Dive Summary:
- Some residents in Newark, New Jersey are adamantly refusing plans by the Public Service Electric & Gas company (PSE &G) to build a new switching station on a $7.5 million, five-acre tract in the neighborhood they’ve spent the last two years developing for business and recreation.
- “A site this large, you could put something on it that could create jobs for the community,’’ argues Vivian Fraser, executive director of the Urban League of Essex County. A tenant advocate said: "It sounds good when it comes to electricity problems, but there was no kind of respect for the community and letting us know what was about to happen.’’
- Overall, residents staunchly oppose PSE&G dictating what happens in their town of 1,500 homeowners, 2,000 apartment units and 700 businesses. PSE&G has promised the station will bring ratables to Newark and be constructed in a way that improves the landscape. But Thursday, the utility must convince a zoning board to have the station up and running next year. If this fails, PSE&G will have to appeal to the state Board of Public Utilities.
From the article:
“PSE&G has been meeting with residents, too, trying to get their support. The first discussion at a grammar school didn’t go so well when community activists took over the meeting. They’ve also been to a city council meeting, where residents complained. The council had the city administration locate alternative sites for the project, but Thigpen said those five sites are not suitable.”