Joyce Watterman, is the current Council President of the Jersey City Council, is running for mayor of Jersey City. Candidate responses are in bold. Any questions left blank, will be marked with an asterisk.

Housing

1. Would you agree or disagree with this statement? “There is a housing shortage and building new housing helps make existing homes more affordable.”
   • Strongly Agree
   • Agree
   • Disagree
   • Strongly Disagree
     
     Supply and Demand is always a factor.
     
2. Would you agree or disagree with this statement? “Jersey City is seeing too much development and once I’m in office, I’d work to slow it down.”
   • Strongly Agree
   • Agree
   • Disagree
   • Strongly Disagree
     
     We have development but we need to build more schools, senior buildings and youth centers
     
3. Would you agree or disagree with this statement? “I believe Downtown Jersey City is zoned for too much density. If elected to office, I would work to prevent more dense housing developments from being built Downtown even if such developments come with affordable housing and other community givebacks.”
   • Strongly Agree
   • Agree
   • Disagree
   • Strongly Disagree
     
     Affordable and workforce housing is always needed.
     
4. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? “If elected to office, I would be reluctant to allow more private housing construction in Jersey City because I think developers earn too much profit.”
   • Strongly Agree
   • Agree
   • Disagree
   • Strongly Disagree
     
     *Better Blocks NJ Editor’s Note: No answer given
     
5. Would you agree or disagree with this statement? “It is better to mandate affordability through policies like rent control than to increase total housing supply.”
   • Strongly Agree
   • Agree
   • Disagree
   • Strongly Disagree
     
     Not one way fits every circumstance
     
6. Should the city reform zoning to reduce parking requirements and allow the construction of more apartments near PATH and light rail stations?
   • Yes, it is good to encourage more people to live near mass transit without needing to own a car
   • No, it is important to create more parking near PATH and light rail stations
   • No, this would be a giveaway to developers
   • Yes, other (explain)
   • No, other (explain)
     
     This is a complex situation because you need development near transit hubs to encourage people to take mass transit but you also need parking for people who choose to have EV cars which helps the environment.
     
7. Do you support zoning and building code reforms citywide to reduce red tape around Floor Area Ratios, single staircase prohibitions, setbacks, and parking minimums that reduce the number of housing units built and drive up the costs of construction?
   • Yes
   • No
     
     I’m for single family homes being built.
     
8. In Jersey City, backyard accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are allowed in low-density residential zones. Do you believe such ADUs should be allowed or prohibited?
   • Allowed
   • Prohibited
     
9. Would you support development projects like the 150 Bay Street proposal that would add 1,000 apartments – 150 of which are income-restricted affordable – community amenities, arts and studio space, and space for a new public school?
   • Yes
   • No
     
10. Affordable housing is expensive to build. How would you pay for affordable housing?
    • Force developers to absorb the costs
    • Use tax incentives like PILOT agreements
    • Direct subsidies from the city
    • Other (explain)
      
      I would utilize all options because every situation is different.
      
11. How would you increase the amount of income-restricted affordable housing units built?
    • Floor Area/Density Bonus
    • PILOT Agreements
    • Streamlined Approval Process
    • Other (Please explain)
    • Combination of the above (Please explain)
      
      It varies by project and sometimes we need to utilize all the tools available to acquire more affordable housing for the city.
      
12. What cities do you look to for housing policy inspiration? And by what metrics do you gauge their policies to be a success?
    
    I look at a number of cities across the US. Housing policy is always changing and I am open to see what the best practices are that would work for our city.

Transit 

1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “In Jersey City, walking, biking, and riding mass transit should be incentivized to make it safer and easier to get around and reduce traffic.”
   • Strongly Agree
   • Agree
   • Disagree
   • Strongly Disagree
     
2. Do you support turning streets such as MLK and Bergen and Summit and Baldwin into one-way pairs that would create space for public service lanes –  lanes that would speed up public transit and emergency response, add 100 on-street parking spots, and eliminate dangerous left-turns across on-coming traffic?
   • Yes
   • No
   • If yes, where?
   • If no, why not?
     
     We need to conduct a survey to provide us with the data on the feasibility of making these changes. No decision should be made until we have all the proper information so we consider all options.
     
3. Do you support County Executive Craig Guy’s announcement to add bus rapid transit to JFK Boulevard?
   • Yes
   • No
   • If no, why not?
     
     I would want this to be operational during peak travel times and I need to understand how this will work in comparison to the current bus schedule.
     
4. Bus routes often cross through multiple communities and delays in one part of the route can cascade to create service delays farther down the line. Do you believe any one neighborhood opposed to bus lanes should have a veto over public transit improvements that would benefit the entire city?
   • Yes
   • No
   • If yes, why?
     
     I believe there should be town hall meetings so that the community can understand in totality. These meetings help to educate residents.
     
5. Would you rather lose on-street parking spaces for the creation of bus rapid transit and protected bike lanes or convert more streets into one-way pairs?
   • Lose on-street parking
   • Create one-way pairs
     
     I want to hire an expert to see the best solution.
     
6. Would you support the city pursuing litigation against the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to stop the Turnpike widening in Jersey City?
   • Yes
   • No
   • If no, then why not?
     
7. What changes, if any, would you make to Jersey City’s current implementation of its on-demand ride share service through Via?
   
   We need more drivers to reduce wait times and cancellations.
   
8. Where would you like to see the Citibike station network expand to next in Jersey City? 
   
   I would like to have a community meeting so I can understand what is and isn’t working and then make adjustments and expansion based on that.
   
9. Would you make a commitment to either bike, walk, or take public transit to work – like the majority of Jersey City residents – if elected to office?
   • Yes
   • No
   • If yes, what is your preferred method of commuting?
     
     *Better Blocks NJ Editor’s Note: No answer given
     
10. What is your grand vision for the future of transportation in and around Jersey City? Be as specific as you want.
    
    The goal is for Jersey City to have public transit available for all residents across the city. We need to advocate for the light rail extension.

Street Safety and Vision Zero

1. In 2018, Jersey City committed to a Vision Zero goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2026. In recent years, many streets have been redesigned to be safer and provide for transportation alternatives to automobiles. Do you support continuing Vision Zero efforts in Jersey City? How will you do so?
   
   Yes! I will fight for funding to ensure that Vision Zero is a priority.
   
2. If you are currently in office, how have you supported Vision Zero efforts to redesign our streets for safety? If you are not in office, what has your participation been in working towards safer streets?
   
   I voted and supported the plan from the beginning and will continue to do so.
   
3. If elected, would you support increasing the funding and capacity of the Department of Infrastructure to accelerate Vision Zero improvements, and how would you do so?
   
   Yes! I would do a National search to hire a traffic engineer.
   
4. Do you support proven Vision Zero street safety improvements on all high-risk streets in Jersey City like curb extension, protected bike lanes, and eliminating conflicted left turns across traffic?
   • Yes
   • No
   • If no, why not?
     
     I support and will fight to ensure all of our streets are safe.I believe in having experts evaluate our city to see what is needed and where.
     
5. Do you support lowering the speed limit to 20 miles per hour city wide?
   • Yes
   • No
   • If no, why not?
     
6. Would you support the implementation of speed and parking enforcement cameras, if able?
   • Yes
   • No
     
7. Would you be willing to fund safe street improvements and ease parking demand by increasing the cost of on-street parking in residential zones near PATH stations?
   • Yes
   • No
   • If yes, how much should an annual on-street parking permit cost?
     
     This needs community input because you would end up taxing the people who live there.
     
8. What would you do to curb traffic-related fatalities and injuries on Jersey City’s streets and why is your solution the most effective? Which streets would you like to see safety improvements on? 
   
   I would do a National Search for a traffic engineer and have them do an assessment and study so that we are better educated on exactly what needs to be done. The city is growing rapidly and we need the experts to provide oversight.
   
9. Do you support the city continuing to use new developments as an opportunity to fund or build adjacent pedestrian or bike safety improvements?
   • Yes
   • No
     
10. What cities do you look to for street safety inspiration? And by what metrics do you gauge their policies to be a success?
    
    I look to a number of cities across the US for insight but we need the experts.

Public Parks and Plazas

1. Some neighborhoods (such as Greenville and Journal Square) have less access to green space, parks and plazas than Downtown. How would you prioritize equitable investment in new and improved public spaces?
   
   I would prioritize bringing new investments into those areas. Small neighborhood plazas or pocket parks in dense areas.
   
2. The Newark Pedestrian Plaza has been part of a major effort to transform streets into public places built for people. What changes would you make to the Newark Pedestrian Plaza?
   
   More security
   
3. Do you support keeping the Barrow Street portion of the Newark Pedestrian Plaza open to pedestrians and closed to traffic and building a playground for young children on the closed portion of Barrow?
   • Yes
   • No
   • If no, why not?
     
     It’s not a safe place for a park it’s a high traffic area.
     
4. What other parts of the city would you suggest as a potential site for new (or expanded) pedestrian-only spaces?  
   
   This is exactly why we need an expert because we need to see where it would be best but I do believe we can have more.
   
5. Will you commit to continuing Jersey City’s efforts to protect Liberty State Park from attempts to develop or commercialize the park?
   • Yes
   • No
     
6. After the revitalization of Liberty State Park is complete, will you commit to working with the Board of Education to revitalize the sports complex at Caven Point?
   • Yes
   • No
     
7. Would you be open to exploring if new developments can build new schools with on-site, multi-use outdoor fields for team sports and recreation?
   • Yes
   • No
     
8. Would you support the city using new developments as an opportunity to fund or build adjacent public pedestrian plazas or parks?
   • Yes
   • No
     
     I would hire the experts to see where is the best location.
     
9. What plans do you have to increase the city’s tree canopy to reduce the urban heat island effect? 
   
   I’m currently working with Rutgers University on increasing the number of trees in the city and I will continue to do so.
   
10. What would be your top priorities for the creation of more passive outdoor park space and active outdoor recreational facilities? 
    
    My heart is focused on helping Jersey City have green spaces but It is crucial that I have experts who can evaluate where these spaces are best for the city.