Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz Victorious Over City Council Attempted Takeover of Redevelopment Agency
Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz Victorious Over City Council Attempted Takeover of Redevelopment Agency
PERTH AMBOY, NJ – October 16, 2019 – The administration of Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz thwarted a second attempt by the City Council to dissolve the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency (PARA) and assume its responsibilities themselves. The Department of Community Affairs denied the proposal in a strongly worded response.
“There is no valid reasons to dissolve an agency that has brought such outstanding economic growth and redevelopment success to the city,” said Mayor Diaz. The unstated reason for the attempt to dissolve PARA is based purely on irresponsible and improper political motivation, advancing political goals instead of enhancing services to the residents of Perth Amboy.”
According to a certification from PARA executive director Leigh Anne Hindenlang, the agency created nearly $1 billion in new construction, generated 500 jobs, increased tax rateables by $15 million, and invested $8 million in environmental remediation and infrastructure.
In contrast, the city council has not apportioned any funding in the budget to establish a re-development in-house entity, including no provision for an executive director. Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Division of Local Government Services’ chair Melanie Walter noted, “So there’s no money allocated or proposed to support the function if the application was granted.”
“The City Council has repeatedly acted improperly and irresponsibly in an effort to undermine the work of PARA,” added Mayor Diaz. “Not only has the city council refused over the years to exercise its role regarding appointments to fill PARA vacancies, thereby leaving the agency with a bare majority of commissioners to conduct its business, but it has also illegally attempted to usurp the appointment power set forth in the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.”
Furthermore, the mayor cited the city council’s lack of training, experience, and expertise required to successfully implement the complex redevelopment projects. Noted board member Dominic DiRocco, “I don’t hear a whole lot of background or experience in that regard, so I’m a little concerned personally, as one member of the board, about moving in that direction, hearing all these sorts of unanswered questions at this point.”
According to the transcript, the DCA’s Division of Local Government Services board members noted the city council presented no plans on how they would implement a redevelopment in Perth Amboy.
DCA board members also expressed dismay that no member of the Perth Amboy City Council was present at the hearing. “It would be helpful to have the primary motivating voices behind this here for the record. I would note that,” said Dominic DiRocco. Added Francis Blee, “I’ve been on the board for about 11 years, and we find it highly insulting when the applicants are not here in person.”
PARA has positively impacted the city and its residents through the completion of various projects and special initiatives. The redevelopment agency has not only brought millions of dollars in annual revenue stream, but has also hired hundreds of residents through the creation of new jobs.
“At the end of the day, I am sworn and beholden only to the residents of Perth Amboy,” said Mayor Diaz. “I will go to the highest of courts to defend the rights of the people I was elected to serve. And if that requires testifying before a Board to protect an agency that has brought outstanding economic growth and redevelopment success to the City, then so be it. That’s what I will do.”
In the end, the DCA board voted unanimously to deny the city council’s application for the dissolution of the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency.
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