A new economic paradigm for Passaic County

Special to The Herald News
April 15, 2011
By Domenick Stampone

Passaic County needs an economic revitalization. We need a plan to create jobs, invest in our infrastructure, and raise our quality of living. A light rail project connecting William Paterson University to the Paterson train station is the type of smart growth development that can bring Passaic County into the 21st century. The possibilities for collaboration between local, county, and state entities are endless.

First, the benefits would be enormous for William Paterson's growth as an academic center in New Jersey. Creating easy and affordable access to Manhattan, Hoboken and the greater tri-state area is a huge chip to add to the university's résumé. It is the type of development that could help elevate the school to the next tier of educational status in our country. It would gain a greater following from students in New Jersey, as well as among students from other states around the country. For Passaic County, it would help stimulate our local economy, adding jobs and boosting local small businesses.

Next, the ripple effect on our local economy and property values in the greater Paterson area would be profound. Transit villages serve to promote downtown development – servicing commuters and establishing next-generation housing complexes that will protect our environment and raise our quality of life. The federal and state money available for communities labeled as "transit villages" would spur instant growth. The federal and state money that would flow into our communities would continue the important upgrade of our local infrastructure and create jobs for our rebounding economy.

Reenergizing Paterson

We can begin the process of reenergizing Paterson as a major metropolis and at the same time create a new partnership with surrounding suburbs to everyone's greater long-term benefit. In order to move our economy forward, Passaic County needs to become competitive. A light rail line with adjoining suburban villages could give us that edge we need to move forward.

With a community like mine in Haledon, we need to create a new model for development and transportation. An influx of WPU students has already begun renting housing in the borough, often commuting the short drive to the neighboring campus in Wayne. A light rail connecting the campus to their housing in Haledon would benefit both the school and our community. We would continue to be an attraction for students who frequent our local businesses and help sustain our local economy, and the university would have a new, easy-to-access locale for students looking for housing during their college years. It's a win-win for both sides.

This isn't an unprecedented idea. In the early 20th century, Belmont Avenue had a trolley running through Haledon and Paterson in the center of the street. This long-forgotten path could be easily replicated. A blueprint already exists for this type of transit project because of the wide roads from this early 20th-century trolley.

Transit possibilities

The economic paradigm in Passaic County needs to shift. We need to bring new ideas and plans to the table to position ourselves as we move forward in the 21st century. By creating new economic opportunities for our small-business owners and making Passaic County a transit hub, we can maximize our economic potential.

Unless we start pushing big ideas to remake the face of our county, we will continue to see depressed communities with too few tax-ratable businesses and too many residents facing an economic squeeze.

To get property taxes under control in the new world of a 2 percent cap on increases, we need to create an atmosphere where small businesses can thrive. Otherwise, we are looking at severe reductions in municipal services. This wouldn't just hurt the most vulnerable who rely on the social net government services provide, it would mean less efficient snow removal services, fewer police keeping our streets safe, and fewer firefighters to protect our communities.

That is not the Passaic County I want to raise my family in, and I think this type of public works project could thwart that possibility.

Right now this is nothing more than an idea on paper. Environmental studies need to be done. Public planning professionals need to be brought together. Public dialogue needs to be launched.

Nevertheless, we need big ideas like this to move Passaic County and the greater Paterson area forward. Mayor Jeffery Jones is already pursuing a vision to revitalize Paterson. This is just the type of regional project that can break down the barriers that too often segregate our cities from our suburbs. The discussion needs to start now on how to remake our local economy and capitalize on the geographic advantage afforded to us in the greater tri-state area.