JC Residents Demand HYBRID Division of Planning Meetings
Jersey City Chief of Staff, John Minella & Jersey City Business Administrator, John Metro
Hi Neighbors. Please consider signing this petition asking the City to make Division of Planning Meetings HYBRID--where citizens are able to view the meetings, AND also have the opportunity to speak. On January 5th, we, along with McGinley Square Community Board and nineteen other local organizations, urged the City to make these meetings hybrid. They haven't replied, but are reportedly taking the stance that hybrid meetings aren't legal. We believe this simply isn't true and instead violates the spirit of NJ's Open Meeting Laws.
Petition by
To:
Jersey City Chief of Staff, John Minella & Jersey City Business Administrator, John Metro
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Mr. Minella and Mr. Metro,
We, the undersigned, again implore you to make all Jersey City Division of Planning Meetings virtual until a fully hybrid option is available. This includes: Planning Board, Zoning Board, and Historic Preservation Commission meetings.
The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act “gives all members of the public the right to attend the meeting of public bodies.” Given the state of technology today, NOT allowing the public to participate by speaking remotely, violates the spirit of this law.
In-person only meetings greatly restrict residents with:
Child or elder care responsibilities
Disabilities and/or age-related mobility challenges
Jobs that require evenings or travel
Transportation concerns
Personal safety/health concerns
Hybrid meetings, where members of the public may not only view and listen, but also call in to give public comment, foster community engagement and promote democracy.
Respectfully,