Statement by Councilwoman Milady Tejeda at the 2/23/22 Council Meeting
I would like to take a moment to address a very delicate yet extremely crucial point regarding responsibility and transparency. At the last caucus meeting I mentioned that parking at the Puerto Rican festival was chaotic, NOT that the festival itself was chaotic. My statement was MISQUOTED by a particular newspaper. The quote was misconstrued in what I can only believe it influences the division of our communities.
I urge all media sources to please be careful, be considerate and most importantly project a deeper sense of integrity.
Lastly, I encourage you to listen to the recording from the last caucus meeting if any doubts remain.
Milady Tejeda
Our Perth Amboy Residents
Our Perth Amboy Residents have always found the tenacity and strength to keep them moving forward despite the many challenges and obstacles of the era: “Luchando para seguir adelante.”
In the midst of a global pandemic, an inflation crisis with rising food and gasoline costs, in addition to the war we are witnessing in Ukraine, we have expectations that our City Council, who were elected by the people, would always heed the concerns of the people of our town, in addition to answering any inquiries a resident may pose to them. Unfortunately, at the recent council meeting held on Wednesday, March 9th, 2022, most of the City Council with the exception of one council member, voted Yes to the proposed P.I.L.O.Ts (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) being requested on two properties by a developer who wishes to construct “Luxury Apartments” on Sayre Avenue and in an area near the Cornucopia. The exception was Councilman Torres who voted No.
To the surprise of community leaders who attended the Council Meeting, the proposed Ordinance for the P.I.L.O.T.s was introduced as a Late Starter. Simply stated, a P.I.L.O.T is a request by a corporate developer to have a significant break in the property taxes over a certain period of time, which often spans from 10 to 30 years, in order to develop a property. How can our City afford such a proposal, when our Home Owners and Business Owners pay one of the highest property tax rates (an average of 3.0% on the assessment value) in Middlesex County? Tenants also share the costs of property taxes.
If you were to make an improvement on your property, such as a new porch or new siding, the tax assessor immediately reassesses your property to capture the increase in assessment value which would produce a higher property tax bill. Yet, if a developer improves a property, the new assessment value is not a factor of calculation if the developer received a P.I.L.O.T. On average, similar P.I.L.O.Ts in Perth Amboy have yielded less than a 1% tax rate (an approximation) in real estate property taxes over the term of the P.I.L.O.T.
Moving the City forward is addressing the quality of life issues our City Residents experience on a daily basis, such as noise and air pollution, water quality, an over stressed water/sewer infrastructure, daily traffic congestion, unavailable parking, illegal housing, and overburdened streets which are impacted by new heavy transports. Our City is only 4.7 square miles, and it has become more highly dense. Is it prudent to put a bigger strain on our City’s resources, without capturing the appropriate and fair property taxes on a development?
The hope I share in moving our City forward is to have the fortitude to say NO when the cost benefit analysis does not weigh in favor of our Community. In the case of the recently proposed P.I.L.O.Ts, the burden of a big tax break and the strain on our existing resources comes at a much higher cost, than its benefits to the City’s Residents given our current situation. I encourage members of our Community to Voice their Concerns at both the next Caucus meeting on March 28th, 2022 at 5:30pm and the next Council Meeting on March 30th, 2022 at 7:30pm via Zoom and City Hall Council Chambers y Vamos A Luchar para seguir Adelante
Sharon D. Hubberman,
Perth Amboy Community Advocate
Lisa Nanton’s Complete
Comments on ZOOM March 9th Council Meeting
DEBT
The current Perth Amboy debt of $170 million dollars which has dragged on now to a 4th administration.
CSO’S
We are under a federal, mandate to separate our sewer and storm water system which will cost the taxpayers several million dollars. Streets have been collapsing as a result of deteriorating 150 years old brick sewers. The taxpayer will shoulder the burden of the expense of the repairs.
WATER
Perth Amboy used to have 3 water lines from Runyan Watershed in Old Bridge under the river to Perth Amboy. Now there is one, that no only is antiquated, but with the constant pounding of footings for the new train bridge, the constant pounding makes me very concerned about the condition of the last water line. When that fails, the cost will be on the shoulder of the taxpayers to finance new water lines. If the city doesn’t do something soon, we may wake up one day with no water.
TRAFFIC
Our streets are clogged with traffic and have been for some time. You can sit at a light on Market Street, and have it change three times before traffic moves because someone is making a left turn and a car is parked on the right so you can’t go around them. This needs to be resolved ASAP
Apartment buildings complain now of low water pressure.
These items need to be dealt with before anymore construction; especially high-density residential projects begin.
The city water, sewers and streets cannot take any more stress until these problems are dealt with.
And we definitely cannot afford to be subsidizing any projects with PILOTS, when the taxpayers are suffocating under debt and the looming cost of more millions for repairs to our streets, water and sewer systems, let alone poor air quality from traffic.
It’s like Daddy Warbucks asking Little Orphan Annie to supply his meals
This is not just a financial issue, but also a moral and ethical issue.
Lisa Nanton
