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Passaic mayor announces expanded shuttle hours, food distributions and training programs ahead of winter
Summary
Mayor Mary told the council the city expanded a free in‑city shuttle schedule, distributed food to more than 2,000 residents this week, and will offer free SORNA security‑guard certification and other job‑training programs funded by CDBG and pandemic grants.
Mayor Mary told the Passaic City Council on Nov. 6 that the city is expanding services for residents ahead of the winter season, including longer in‑city shuttle hours, additional food distributions and free training programs to boost job placement.
"Over 2,000 individuals were fed just this week on Wednesday," Mary said, describing a partnership with Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church and county commissioners for food deliveries. She announced another distribution at Mount Pilgrim on Friday (Autumn and Central) and a mobile pantry at Dundee Island Park on Nov. 12.
The mayor said the free shuttle service now runs 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., pauses for mid‑day, then runs 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and will remain entirely inside Passaic to keep riders from ending up in other municipalities. Live tracking and schedules are available via QR codes on stop signs and the city website.
Mary also announced free SORNA certification courses for security guards starting in December, and she credited City Clerk Weatherly Friars for outreach that helped bring a record turnout of more than 11,000 voters to the polls in this election cycle.
City staff and council members framed the announcements as part of broader efforts combining federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and pandemic funds to support vulnerable residents. Officials said the efforts have increased access to seasonal food, transit for students and seniors, and job training that has produced placements in cosmetology and phlebotomy programs.
The mayor closed the report by noting completed projects at Veterans Memorial Park and drainage improvements at Howard Avenue tennis courts supported by FEMA funds; she said Bragg Park improvements and a new concession/cafe honoring the Bragg family are underway and that more information will be posted to the city's channels.
