These interviews are available to any candidate running in Jersey City and are not indicative of an endorsement or political support. If you're interested in learning more about any of the candidate's policies, please click on the links to read more.
Read on to learn more about Nicholas Grillo, running for Downtown Ward E Council, ballot position 7C.
www.njgrillo.com
What are some of the changes you've seen in Jersey City in the time that you've lived here? What changes would you like to see in the next four years?
Jersey City prides itself on being a city where small businesses can thrive, but others say the rising rents and lack of development in areas outside of downtown make it difficult. What is the small business community around you like? How do you plan to change, enhance, and/or support that community?
Read on to learn more about Nicholas Grillo, running for Downtown Ward E Council, ballot position 7C.
www.njgrillo.com
What are some of the changes you've seen in Jersey City in the time that you've lived here? What changes would you like to see in the next four years?
As the only candidate that is from Jersey City the answer is A
LOT. In the past 37 years there is little about Jersey City that hasn’t
changed. More development, more parks, more people. Jersey City
wasn’t always a place people wanted to be and now it is arguably one of the
best mid-sized cities in the country. A lot has been accomplished.
That being said, with change and growth comes new challenges and over the next
four years, my hope is to be elected as Councilman to help try to solve them. For instance, I think we need to work alongside developers to get better
give backs for our community. We need more schools especially in Downtown
where overcrowding is becoming more of an issue. We also need to work
alongside other local and statewide elected officials to demand the Port
Authority actually service the needs of Jersey City, Harrison, and Newark. We need to work on pedestrian and street safety and implement a Vision Zero
plan that will eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. It is
also important to focus on basic quality of life issues and real change that we
can effectuate on the local level. We'll also need to work through the
reval.
Jersey City prides itself on being a city where small businesses can thrive, but others say the rising rents and lack of development in areas outside of downtown make it difficult. What is the small business community around you like? How do you plan to change, enhance, and/or support that community?
As I said, I grew up in Downtown Jersey City. I’ve been shopping
at Morlees and eating at Helen’s Pizza for 37 years. To me the small businesses
are one of the most charming things about Downtown.
I know rents are rising and that is a critical issue we need to bring to the table when working with Developers. Good retail and restaurants are a great amenity for their buildings and for the neighborhood, but if they can’t afford to be here or storefronts close and sit vacant, that isn’t a benefit to anybody. In addition to working with the development community I think it is critical that we educate more small businesses to look into resources available to them such as the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation Small Business programs.
I know rents are rising and that is a critical issue we need to bring to the table when working with Developers. Good retail and restaurants are a great amenity for their buildings and for the neighborhood, but if they can’t afford to be here or storefronts close and sit vacant, that isn’t a benefit to anybody. In addition to working with the development community I think it is critical that we educate more small businesses to look into resources available to them such as the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation Small Business programs.
What
are your favorite restaurants in your neighborhood? In Jersey City?
Oh boy - this question is tough because there are so many great
restaurants both old and new. Mathews & both White Star locations,
Edward's is great for a good steak. Light Horse Tavern. Porto
Leggero. Razza definitely deserved the New York Times excellent rating
they received. The Hamilton Inn and Hamilton Pork. Torico’s or Milk
Sugar Love for ice cream. I could go on and on.
What
is your favorite community event and why?
I’m definitely biased on this one. La Festa Italiana is an
event in support of Holy Rosary Church that I’ve co-chaired for the past 19
years. It is my favorite event because it brings back so many memories of
my childhood and I get to see so many people I grew up with; I also meet so
many new residents that come to the event and have a great time. I have
to give Rachel Sieg props for The All About Downtown festival, it is another
event I always look forward to.
What kind of food would you like to
see in Jersey City that you don't see a lot of currently?
That is a good question. We have almost everything.
In fact, the only thing I think we didn’t have was Australian, but Frankie just
opened last week.
To learn more about about all of the Ward E Candidates, read The Jersey Journal's Ward E Interviews.
To learn more about about all of the Ward E Candidates, read The Jersey Journal's Ward E Interviews.
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