NEWS: Read about Dan Levin’s vision for Jersey City arts here.
NEWS: Read the Jersey City Independent’s breakdown of issues from the Heights mayoral forum on April 2nd.
I am running for mayor of Jersey City because I want to prepare our city for a future that works for us and for our children. As a husband, father, homeowner, small business owner—and your neighbor—I want to bring a clear, common sense vision and sound management approach to solve our problems and build upon our opportunities.
We face tremendous challenges—starting with the unacceptable level and increasing fear of crime. Our sewers are crumbling; other environmental issues are not being addressed. In spite of a development boom of historic proportions, long-term tax abatements and rising school funding obligations mean that tax revenues fall short of expenses. Poorly- planned, unsustainable development only benefits a few and doesn’t provide the jobs our residents need.
From park and school improvements to reuse of our historic resources, most of our city’s recent successes have not resulted from city government, which puts obstacles in their way, but from community initiatives.
Our local government is dysfunctional and dominated by self-serving special interests. Many of our elected and appointed officials, as well as other mayoral and council candidates, are current or former city, county, or board of education employees. Owing to conflicts of interest, pay-to-play practices, patronage, cronyism, and lack of a strong ethical standards code, they do not represent the general public and fail time and time again to make the best possible decisions.
We can only solve our problems and face our challenges if the people of Jersey City participate in making decisions and are truly represented in their own local government. It is time that we change politics-as-usual.
We are a city of unique neighborhoods, each of which contributes to a diverse city. If managed properly, this city can be safe, financially sound, and provide a sustainable quality of life for its residents. We must come together as One Jersey City.
My experience as a small business owner, banking manager, community organizer, and leader provide me with the skills, insight, and understanding to listen to people, evaluate policy alternatives, and collaborate and build the consensus needed to move our city forward. Through participation in hundreds of community, government, and public meetings, I understand the importance of ensuring the public a voice in their own government.
With public support, I want to bring back community policing and cops on the beat, end double-dipping, ban campaign contributions in city offices, require developers to disclose campaign contributions, enact a strict ethical standards code modeled on the state’s code, implement a formal and open process for citizens to apply for positions on municipal boards, commissions, and authorities, activate the non-functioning Environmental Commission, and ensure fair and just code enforcement for cleaner streets.
My mission is to serve the public interest, not special interests.
~Dan Levin
Jersey City will be a world-class city—a city that uses its unique location between waterfronts, its new and legacy transportation infrastructure, and its irreplaceable historic resources to sustain current residents and attract new residents, businesses, and visitors.
Jersey City municipal government will anticipate and respond to 21st Century challenges while protecting the City’s unique historic and natural assets and providing an excellent quality of life for its residents.
If elected, I will represent our residents, small businesses, and city employees. I will keep the needs of this diverse constituency central to all considerations and actions.
