City Wants to Lose
Strange but true: Mayor Healy and the Municipal Council say they want to acquire the Harsimus Stem Embankment on 6th Street, but they sure seem to be doing their best to lose this historic and open space resource for the City.
Most recently, the Council refused to support an application for a New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust loan that would have provided ready money for the City to acquire the Embankment.
While Council President Mariano Vega, Councilwoman-at-large Willie Flood, and Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop wisely and consistently supported the application, the four other Councilpeople present (Councilman-at-large Peter Brennan, Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano, Ward B Councilwoman Mary Spinello, and Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson) voted no. Some of the comments made by the no-voters were astonishing in their misunderstanding of the issue or parochial ("it’s not in my ward") mentality.
The application would have enabled the City to access $5 million to acquire the Embankment when the federal Surface Transportation Board rules on its status--a decision expected imminently. 75% of the loan was at NO interest with the rest at lowest market-rate interest – making the overall interest about 1%. The loan would have been repayable by a pledge and reimbursable grants already awarded in the amount of $3.7 million, as well as by highly probable grant awards for which Mayor Healy is now refusing to file applications.
These actions (or inaction) make no sense, unless the City wants to lose this site and previous positions of the Administration and Council were mere political posturing. After all, three Administrations and two Councils have acknowledged the historic importance of the Embankment. They made it a Municipal Landmark. They endorsed its reuse as open space and greenway. The Council authorized the Administration to proceed with acquisition. Both the state and federal governments have awarded funds for acquisition. Now, however, this Administration and Council is crippling its own ability to acquire the site, by stalling paperwork and refusing to pursue this bridge loan. The Mayor says he wants the Embankment for light rail, but he has identified no funds for light rail. He is walking away from state and federal open space funds already awarded.
These elected officials owe the public a rational explanation. The question they should answer is: "Now that you are walking away from state and federal funding for the Embankment, what is your plan to acquire it?"
Sincerely,
Jennifer Meyer, President
Embankment Preservation Coalition