Yvonne Balcer
I am a community activist who lives on Van Vorst Park in Jersey City. I am the first President and former founding member of the Van Vorst Park Association. In fact, I started the infamous "Meet Ball". In the mid-1970's, the Van Vorst Park Association was dealing with several agencies on the rebuilding of the park. The money came from "Green Acres" and it had to follow many guidelines.
Some residents wanted a dog run, a similar problem for today. However, the state would not allow a dog run using "Green Acres" monies. The state insisted the park must reflect every age group from infants to senior citizens. The state wanted swings, water features for children, and an active basketball court for teenagers. What the state wanted was not want the citizens wanted so it took a lot of negotiations. I convinced the state to move some of those activities to an empty lot on Wayne Street which is now a pocket park known as the Luis Ramos Park.
Anyone who volunteers realize it can be difficult, but during that time I was a full time housewife, with a two year old son, and expecting another child on the way. So I decided after revising the Van Vorst Park plans numerous times that the community should celebrate-this celebration was called the "Meet Ball.." Though I am no longer active in the association, I am glad the Meet Ball still exists!
Two individuals influenced me-J. Owen Grundy, the city historian, a personal friend of the family and Joe Duffy, a community activist. Grundy called the first meeting of the Van Vorst Park Association and the meetings were originally held in the Public Library facing Van Vorst Park. Grundy, a descendent of Abraham Lincoln, was a former reporter and editor, and an author of many books. Grundy was more than an walking encyclopedia, he understood how government worked!
My other influence, Joe Duffy, lived in the Paulus Hook section of Jersey City. Joe was retired when I met. I saw him at St. Peter's Church every Sunday. But he became a true activist at public meetings. He attended an spoke at every public meeting at city hall and the county. Joe was a former accountant and his used this knowledge when he attended meetings. Joe warned the city about the problems of abatements and the city/county bonding habits. He had great forsight.
A street is named after Joe Duffy in Paulus Hook and a park is named after J. Owen Grundy at the foot of Montgomery Street..
I became community activist when the Jersey City reval happened in 1988. At that time the city was on a calendar year, not a fiscal year. When reval happened citizens had to pay 18 months of taxes in 12 months. My taxes increase in 1988 to more than $16,000. In 1987 I paid $3,000.
Reval happened during the Cucci Administration, but the contract was signed under the first term of McCann Administration. When Anthony Cucci ran for re-election in 1989, he lost to Gerry McCann who became mayor the second time in 1989. During this period of time I went to council meetings on a regular basis.
The citizens who voted for Gerry McCann expected him to correct the problems caused by reval. Instead, Gerry McCann set the standard that other mayors will follow-take care of the developers and forget about the public.
McCann's second term was short. He was convicted in a development scam that resulted in jail time. This crime happened when he was not in office. In 1991, there was another election - Bret Schundler won. In my opinion, Bret Schundler was the worse mayor for Jersey City.
In 1998, I started on web site on Schundler. Web sites were somewhat unusual then, in fact, the Jersey City Reporter -Jim Kennelly- wrote about the new web site in his weekly column. Kennelly is now the spokesperson for Hudson County. You can visit this web site at this address. www.balcer.com/ While I could love to take this site down, Bret Schundler still has political ambition, so the site remains.
During this period of time I wrote many "letters to the editor" and ran for office for council more than one time. While I didn't win, the Jersey Journal always endorsed me as a candidate for office.
Then three years ago, I joined Mia Scanga, and Bob Du Val to produce public access programs called, "Talking Politics." I enjoyed my time there but it is now time to move on.
SpeakNJ is magazine show that deals with New Jersey. It will include, politics, the arts, religion, and other things that matter to the human spirit.