Joyce Watterman’s Response: “Keep Power With the People”
- Kimberly Mobley
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
Watterman applauds the conversation around school funding and fiscal stability, but she warns that changing governance structure won’t solve budget issues.
“If the issue is financial instability, the solution is straightforward: provide the Board with more resources, reduce their spending, or pursue a balanced combination of the two. Simply changing who is doing the spending—or the cutting—won’t make a meaningful difference in and of itself.”
On the democratic side:
“Removing electoral authority from the people shifts power away from the community and into the hands of a few. That’s a direction I simply can’t support.” Politico Pro Hudson County ViewJersey City Times
Watterman believes that educational reforms should empower voters, not diminish their voice.
🌐 Wider Pushback from the Community
Critics echo her concerns. In a fiery Op‑Ed, former BOE President Dejon Morris calls the proposal “a power grab,” warning it threatens hard-won local control and democratic values Jersey City Times Hudson County View. Similarly, Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea argues that this move would “disenfranchise Jersey City voters” Reddit Hudson County View Threads.
🎯 Watterman’s Alternative Vision
Watterman backs solutions that preserve electoral responsibility but improve financial oversight, such as:
Securing more equitable state funding
Enforcing tighter budget control and educational accountability
Enhancing coordination between the BOE and city government
For her, these steps offer smarter, more democratic paths to stability than restructuring the board.
✅ Core Campaign Message
Watterman’s stance reflects her broader platform: amplify community input, bolster public schools, fix financial structures—not shift power away from residents. As S4686 awaits further hearings, she’s clear—removing public oversight is not the way forward.
💬 What’s Your Take?
Should Jersey City preserve a fully elected Board of Education?
Or might council and mayoral appointees enhance cooperation and accountability?
Let’s discuss below—and let your voice be heard!
