Last week, Mayor Fulop vetoed Ordinance 25-123, which was passed by the Jersey City Council to implement bird-safe design standards in all rehabilitations (including renovations), new constructions, and additions. This means nearly all surfaces with windows would need to include glass or other design solutions that come at a markup to standard glass. Citing increased costs to housing construction, Mayor Fulop was right to veto the ordinance. Despite some controversy, his decision was the environmentally sound argument despite some advocates’ attempts to paint it as callous. As I explain in this op-ed, the council should not overturn his veto.
There is no dispute that window collisions cause around a billion bird deaths each year in the United States. They are the second second leading cause of bird deaths following predation by domestic and feral domestic cats, which results in up to four billion deaths each year nationwide. Advocates for this ordinance are no doubt well intentioned and want to save birds. Clearly they are savvy enough to understand that tacking on extra costs to developers is politically more palatable than rounding up and euthanizing feral cats. But, at the same time, their ordinance is environmentally counterproductive and creates two new problems where it tries to solve one.
Get two free articles a month!
Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in.
An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Eric is a long-time resident of Jersey City. He is the co-founder of Better Blocks New Jersey, a political advocacy group focused on housing affordability, transit investments,…
More by Eric Allen Conner