5 Questions With A Jersey City Official: Denise Ridley

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City is the second-largest city in New Jersey and has a municipal government to match its size. The City Council consists of nine members who are meant to be the voice of the people of Jersey City.

Ward A is the southernmost ward in the city and consists of parts of the Greenville neighborhood. Ward A is represented by Councilwoman Denise Ridley, who has served on the council for four years.

Ridley is a life-long Jersey City resident and aside from her work on the council, she works as a marketing professional at a leading generic drug company and is also a licensed real estate agent. Ridley serves on the school board for Marist High School and is also a member of the Jersey City Public Safety Review Board.

She spoke with Patch about investment in Ward A, community policing and keeping Jersey City affordable.

Here are five questions and responses with Jersey City Councilwoman Denise Ridley:

1. The last few months, Jersey City has been hit with back to back incidents of gun violence and homicides, what can the council do to find a solution?

"As for Ward A specifically, I’ve sat down with Public Safety to discuss strategies and assist with better deploying their resources in hot zones. In addition, our local community groups, such as the Triangle Park Neighborhood Association, have set up activities to help keep young men in the area engaged in other activities outside of violence. We work with the community groups to ensure they have the resources, permits, police presence, etc. needed to keep the programs going for our youth most at risk. In addition to providing positive activities, the community groups also work with the youth on problem solving skills and intervention."

2. Greenville has some of the highest police presence in the city — at a time when residents are voicing concern over police tactics and the overall system, what do you think is needed for your Ward?

"All of Ward A is Greenville, but not all of Greenville is Ward A. While there is a good police presence in Ward A, we also understand that we share a police precinct with our neighboring wards and at times more resources are needed in other areas. My residents appreciate the police presence and would like to see more officers walking the neighborhood. This is something that I am currently working on with Police Director Moody. There are neighborhoods within Ward A that would like to see more police cars riding through the neighborhood. The best way to do that is working with our South District Commander, Captain Sullivan, so that he understands where the needs are in the community. Captain Sullivan and I engage in meetings with block associations to get first-hand information of issues with specific streets. The need in Ward A is for our police to understand the best times to deploy their units and where. This is something we are constantly working on with the community, as it changes. The best way to improve police related issues in the Ward is through constant interaction and communication between police and residents. Since the weather has changed and is a lot warmer, JCPD has hosted community block parties in the Ward with our seniors and our kids. That interaction outside of a typical police/resident interaction when there is an issue really helps to build relationships. "

3. As a lifelong Jersey City resident, what do you see as the council’s best option for increasing affordability in Jersey City and expanding homeownership?

"I would say the best option is what we are currently doing at Bayfront. Bayfront is a 100-acre site that has the potential for 8,000 residential units. 35 percent of those units are affordable. I believe the best way to make the City more affordable is to incorporate affordable units in with market rate units and create mix-income communities. One project we cut the ribbon on in 2019, Cyan Condos, on Martin Luther King Drive is another good example on ways to increase affordability. This project is an affordable homeownership project. We are working on ways to do more of these style projects. This is needed throughout the City."

4. Conversations about bringing investment to Greenville have ensued on the surface, but neighborhoods like Journal Square and The Heights have taken the spotlight for the "renaissance" they are experiencing. How can the city help Ward A see a similar movement.

"I think Ward A is already beginning to see that movement. Since I took office, we’ve moved the progression of Bayfront forward and work has started on the infrastructure at the site. Directly across the street we have University Place that houses 4 residential buildings, an NJCU student dorm, and small businesses. In addition, at this same site, we have approved a 500 seat performing arts center. That same building will be the new home of the Joffrey Ballet. Also along the 440 corridor, several property owners are currently in negotiations for new businesses such as Shop Rite, LA Fitness, and Target to name a few. On the East side of the Ward, local property owners are moving forward with developments along Ocean Avenue as part of the Ocean Avenue South Redevelopment Plan. Residents in that area are currently working with my office and our Planning Department to expand that plan and make additional changes. We have made updates to parks throughout the Ward. We just cut the ribbon on Audubon Park updates, which includes playground equipment designed to be inclusive of children that may have special needs. We totally renovated Triangle Park and will cut the ribbon on that next week. Money has been earmarked for big changes at Bayside Park, Columbia Park, and Martyniak-Enright Park as well as others. Additionally, as a Jersey City Redevelopment Agency Commissioner (JCRA), I am working with the JCRA and my council colleagues in our neighboring Wards of B and F to find ways to develop more first responder housing options in our wards. A lot is going on in Ward A. I just don’t think we get the media attention that some of the other areas receive."

5. What is your goal as Ward A Councilor for 2021?

"My goal for the remainder of 2021 is to make sure that projects and programs that started while I was in office are in a good position to continue. It is also to expand relationships between the police and community. This is an election year for me. I am in office now and I hope that I am blessed to serve the residents of Ward A for another 4 years. For the next six months, I feel it is my job to make sure the Ward is in a good position to continue moving forward no matter who the next Councilperson is come 2022. If I am fortunate enough to be elected to a second term, my goal is to continue the work we’ve started and to let everyone know that Greenville – Ward A is on the rise. We were once a very sought after section of the City and while we are not looking for buildings as large as those downtown or the hustle and bustle of a transportation hub like our neighbors in Journal Square, what we are looking for is to remain and expand on being a great place to live and raise a family."

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