Bayonne Needs a Port, Not Housing for the Rich
- A Port at MOTBY would generate 1,300 jobs immediately and 5,000 over a five year period. Salaries from these jobs would average $55,000 and have benefits. Bayonne has a lot less of these jobs than it used to. Finding a good job is harder and harder, especially if you don't have a college education.
- The Port would generate $9.275 million annually in tax revenue for Bayonne in the project’s first full year of operation. One potential port developer says it will take two years to start up and has offered to pay Bayonne $25 million right away.
- The U.S. Army gave MOTBY to Bayonne for $1 so that Bayonne could use the land to soften the blow from the loss of several thousands good government jobs that disappeared when the base was shuttered.
Mixed use is approved and ready to go.
Bayonne can have a residential housing development and a container terminal. A mixed use plan was already approved by the Army. It designates 51 acres for housing and 215 acres forBut the Port plan is endangered!
The developers of luxury housing don't really want a port. They want to maximize their profits. They proposed a restrictive covenant that would prohibit development of the port. The BLRA agreed to this possibly illegal restriction and Mayor Doria, who appointed them, supports it!
This goes against the already agreed upon plan with Army. When the Army turned MOTBY over to Bayonne for one dollar in 2000, Bayonne was obligated to use MOTBY as a port. The Army Corps spent over $2 billion dedging the channel so it could receive the new generation of ships.What about traffic?
Building housing on the 215 acres would add about 1,200 more cars at the 14A turnpike entrance during the peak AM travel hour. The container port plan features a dedicated truck lane and rail link, which seriously reduces congestion.Won’t a luxury housing development generate jobs?
It is estimated that building housing on the 215 acres would generate 300 jobs with an average salary of $25,000, such as fast food and convenience store clerks. The Port will generate much betters jobs and lots more of them.What can you do?
Sign our petition
Show the Mayor and City Council that you think Bayonne needs good jobs more than it needs luxury housing for non-residents.Call the Mayor.
Tell him what you think. 201-858-6010Get involved in our campaign!
Help us circulate this petition. Give your contact info to a Local 1588 member or call Local 1588. (201) 437-3452.Download this page as a PDF flyer
