A lot has happened this week in not just Hudson County, but New Jersey as a whole.
From dockworker strikes to recognizing Hudson County’s athletic talents and Jersey City’s Ward F fighting back, here’s what’s been happening.
East Coast Port Workers Reach Deal, Fending Off Effects For New Jersey
The East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico saw tens of thousands of American dockworkers go on strike at ports on Monday, Sept. 30 at midnight. The strike stopped the flow of various goods from almost all cargo ports—stretching from Maine to Texas—disturbing the economy weeks shy of the 2024 presidential election.
After a three-day strike, all workers were called back to work Thursday following a preliminary and temporary agreement on wages between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance.
Both parties have agreed to a 62% wage increase over six years. That would raise average wages to about $63 an hour from $39 an hour over the life of the contract.
During the strike, these four ports in New Jersey were closed: APM Terminals and Maher Container Terminal in Elizabeth, Port Newark Container Terminal in Newark and Port Liberty in Bayonne.
Thousands of containers filled with products waiting to be imported into New York and New Jersey ports started to be unloaded Friday night and will continue into the weekend, says Port Authority of New York and New Jersey port director Bethann Rooney.
As of early Friday morning, 24 ships are at anchor waiting to enter the port. Two terminals will be opened over the weekend for trucks to be able to deliver the products to their warehouses and distribution centers, according to Rooney, and the remaining terminals will open Monday at 6 a.m.
“I do expect that by this time next week, we will have serviced all of the vessels that were delayed and that cargo will be flowing into the economy,” according to Rooney.
The following are some items that the strike would have impacted:
- Seafood
- Oil
- Electronics
- Cars and auto parts
- Machinery parts
- Alcohol
- Bananas
The International Longshoremen’s Association represents 47,000 port workers. In the past, the association had not been able to reach a deal on a new labor contract with an alliance representing shippers and port operators. The union was focused on significant raises and guarantees that technology would not replace human workers.
“Pay isn’t the problem. It’s the cost of living. In North Jersey, $50,000 a year is the minimum wage. Anything below that, it’s damn near impossible to live comfortably alone,” one Instagram user commented on Jersey__news’s Instagram account.
Major importers, such as big retail chains, have been preparing for a strike for months, moving shipments earlier in the year. Despite news reports, analysts did not expect shortages of items on the shelves at stores or price hikes in the short term. However, the longer the strike would have lasted, the more serious it would have been for the regular consumer.
Governor Murphy Visits Hoboken High School To Encourage Teenage Voting
Gov. Phil Murphy took a trip to Hoboken High School on Tuesday to reiterate his support of legislation that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in their school board elections. Murphy was accompanied by two of the legislation’s prime sponsors: Senator Raj Mukherji and Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker.
During his visit, Murphy took part in an AP Government and Politics class, which talks about the foundational documents of the United States of America.
Murphy spoke to the students about the significance of civic engagement and the power of voting and being heard in the polls.
“I am constantly amazed by New Jersey’s remarkable young people, and I believe they deserve the opportunity to meaningfully engage with our democratic system. In New Jersey, we have made it a priority to expand access to the vote by instituting early in-person voting and establishing online voter registration, among other critical reforms, because all eligible voters should have the opportunity to cast their ballots in our elections,” Murphy said.
“Local school board elections directly impact the day-to-day lives of 16 and 17-year-old students, and we have the opportunity to instill in them the lifelong value of voting. Casting your ballot is a simple and effective way to help shape the future. I look forward to the day this bill lands on my desk.”
This past January, Murphy signed the New York Voter Empowerment Act. This act allows any registered voter who is 17 years old by the time of a primary election to vote in that primary if they turn 18 on or before the next general election.
“By enfranchising 16- and 17-year-olds, the voters most directly impacted by local school board decisions, we can address chronically low voter turnout in school board elections and improve long-term voter participation,” stated Senator Raj Mukherji, who is from Jersey City.
Not everyone is fond of the idea.
Some say that younger teens do not have enough education or motivation to vote, and others are worried that they will be unfairly influenced and pressured.
Jersey City Council Approves Tax Break For Controversial Pompidou Plan
The criticized project is seemingly back on the table for Jersey City.
After an intense six-hour meeting, the Jersey City Council approved a 30-year tax break for the Centre Pompidou. A tax break, or tax abatement programs, reduces one’s total tax liability and are used to attract developers to build in underused or neglected areas; this offering has been especially used in New Jersey, and more specifically, Jersey City.
In 2021, a collaboration was announced between the Pompidou and Jersey City. The Centre Pompidou is a modern and contemporary art museum headquartered in Paris, France. The Pompidou has different locations including Málaga, Brussels, and Shanghai; Jersey City would be the first North American site, proposed for 808 Pavonia Avenue.
But New Jersey politicians pulled funding over the summer after discovering it would burden locals with heftier taxes.
The plan was seemingly revived with an ordinance hearing to approve a 30-year tax exemption for “a mixed-use residential project with cultural, educational and arts spaces” for 808 Pavonia Avenue, which Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who is an advocate for the plan, reiterated the site would be used for.
Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh encouraged the ordinance hearing.
There are some who support the Pompiou like Michael Ehrman, who recently wrote a letter to the editor in favor of the project, and expressed, “The Pompidou is a reliable partner if the city decides to go forward.”
Centre Pompidou x Jersey City Co-director Anna Hiddleston-Galloni came to the project’s defense by highlighting it would be shaped by the community and local partners.
But then the majority who spoke at the hearing were strongly against it.
“The mayor … thought the residents should control the destiny of Journal Square. If he actually believed in those words, this would not be a rush vote. It is going to cost taxpayers $4 to 5 million dollars a year,” Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano said before public comment.
“We still haven’t gotten concrete numbers on the cost of the build-out. People are tired of the taxes,” he added.
“The math doesn’t seem to make sense. Our mayor was patronizing when he was challenged. We don’t need more construction in Journal Square,” Gina Davison said at the meeting.
“The children here are asking for trees. Give us trees. Give us housing. We don’t want the Pompidou here.”
The measure passed 6-3, with Boggiano, Solomon and Gilmore voting no, similar to the first reading.
Bergen-Lafayette Given Chance By NJ Supreme Court
Ward F Councilman Frank Gilmore earned a victory after the New Jersey Supreme Court agreed to hear his appeal, along with many others, on the Jersey City ward map case.
“This is huge… Jersey City ya’ll better stand behind him!!!” one Instagram user commented on EverythingWardF’s Instagram account.
The reworked Jersey City ward map would move a portion of the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood and the entire Liberty State Park from Ward F, represented by Gilmore, to Ward A, represented by Councilwoman Denise Ridley. This was first proposed in 2022.
The redrawn map was following the 2020 U.S. Census, which records a complete count of population, prompting the City of Jersey City to redrew its six ward lines.
Gilmore, and various neighborhood associations, filed a lawsuit after the proposed new ward map, arguing that the new proposed boundaries were made to take away the councilman’s ability to make decisions regarding Ward F, according to the plaintiffs.
At a hearing before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Turula in 2022, the plaintiffs argued that the revised Ward F is almost identical to the Massachusetts district gerrymandering case. Gerrymandering is the political manipulation of boundaries of electoral districts—known as wards in Jersey City—to give advantage to a party, group or socioeconomic class.
The plaintiffs offered an alternative to the redrawn map, which would keep “communities of interest” together.
Hurley Brothers, Bayonne NFL Star Kenny Brit Among 17 Inductees At Hudson County Sports Hall Of Fame
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy inducted 17 athletes into the Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame during the 26th Annual Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony. This included the Hurley Family Foundation for the organization’s commitment to the Hudson County community.
“These athletes represent the very best of Hudson County. Each inductee is a proud example of the competitive spirit and intense dedication that are hallmarks of all great athletes. Our athletes have stood out wherever they have competed, making us all very proud. And they have coached our Hudson County youth, providing leadership and serving as role models in their positions.”
This year’s class was highlighted by brothers Dan and Bobby Hurley. Dan led the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024. Bobby is the all-time leader in assists in NCAA basketball history and also spent time in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings and the then-Vancouver Grizzlies.
Inductees also include former NFL players Kenny Britt and Rashawn Jackson.
For the full list of inductees and their biographies, visit here.
Share Your Voice And Help Improve Liberty State Park
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is giving citizens a chance to be heard.
As the NJDEP continues with its Liberty State Park Revitalization project, they are now looking for public comment to help with concepts.
Now through Oct. 13, you can review and comment on concepts for:
- Active recreation amenities
- Vehicle and pedestrian circulation throughout the park
- The restoration of the historic train shed
Review and comment here: https://dep.nj.gov/revitalizelsp/comment/
LSP is also accepting comments on the park’s Shuttle Pilot Program, which launched this summer from July 19 through Sept. 29.
Take the Shuttle Pilot Program survey here: https://dep.nj.gov/revitalizelsp/shuttlesurvey/