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Paterson mayor Sayegh touts Covid-19 response, park renovations in second state of the city address | Paterson Times

Paterson mayor Sayegh touts Covid-19 response, park renovations in second state of the city address

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Mayor Andre Sayegh touted his Covid-19 pandemic response and park improvements in his second state of the city address on Monday afternoon.

Sayegh said he led a “swift” and “decisive” response to the pandemic by citing the city’s testing program, senior food delivery initiative, and vaccination center.

“The pandemic has exacted a heavy toll on Paterson,” said Sayegh, standing in front of hundreds of white bows installed outside City Hall to honor those claimed by the virus.

The 40-minute pre-recorded video showed Sayegh outside the mayor’s office door, inside the council chambers, and in front of City Hall. His video also featured four other speakers, many of whom praised his leadership.

Sayegh did not mention his failure to institute Covid-19 testing early on in the pandemic or his recent move to scale back testing as experts predicted a surge in cases after the holidays.

The mayor highlighted the parks and fields – Lucas Park, Buckley Field, Brandes Field — renovated under his watch. He said Bauerle Fieldhouse, Lou Costello Memorial Park, Commons Field, and Putnam Oval will be renovated in the coming year. Municipal officials have awarded contracts for Bauerle Fieldhouse and Lou Costello Park, but not Commons Field and Putnam Oval.

“If you haven’t gotten what I’ve been saying for the past few minutes, parks and recreation are a priority of my administration and we’ll continue to invest with grant dollars,” said Sayegh.

Parks are at the “top of our agenda,” said Sayegh.

Sayegh also said he is working to add 60 new police officers this year. He also touted the police bodycams.

“The nation has seen a spike. Paterson is no different,” said Sayegh in speaking about the surge in killings and shootings.

Homicides reached a 31-year high in 2020.

Members of the City Council reacted to the mayor’s speech soon after the live-stream ended.

“I’m unimpressed,” said council president Flavio Rivera. “The bottom line is services have not improved and the administration has not been able to execute many of the initiatives the council has approved that will benefit the residents of Paterson.”

Rivera cited Sayegh’s failure to implement a program that requires developers to submit deposits to offset costs incurred in reviewing their building plans and the sewer reforms. He also pointed out Sayegh partially implemented the bodycam program.

The council bought 150 cameras. Sayegh has just 25 officers using them. He was two years late in implementing the bodycams.

“I just want them to get on the ball and do what they were hired to do,” said Rivera.

Councilman Luis Velez disliked the format of the address. He said the mayor should have held the state of the city speech inside the council chambers, where he has conducted many press conferences over the past months.

The state of the city address is usually a formal speech. It is required to be delivered by the mayor every year. Sayegh’s first state of the city address was at a theater on Broadway. He improvised the speech from a series of slides. Past mayors have had a written speech that they delivered.

Sayegh’s latest speech, in a series of segments, appeared to be improvised as well. The pre-recorded speech was live streamed on YouTube.

Velez wondered what the other four people were doing in the mayor’s state of the city speech. Sayegh’s speech featured Kevin Slavin, head of St. Joseph’s Health, school superintendent Eileen Shafer, developer Baye Adofo-Wilson, and human services director Oshin Castillo.

Adofo-Wilson is the developer tasked with renovating Hinchliffe Stadium. Sayegh said he intends to get the stadium renovated during his tenure.

“We’re bringing it back,” said Sayegh of the stadium. Adofo-Wilson said construction will start in 30-40 days.

“I was expecting a little more substance,” said Velez, who is an ally of the mayor. He said he did not hear any new initiatives. “I was very disappointed.”

“He doesn’t have any plans for Patersonians,” added councilman Alex Mendez. “He failed to provide testing site at the beginning of the pandemic. Thousands of Patersonians got sick and couldn’t get tested.”

Mendez is expected to run against Sayegh for the mayor’s seat next year.

Mendez said Sayegh’s response to the pandemic has been poor from the start. He pointed out Sayegh’s move to scale back testing late last year after federal Cares Act funds ran out.

“This has been one of the worst mayors in the city of Paterson,” said Mendez.

Mendez said the Sayegh administration is “robbing” homeowners through its botched sewer reforms.

“Someone who does not follow the city will see this and say, ‘They’re doing a great job,’” said Rivera.

Sayegh’s address began with first lady Farhanna Sayegh giving a brief tour of the basement from which the mayor ran the city in April after contracting Covid-19.

“This was our bunker. He was providing live Facebook updates to residents to make sure you understood what was going on,” says the first lady in the video. “My husband was born and raised here in the city of Paterson. He wants nothing more than to see this city progress, to see the city thrive for our children and for your children.”

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  • David Soo

    This article shows that Andre will touts his lies to cover-up his mistakes. This behavior is a page from the Donald Trump school of crazy. For example we will never know how many people got sick or died because of Andre's stupid decisions. Like reducing the amount of Covid-19 testing in Paterson.

  • No Ethics

    This quote was interesting and true. “Someone who does not follow the city will see this and say, ‘They’re doing a great job,’” said (Flavio) Rivera.

    I'm surprised he didn't have Bruce Springsteen perform or Alec Baldwin introduce him. Maybe give Steven Spielberg a shiny new set of keys to all of the parks.

    Mayor McCheese also had this condescending remark in the video:

    <b>“If you haven’t gotten what I’ve been saying for the past few minutes,</b> parks and recreation are a priority of my administration and we’ll continue to invest with grant dollars,” said Sayegh.

    Class act….More like Andre Say-NO!

  • Plumber

    This guy definitely plays with himself

  • No Ethics
  • John

    Put this clown/used car dealer on a boat and.back to his homeland he so much admires. He should be ashamed of his homeland, his administration and of Paterson. Everything he touches he turns into shit, including himself. Wake up True Americans

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