5 Questions With A Jersey City Official: Mira Prinz-Arey

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 B encompasses Jersey City's West Side and consists of a mix of suburbs and retail shopping. Ward B is represented by Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey, who has served on the council for four years.

Prinz-Arey lives on the West Side and works as a Development Coordinator for a local non-profit. She served on the executive board of Jersey City Parks Coalition. She has been a trustee of the West Side Community Alliance and co-founded WSCA’s farmers market.

Prinz-Arey talked to Patch about gun violence in the city, development on the West Side and more.

Here are five questions and responses with Jersey City Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey:

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?

"One of the most important things that can happen is for residents and the police department to sit down and talk to each other and listen to each other about what can be done. We as a council, our role is the legislative one, so we can look at actions we can take on the legislative end to see if there's ways to allocate more funding to different programs."

"I think that the real thing is, is really kind of understanding the needs before you start to put the programs in place."

2. As restaurants and bars reopen and restrictions loosen, how can the council help businesses recoup or start over from pandemic losses?

"One of the things we did during the pandemic was create the COVID-19 Relief Fund, which helps businesses — This was in addition to what was already being provided by the federal and state and county resources."

"I think that as the Governor continues to loosen restrictions, the best thing we can do is continue to drive traffic to those businesses."

3. Jersey City’s West Side is being eyed by many developers as the newest opportunity, how can the city balance increased development and affordability?

"Well, one of the things we did was implement and inclusionary zoning ordinance last year. So any project that has put an application before the planning department, if they meet the criteria, are required to do 20 percent affordable. There are some carve outs that was important for other parts of the city, but also for a very, very, very small developer who is maybe doing a 16 unit project and doesn't have the large resources and funding that a large scale developer might do."

"We also have our Bayfront project, which is going to be 35 percent affordable, the city bonded for that land, and it's written into the redevelopment plan that it's a requirement. So I think that as we look to our redevelopment plans, things like that, that's another avenue we can take as we look at the landscape and see how that unfolds. But I also think that there's space in there for affordable homeownership and there should be steps that residents can take from the first affordable apartment to the first part of a homeownership."

4. How would you categorize the council’s relationship with the school board?

"I think that we've got a good relationship, we've held two joint meetings, the council had actually asked the school board back in what was the end of 2018-2019 to sit down and talk with us, so we could better understand the state funding issues that they're being faced with and how we can better work together. So I think that the lines of communication are open between the two separate governing bodies. I think that that is a great first step — at the end of the day, we are here to support the kids of Jersey City."

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

"To continue to get my residents access to the resources they need, and then to continue to work on projects that we've put into place in my ward over the last three and a half years. And to make sure that we're set up for success moving forward. I will be finishing my term, I'll be the first council person to finish a full term and run for re-election in 15 years and I think that that's really important because you do need that kind of consistency."

Have a news tip or a story that should be told? Email Samantha Mercado at samantha.mercado@patch.com.Keep up with the latest news in Jersey City and subscribe to Jersey City Patch.