McGreevey wrong to bash students, teachers
I am writing in response to a recent opinion piece published by former Gov. and mayoral candidate Jim McGreevey (”Jersey City needs task force to fix dysfunctional BOE, school district,” (April 10).
For someone who has only attended one Jersey City Board of Education meeting and has had limited, if in fact any, interactions within the Jersey City public schools, the former governor’s choice to bash our district’s teachers and students while throwing out misguided and misleading numbers is irresponsible and gaslighting for the sake of political gain.
As an educator in the Jersey City public schools for 30 years, I have learned that anyone who uses standardized test scores as a basis for their argument knows little to nothing about the nuances of public education in an urban school district. Standardized test scores are a singular and myopic factor pushed upon us by elitists and for-profit corporations that do not take into account such factors as students with special needs, English-language learners and the most telling indicator of academic success, students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. To disrespect our educators and reduce students to a single test, taken on one single day, is to dismiss the hard work we do in collaboration with the parents and community partners in Jersey City.
Also, to base any argument regarding per pupil spending by simply dividing the budget by the total number of students enrolled in the district is either a sign of ignorance or deception. First, you must deduct $175 million off the top of the budget which is sent to Jersey City charter schools as well as the $30 million that is sent to private preschool providers for state-mandated pre-K3 programs. Then we must factor in the added expenses that are associated with educating students in the same categories that negatively impact standardized test scores which include students with special needs, English-language learners, students who qualify for reduced lunch and students living in poverty.
The percentage of JCPS students who qualify for reduced lunch is 44.5% higher than the state average, while the percentage of students who live in poverty is 46.5% higher than the state average. The percentage of JCPS students who are English-language learners is 61.9% higher than the national average and almost 5% of JCPS students have a documented disability requiring access to much-needed resources.
Perhaps a better use of time would be to question state Sen./Union City Mayor Stack as to why there is such a disparity among three school districts he is elected to serve. Jersey City, with an enrollment comparable to Paterson and more than double that of Union City, receives 75% less state aid than Paterson and 42% less state aid than Union City.
How can we expect someone whose mayoral campaign is beholden to Stack to go to Trenton and fight for adequate state funding to alleviate the burden on local taxpayers?
So, while educators may be an easy scapegoat to bear the brunt of criticism when trying to bolster a political campaign, remember that we are the ones who are tirelessly working with our students every day to overcome these obstacles and educate the whole student and not just focus on a standardized test score.
Kristen Zadroga-Hart, resident and educator, Jersey City
Rein in e-bike delivery drivers
The “In Your Opinion” in Wednesday’s Jersey Journal (”Delivery ordinance could put me out of work”) was an interesting one in that it came from a common Jersey City citizen. I respect Aiman Ali’s work ethic and priority for safety as a food delivery worker.
However, his statement that most workers follow rules of the road is simply false. I’d say most delivery drivers have a complete disregard for rules or safety or pedestrians in general. Sit at the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza for 5 minutes and you’ll witness 10 -plus delivery bikes zooming through at high speeds despite the area being off limits for bikes.
The ordinance to put more restrictions is warranted and should be enforced strictly. We should also hold the billion-dollar delivery companies accountable for how their workers behave on our streets and even attack their bottom line in order to have their workers comply.
A simple course on rules of the road and basic training is needed for these delivery workers and it should be provided by the delivery companies themselves.
Jersey City is a rapidly changing city with modes of transportation evolving with it. New laws must be set in place to adjust for these new fast electronic vehicles and that starts with these rules for food delivery workers.
Thanks for keeping The Jersey Journal relevant and holding those in power accountable. Your importance for Jersey City cannot be overstated.
Brian J. Balahadia, Jersey City
O’Dea’s payroll tax idea unwise
The recent comments by Hudson County Commissioner and mayoral candidate Bill O’Dea highlight the dangers that a “tax and spend” philosophy poses to Jersey City (”O’Dea offers plan that would force contractors, developers to pay Jersey City payroll tax,” April 9).
Raising taxes as the one-size-fits-all solution to every problem does not work, instead creating new problems with affordability and housing security.
O’Dea’s plan to force developers and construction companies to comply with a currently unenforceable payroll tax, while allowing every other business to continue ignoring the tax, is a classic example of insider politicians picking winners and losers based on who supports them for their electoral goals.
Jersey City is undoubtedly facing a housing shortage, yet policies such as these not only do nothing to address the crises, these anti-housing policies contribute to rising rents that price out our longtime residents and small business owners.
Furthermore, another round of tax increases on top of the already substantial municipal and school tax increases of the previous years will naturally force senior citizens out of their family homes and young families out of Jersey City.
While this payroll tax, originally proposed with good intent to fund our public schools, on the surface seems like a good idea, it is testament to the inability of the Jersey City Education Association and Board of Education to come up with a working budget that respects Jersey City’s residents’ financial situations, while at the same time providing some progress regarding Jersey City’s schools worrisome outcomes. Understandably, these two issues are inherently linked, as O’Dea’s uncomfortably close relationship to the JCEA and Board of Education demonstrates a conflict of interest where he is beholden to the whims of the JCEA and not to the residents of Jersey City.
I urge Commissioner O’Dea to reevaluate his stance and commit to supporting housing justice and affordability for all Jersey City residents, otherwise it will be Hudson County politics as usual.
Juliana Lombard, Republican candidate for Hudson County Surrogate, Jersey City
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