TEDESCO DELIVERS 10th ANNUAL STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRES
“We will continue to achieve on behalf of our residents and communities.”
(HACKENSACK, N.J.) – Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco, III delivered his 10th Annual State of the County Address on Wednesday, February 28th before an audience of county representatives, employees, and members of the general public at the Two Bergen County Plaza administration building in Hackensack.
“I am honored to deliver my 10th Annual State of the County report, and I am proud to say that Bergen County is as strong as ever,” said County Executive Tedesco. “Much of that is thanks to the devotion of our nearly 2,500 employees who work, day-in and day-out, to serve the nearly one million residents who call Bergen County home.”
In his address, Tedesco reflected on noteworthy administrative accomplishments from 2023 including the County’s efforts to chart a path forward to fix the Route 17 bottleneck, the completion of the new three-building training Annex at the Law and Public Safety Institute, the launch of Bergen County’s EMS ambulance service, the establishment of two new permanent offices within the Department of Human Services with the Office of LGBTQ+ Services and the Office of Food Security, and new upgrades to the County Park System.
Tedesco also outlined his plans for 2024 which include rolling out Bergen FIBER, a new shared service to provide broadband internet to borough halls and municipal libraries, the $13 million “phase-two” investment to further the revitalization of Riverside County Park, the undertaking of the Bergen County Energy Action Plan, a formal document that will guide the county forward on pursuing green and sustainable initiatives, and a vision to make the Bergen County 9-1-1 call center a regional facility for all of northern New Jersey.
In his Address, County Executive Tedesco made clear his disappointment with the Congestion Pricing Tax proposed by the City of New York and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Tedesco stated that the unilateral decision by New York does not consider the negative impact it will have on the communities neighboring Manhattan that will bear the brunt of a dramatic increase in traffic and air pollution from drivers seeking to avoid the congestion tax.
The County Executive expressed that the federal government’s failure to extend the Hudson Light Rail into Bergen County further compounds these issues of traffic congestion and environmental concerns.
“The extension of the Hudson Light Rail into Bergen County is not a luxury, but a necessity”, said County Executive Tedesco. “This project holds the key to alleviating congestion, meeting the ever-growing demand for mass transit in our community, and ultimately fostering a healthier and sustainable environment for the region.”
Tedesco applauded the County’s Planning and Engineering Department and Public Work’s Operations Division for tackling an impressive workload in 2023, overseeing the completion of $21.8 million in local infrastructure upgrades across the County.
Efforts will continue in 2024 to advance progress on crucial infrastructure projects such as the Kingsland Bridge in Southern Bergen County, the Anderson Street Bridge connecting Teaneck and Hackensack, and the Oradell Avenue Bridge in Oradell.
Finally, County Executive Tedesco recognized two guests of honor during his 46-minute speech. The first was former County Executive William “Pat” Schuber, who served in the position for three terms until 2002. Tedesco recognized Schuber for his leadership and vision in establishing the Open Space Trust Fund, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. Tedesco also welcomed representatives from the Franciscan Community Development Center of Fairview, the largest food pantry in Bergen County, for their efforts to provide healthy food options to nearly 5,000 residents per month, and their role in helping establish the Bergen County Food Security Task Force, now Office of Food Security.
The full 2024 State of the County Address can be viewed from the following links:
The official County of Bergen YouTube page
The official Facebook page of Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco
The official Bergen County Facebook page
The official County of Bergen website at www.co.bergen.nj.us
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