Passaic City Council hears mayor’s account of river memorials

Two children lost in the river were remembered across Passaic. At a Passaic City Council meeting, Mayor Hector Lora offered condolences to their families and described a memorial on Monroe Street, where residents released biodegradable rose petals. The city removed items that were not biodegradable to honor a request about the memorial. Lora said Bergen County, Passaic County, Essex County and the state helped with the response. He mentioned a memorial in Garfield and a candlelight vigil behind a recreation center. A Passaic City Council member offered condolences as well.

The mayor updated the Passaic City Council on city projects. Boulevard Avenue and streets around St. Mary’s General Hospital were recently paved, he said, while grant applications continue for other roads. Work on ADA ramps and curb cuts on Broadway and Passaic Avenue is meant to improve access for wheelchairs, strollers, bicycles and scooters. At the Aspen/Spear Village Housing Authority project, two apartments are complete, and residents will be invited to see the work.

Lora said construction of a new community plaza at City Hall Square has changed the location of some activities; the plaza is intended to make room for cultural gatherings and more programming. He reported that public works crews addressed storm-related tree problems and that the city worked with the state to clear overgrowth at Route 21 exit 12. On videos showing trespassers at Passaic High School, he said he had spoken with the superintendent and police, and expected demolition to begin between October and December.

A Harrison Street resident told the Passaic City Council that newly painted parking lines left fewer places to park. The resident estimated a drop from roughly 30–35 spaces to about 20 and said the hill makes the change especially difficult for handicapped neighbors. In one stretch, the resident said, space that once fit five or six cars now fits two.

The Passaic City Council president said the city has changed parking arrangements elsewhere to better manage spaces, but acknowledged that a fix can create another problem. Mayor Hector Lora said residents had initially asked for lines. The street was too narrow for angled parking, he said, and requirements for curb distances and turns left fewer usable spaces than before.

Lora told the Passaic City Council that the city is considering removing the lines or changing the plan. Enforcement of the new spaces is suspended except where cars create public safety hazards, such as blocking hydrants or sidewalks. The mayor said the city is speaking with residents and expects a decision soon. He said it would prioritize residents with physical infirmities and the placement of handicap spaces near their homes when they apply.