May 10, 2009 (Harrison NJ)  This week the Red Bulls's project  continued along South Frank E. Rodgers.   Contractor's struggled along Rodger's Boulevard to connect water and sewer lines for the Red Bull's stadium.  The water pumps ran at times 24 hours a day pumping what appeared to be a endless supply of water because of the low water line in front of the Red Bull Stadium.  Sewer and water pipes that had not been exposed for years revealed what appears to be some soil which contained the remnants of Harrison's industrial past.  The soil was very black and appeared to be soaked with oil.  Hopefully, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has been vigilant insuring that any polluted soil is removed and cleaned before being reused or dumped in our landfills.  Progress in Harrison has not come without a cost.

The Redevelopers have been assisted by the McDonough Administration at every turn.  Recently, the Mayor and Council  modified the town's Financial Agreement with Advance, who is the designated redeveloper for area in front of the Red Bull's stadium, to insure that the redevelopers do not pay any real property taxes (or more accurately Payments in Lieu of Taxes) by granting them the privilege of not getting taxed until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.  In effect, the Mayor and Council have circumvented, to the benefit of the redevelopers, the New Jersey tax law which requires a tax assessor to impose a partial tax on improvements made to a property.  Without this added assessment, Advance could stop construction at any point and not have to pay any property taxes until they decide to finish the project and actually sell the unit.  This privilege is not afforded to others in town, the county or state in similar circumstances. (Watch the video of the  April 7, 2009 meeting where the financial agreement was modified courtesy of Joe Wood's website www.HarrisonMeetings.com )

The Redevelopers placed some months back a mural on the fence in front of the Red Bull Stadium suggesting that the project will bring a "green" Harrison.  A distance from the "green" mural stood two mature trees which no doubt were planted over 100 years ago by some forward thinking individuals who hoped to bring some "green" to then industrial Harrison.  The trees have seen a steady stream of workers leaving the former Crucible Steel Factory, the Hartz Mountain plant, the Driver Harris plant, the Otis Elevator plant and its successors throughout the years.  The trees have endured the pollution generated by foundry and a pipe fitting operation and a constant stream of passenger vehicles and trucks along Rodgers Boulevard.  This week however traffic was stopped.  Crowds were kept away.  No ceremony was announced by Town officials, County Officials, Red Bulls officials, or the Advanced Group.  The two mature trees were severed at their base and their life cut short by a large chain saw.  There was no ceremony, no press release, no video on the Red Bulls' or town's website. Why?  Because the "green" mural is just an empty promise.  The Red Bulls and the redevelopers haven't provided for any green space in Harrison's redevelopment project.  The only green place in the Red Bulls stadium in the grass playing field that will be "off sides" and "out of bounds" for the average Harrisonian.  The developers have been granted every tax break imaginable (although we are sure they may be creative enough to come up with some more).  The Harrison taxpayers have bonded for every aspect of the project (including the infrastructure which was suppose to be built and paid for by the developers under their original agreement).  The cutting down of these two trees demonstrates the lack of respect the redevelopers have for the history of Harrison and its residents.  There is no respect for old Harrison.  The redevelopers have respect only for Harrison when they are asking for a handout.  Once they have received their handout they immediately loose all respect for Harrison.  In fact, they must be laughing at how easily they take advantage of Harrison's residents with the assistance of Harrison's Mayor Raymond McDonough and his administration.  What other town would have allowed these two mature healthy trees to be cut down?  What other town would have bonded for infrastructure which the developer agreed to pay for?  What other town would change a standing financial agreement that allows a redeveloper to take their sweet time in completing their project to the detriment of Harrison's average taxpayer at a time the town needs more tax revenue not less?

What do you think?  Join the Discussion on our Discussion Board.