At Least One Paterson Councilmember Is Skeptical About Plans to Revitalize Great Falls Area

What should a local elected leader do when he or she disagrees with a high-profile expenditure with support from on high?

1 minute read

October 2, 2017, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Passaic River Hydropower

Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock

Officials from the city of Paterson, New Jersey gathered with officials from the county, state and federal government to celebrate a the launch of a $3.2 million improvement project at the Great Falls National Park recently.

Joe Malinconico reports, however, that at least one voice on the City Council doesn't thing the project is the best use of money. First Ward Councilman Michael Jackson, who represents the part of Paterson that includes Great Falls. According to Malinconico, Jackson "has not bought into the enthusiasm with which other officials in city, county, state and federal government have embraced the ongoing plans for developing the park around the Great Falls." Moreover, Jackson has "questioned other officials’ assertions that the park could be a catalyst for Paterson’s possible revitalization."

Councilmember Jackson prefers that investment dollars be spent elsewhere in the city, thus summing up one side of a common argument about the effect of projects presented to the public as catalytic. "If we don’t fix the rest of the city, people are going to have negative perceptions of Paterson and not want to come here," said the Councilmember in his own words, as quoted in the article.

For more information about the project, Malinconico reported in a separate article in August about the what the $3.2 million will add to the park.

Thursday, September 21, 2017 in Paterson Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

July 2 - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

July 2 - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

July 2 - CNU Public Square