Bayonne Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski, a candidate for Mayor in the upcoming May municipal election, issued a press release this afternoon ripping Mayor Jimmy Davis on redevelopment following last night’s Council meeting. Ashe-Nadrowski went so far as to classify the Mayor as “All Talk No Action.”
“Less than a week ago, Mayor Davis finally admitted that over-development was out of control. Yet, it turned out to just be another broken promise. Last night his Council running mates rejected public input – not once, but in four separate votes. Once again, Davis is all talk and no action,” stated Ashe-Nadrowski.
Mayor Davis called for a “pause of development without public input” yet his hand-picked council running mates voted to approve a redevelopment plan for the former site of Marist High School without seeking any public comment. Despite Ashe-Nadrowski’s request to not vote on the matter and seek public input, the Resolution passed four to one with only Ashe-Nadrowski voting “no.”
The Council also approved the initial steps for redevelopment of three other sites, including 63 Lefante Way, Walchks, and the Eighth Street redevelopment plan which itself contains multiple sites. Despite pointing out that none of the Council knew anything about the sites, and over the protest of some residents to seek public input, the Davis-backed Council members of LaPelusa, Perez and Carroll voted in favor of the development. “At the meeting I reminded my fellow Council members before each vote that this is not about us or the developers, but about protecting our neighborhoods,” Said Ashe-Nadrowski.
“It’s unbelievable that those Council members can say that they support public involvement but when given the chance they vote, once again, to exclude the public from the process,” said Ashe-Nadrowski. “I voted against these plans because Bayonne residents deserve to have their voices heard on development projects. For the last several years, too many development deals have been negotiated in the backroom, outside of the public’s view. As Mayor I’ll be committed to hosting neighborhood meetings on each idea before a plan is adopted. I welcome public input. This is our town,” added Ashe-Nadrowski.
Council President Ashe-Nadrowski has taken her first steps to honor that commitment by scheduling a community meeting on February 28th at 7:00pm to discuss development in the City and any other neighborhood concerns. The meeting will be held at Kuhl’s Tavern, 53 Prospect Avenue in Bayonne.
In another example of the Mayor’s bait and switch tactics, Ashe-Nadrowski said Mayor Davis called for the City Council to “oppose a long-term Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT)” for the Silk Lofts 18-story residential tower, yet at the meeting the City Council postponed the vote until next month. It was unclear why the Davis allies rejected the mayor’s request.
