercial activity and to enjoy culture and the arts. Historically, Jersey City's center has been Journal Square, just a few blocks from here. But like many other urban centers, Journal Square has been in decline for decades. Business and retail establishments have left while the structures in which they once flourished have become shabby and underutilized. We have taken steps toward turning Journal Square around.

Any redevelopment of Journal Square will have to focus on the area that was once known as the Hotel on the Square. We have made significant progress by demolishing that eyesore. We have also transferred ownership of the property from a negligent landlord to one who has a passion and vision for the future. But still more needs to be done.

Journal Square faces unique obstacles. The area is an untested real estate market that has been in decline, and it does not enjoy the same proximity to Manhattan as the Waterfront.

The declining national real estate market does not help the situation. Significant private investment and development will benefit Journal Square, but we must be prepared to take bold actions to create incentives for redevelopment.

Currently, the vacant land at the Hotel on the Square property generates $200,000 a year in property taxes. The developers are proposing to invest $600 million dollars to build two spectacular towers on this site that will support more than 1,000 new residential units and create significant commercial and retail space. This investment will create some 800 construction jobs and 300 permanent jobs. Most importantly, this ground-breaking development will change the face of Journal Square forever, and it will spark the renaissance of that area which was once the commercial and cultural heart of our City.
In the near future, I will present the City Council with a plan that will increase the revenues received by the City and help facilitate the construction of those two new towers at the old Hotel on the Square. The redevelopment of Journal Square is key to making Jersey City even greater.

In addition to this commercial and residential development at Journal Square, we also need to ensure that other retail and cultural amenities flourish. We are working with the Friends of the Loews to ensure that the Loews Theater becomes the preeminent entertainment venue in our city.

We have accomplished much, but there is more to do to make Jersey City even greater. Together, we will make this city safer, more prosperous, greener and more affordable. We will seek to continue to improve the lives of our residents by providing efficient government services, whether it is by increasing opportunities, filling potholes or cleaning up and refurbishing neighborhood parks. We will approach these endeavors with enthusiasm and passion for our great city. Yet while we want a city with beautiful buildings, clean streets and grand parks, we also want a place where there is a strong sense of community.

The population of Jersey City is incredibly diverse. We have descendants from every corner of the globe. Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said, "If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships, the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace." Jersey City continues to show the world how people from different ethnic, religious and racial backgrounds can live together in peace and prosperity. I close with the motto of our founding fathers: Let Jersey prosper. Thank you and God bless you all.