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Passaic mayor unveils memorial cosmetology scholarship; council hears updates on bike-share, roads and public-safety concerns
Summary
Mayor announced the Jennifer Contreras memorial cosmetology scholarship and outlined city infrastructure projects including a new bike-share program, running track and county-funded culvert repair. Residents raised gang and bike-theft concerns during public comment; police and administration described enforcement and tracking measures.
Mayor Hector St. Laura told the council on April 22 that the city will establish the "Jennifer Contreras cosmetology and beauty license" memorial scholarship to pay for training for residents seeking cosmetology licensure.
"We will be announcing a memorial beauty scholarship in her name," the mayor said while reading a proclamation honoring Jennifer Crystal Contreras and inviting the family to receive the proclamation. Family member Anthony Contreras addressed the council and thanked the city: "There's not enough words of gratitude, for all of the city council, for mayor Laura, and the whole city of Passaic for remembering my sister."
The mayor also reported on city infrastructure and recreation projects: roadwork and implementation of the city’s bike-master-plan on Myrtle Avenue (including bike lanes), a newly launched bike-share program with five stations, a rubberized track at Third Ward Memorial Park, a county-funded $2,000,000 culvert/bridge repair by the brook, and plans for an all-ages water park on Harrison Avenue. On the bike-share program, the mayor said the system "went live on Thursday. As of today, we have about over 200 participants and over a 80 rentals."
During the public-comment period a resident raised concerns about a recent increase in youth violence and people wearing masks and all-black clothing; he asked whether an ordinance could prohibit face coverings. The resident also asked whether missing bike-share units had tracking devices.
Chief Guzman responded that investigators, school-resource officers and the youth bureau were working the incidents and said the department did not want to disclose investigative techniques but that "we are certainly on top of those incidents that have occurred." Regarding masks, he said enforcement has been complicated since the COVID-19 period and emphasized existing suppression efforts.
Mr. Fernandez explained the bike-share system to the council and public: "There are 7 stations, 5 bikes per station... We obviously, there's some growing pains. We're tracking all of the bikes... If you do not return a bike, you have now become the brand new owner of the bike at $2,000. It will automatically be taken out of your account because you need a card to take it out." Fernandez said most apparent "missing" bikes were simply checked out and returned to different stations.
Ending: The council heard the mayor's memorial announcement and several infrastructure updates; public-safety concerns raised in public comment prompted assurances from police that incidents are under investigation, and administrators described how the new bike-share system is tracked and managed.
