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Residents and council press city on budget cuts after summer recreation layoffs
Summary
At a July municipal council meeting, dozens of residents raised concerns about recent layoffs, cuts to recreation and youth programs, and how the city is allocating cannabis and other revenues; the city finance director described budget constraints and said the recreation appropriation increased to $9 million with about 400 summer jobs funded.
The Jersey City Municipal Council heard more than two hours of public comment Wednesday about the city’s proposed 2025 budget, with residents demanding answers about recent layoffs and cuts to summer recreation programs that they say cost local young people jobs and services.
Speakers from multiple neighborhoods told the council they had family members or neighbors recently laid off and urged the city to prioritize restoration of youth jobs and recreation programming.
Why it matters: dozens of residents said the layoffs and program cuts take away paid first‑job opportunities for teens, increase street activity and safety concerns, and remove local supports for seniors and families. Council members and the administration said some of the reductions stem from lost federal and pass‑through grant dollars…
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