Report Includes Resolving Teachers Contract, Elected School Board Referendum, Progress on Bridge Construction & Rescuing Veterans Stadium Project

1. THE OFFICE OF MAYOR JAMES M. DAVIS
100TH DAY BRIEFING
Introduction:
Having taken office on July 1, 2014 as the 30th Mayor of the City of Bayonne I, along
with my administration, have been presented with a unique set of challenges and
opportunities. Since taking office one-hundred days ago, many things have changed, and
I hope to highlight several of them in this briefing. To be clear: this report should in no
way be considered all inclusive or exacting, it is intended to provide an overview of the
operations, efforts, and accomplishments of my administration during the first one-hundred
days of operation.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND UNDERTAKINGS
JULY 1, 2014 THROUGH OCTOBER 8, 2014
The Bayonne School District
In the months leading up to my election, I assured the people of Bayonne that they would
have “a voice and a choice,” especially when it came to education and their
representation in the Bayonne School District. Upon taking office I, along with the city
council, moved quickly to ensure that the question on adopting an Elected School Board
would be submitted for the voters’ consideration on November 4, 2014.
My administration quickly went to work on the long-fought and all too infamous
teachers’ contract stalemate. I directed my staff to intervene in the deadlocked
negotiations in order to bring about a fair and equitable resolution for all parties. After
many hours of intense negotiation the goal was achieved, and the once warring sides
Settled the Teachers’ Contract in time for the start of a new school year.
The facts and figures analyzed during the contract negotiations were eye opening, and put
an emphasis on the fact that Bayonne is the most underfunded school district in the state.
It is so easy to bemoan the situation, so in an effort to say “enough is enough” I took the
Fight for Funding to Trenton. I have met several times with representatives of the New
Jersey Department of Education, and I am now currently in talks with representatives of

2. the New Jersey School Development Authority to ensure that Bayonne gets every cent
that it deserves.
Development
The key to future economic and fiscal-operational stability lies with rejuvenating
undeveloped and underdeveloped properties. I have made it a point to put together a team
that is not only business friendly, but innovative, and forward-looking. In just the short
time since July 1st, my team has Built Relationships with our existing business
community, property owners, and developers.
The former Bayonne Military Ocean Terminal (MOT) is prime real estate for any
developer with a legitimate, well-planned product. Unfortunately, due to the
miscalculation and misfortune of prior years, this golden opportunity became a legal
nightmare. On day one my team went to work on the multitude of lawsuits and legal
issues surrounding the MOT and have not stopped since. This hard work has resulted in
the proposed Settlement of Two Lawsuits which should materialize before the end of the
year. Putting these legal matters to rest will open the doors to improving hundreds of
acres of underdeveloped land and increase the city’s tax base.
Recreation
Starting day one, I took a strong stance that recreation should be accessible to as many
Bayonne children as possible. We have started to conduct a parcel-by-parcel Park
Review Program - which will evaluate our current Parks System and establish a schedule
for repairs and improvements at each location. Concurrently, we are looking for a
location and seeking funding for a Park Dedicated for Children with Special Needs. I
have met with our County Executive Tom DeGise and representatives of the Hudson
County Department of Parks to ensure that the county parks within Bayonne have the
amenities that best address our changing demographics and recreational needs. Working
with the county, I have secured a commitment to establish New Pee-wee Soccer Fields
and larger Multi-purpose Fields in Hudson County Park. These improvements are sought
to address the changing demands and needs of Bayonne’s population.
As I noted, demands and needs are changing. I have made sure to bring everyone to the
table starting with my Fall 2014 Recreation Town Hall Meeting. At this meeting, I was
proud to announce that my administration has secured an additional $1,000,000 to
Revitalize Veterans Stadium. My hope is that this will be just the start of a series of
meetings where the average citizen can have an open and honest dialogue with their
government regarding issues we all care about.

3. Recreation is not all about sports and athletes. While sports and outward-bound activities
will remain a mainstay in our offering of programs, I am meeting with groups like the
Bayonne Arts Circle in an effort to Expand Our Focus on the Arts, inclusive of
Painting, Singing, Drama, and Writing.
Go Green – Go Clean
In this time of conservation, we all have a more clear understanding of how our behavior
impacts the world around us. To this end, I made it a point to ensure that Bayonne is
doing its part. I was happy to announce that Bayonne’s Recycling Program has Been
Expanded to include more plastics. This means more recycled materials, less garbage
being hauled to a landfill, more accountability for our environment, and notable tax
savings.
However, I feel that the “environment” should not only be thought of in the abstract. Our
environment also includes city streets, sidewalks, and properties. To address our local
concerns, I was happy to support the Beautify Bayonne: Feet to the Street program. This
movement was truly grass-roots and proved what residents can do by working together
toward a common cause. Over 200 bags of garbage were collected in just a few hours.
While I hope that everyone does their part to keep our city neat, I would like to see this
become a semi-annual event, thereby making sure Bayonne is a clean and enjoyable place
to live, work, and play.
Infrastructure
At one of my first public meetings I stated, “The Bridge will be built.” That is as true
today as it was nearly one hundred days ago. However, that does not mean that city
residents will need to suffer in silence. My administration holds Bi-weekly Meetings with
the Port Authority in order to monitor construction progress. My feeling is that with a
project this massive the flow of information is vital to its continuance. Along those lines,
we have requested that the Port Authority hold periodic Public Meetings with concerned
residents. This ensures that there are levels of accountability, both to my administration
and to the Bayonne public at-large.
Along with public input on the Bridge project, come the more objective layers of
accountability: data and analysis. To ensure the health, safety, and well being of Bayonne
residents, the city has hired two engineering firms to conduct Environmental Testing and
offer Structural Assessments of homes in the zone directly impacted by the on-going
construction.

4. More locally, I am happy to say that we have adopted and implemented an Aggressive
Roads Program for 2014; streets to be repaved include: portions of Avenue B, Newark
Bay Court, Court Place, portions of Cottage Street, and portions of Broadway. This
year’s program includes the installation of new handicapped ramps and represents an
investment of $729,000 in city infrastructure.
Diversification
Everyone deserves a seat at the table. One of the things that makes Bayonne such a great
community is our diversity, and I say that we embrace it. During the past one hundred
days, I have made it a point to meet with as many community and cultural groups as
possible. The insight that I receive from my Meetings with Community Leaders is
enlightening. I plan to solicit and establish a list of community leaders from each ward so
that these influential individuals can meet with me and my administration on a quarterly
basis. The intent is for these meetings to help me help them, and together we can all help
each other.
Sometimes diversity does not mean culture or ethnicity, sometimes it is a lot simpler. I
had the honor of standing witness to the swearing-in of Bayonne’s First Female
Firefighter. This truly historic moment marks how far we have come as a society, as a
city, and just how far we can go if we maintain a disposition of open-mindedness and
acceptance.
City Hall
Constituent service is tantamount to customer service, and good customer service is the
product of a healthy work environment free of undue stress. During my first days in
office I instituted an Open Door Policy... literally. I was amazed to find so many closed,
locked, or covered doors and windows at City Hall – including the Mayor’s Office. When
going around to each office I made sure to let employees know that I expect openness
literally and figuratively, and that I hold myself to the same standard. Moreover, I
impressed upon each department that we are a team, and my office is open to them
anytime they are in need. The culture has changed, the atmosphere is a bit lighter, the
future is brighter, and operations have become more service-driven.
Conclusion:
The stage is set. My hope and vision is that the landmark accomplishments of the first
one hundred days of my administration have laid the groundwork for a new era of good

5. government in Bayonne. At this milestone, I look back and can truly say that my
commitment to our city not only remains, but also has strengthened as time has
progressed. There undoubtedly will be, and are, challenges – but together we can do this.
Together we can, and we will Move Bayonne in the Right Direction.