October 10, 2025 • 49 mins
Tired of seeing big promises that don’t match what shows up on your block? We sit down with arts leader and city council at-large candidate Meredith Burns for an unfiltered conversation about the choices shaping Jersey City right now—rising property taxes, school outcomes, the Pompidou pivot, and the real work it takes to keep families and artists here for the long haul.
Meredith shares why a glossy “museum” pitch—recast into a community center with uncertain financing—pushed her from running Art House Productions to running for office. She lays out a pragmatic agenda rooted in daily life: curb the taxpayer burden, double the arts trust fund through private and philanthropic support, and strengthen coordination so more families feel confident staying in public schools past pre-K. As a fourth-generation resident with a citywide footprint—from the Heights to downtown to Greenville—she explains why an at-large seat matches her work of convening neighbors, nonprofits, and developers toward practical outcomes.
We also dig into the campaign grind: canvassing that reveals block-by-block realities, a slate dynamic that actually feels like a team, and the debate over donations and labels that distract from basic governance. Meredith speaks candidly about redemption, results, and why local leadership should be measured by stability, services, and culture—trash picked up, budgets balanced, schools improving, and a creative community that doesn’t get priced out of the place it helped build.
If you care about affordability, schools, and keeping Jersey City’s creative core alive, this conversation gives you a grounded look at what change can actually look like from the council dais. Subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and tell us: what’s the one local fix you want to see first?
Your hosts: @lynnhazan_ and @tonydoesknow
follow us on social @ltkpod!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:01):
Hey, welcome to the Lynn and Tony Know podcast.
I'm your host, Lynn.
SPEAKER_00 (00:04):
And I'm Tony.
We are both wellness coaches andmarried with kids.
SPEAKER_01 (00:07):
Join us as we talk about all things health,
wellness, relationships, lifehacks, parenting, and everything
in between unfiltered.
Thanks for listening and let'sget into it.
Welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_00 (00:18):
Welcome back.
SPEAKER_01 (00:19):
We're back for a special episode.
unknown (00:21):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (00:22):
This is for our Jersey City people.
SPEAKER_00 (00:24):
Yes, very Jersey City specific.
If you don't live in JerseyCity, I'm not going to tell you
to tune out.
Feel free to listen in and uhlearn about some local politics.
Uh otherwise, we're we're gonnatake on some interviewing of
some candidates here for thehome stretch of the election
cycle, which ends uh at thebeginning of November.
So we are getting down to it.
We are within less than a monthof election day.
SPEAKER_01 (00:47):
And go out to vote.
Go out to vote, but now stopfucking complaining on the
internet.
Walk to your local pollingstation and cast your vote.
Like I'm so tired of peoplebeing keyboard warriors and like
not going to vote.
And I know, and I've been votingin Jersey City since I moved
here, and I'm always astoundedat how I I'm always like, you
(01:07):
know, I go at like four or fivePM and I'm number like 50, you
know?
Like it's it it astounds me athow little people vote in local
elections.
SPEAKER_00 (01:16):
Yeah.
And for our guest today, it'seven more important because
these these races for citycouncil are decided within such
small margins.
So any amount of impact can begreat, and your vote literally
does count when it comes tolocal elections.
SPEAKER_01 (01:33):
So before you read her bio, I know Meredith, we go
way back.
Uh she was the executive directshe she's the executive director
of Art House Production, whichis like the hub of art in Jersey
City.
And in my chick PJC days, I youknow was a huge fan of her work
and all that she's done.
She's a great human being.
So it's not like she just likedecided one day to be a city
(01:54):
council person.
She's part of the Jersey Citycommunity.
She knows what's up.
She knows that, you know, it's avery creative, artistic, a
diverse community.
And, you know, we're excited tochat with her.
So you want to read her littlebio?
SPEAKER_00 (02:06):
Nope, you just did.
I just did.
I mean, that's that's yeah, thatthat's that's a good thing.
SPEAKER_01 (02:10):
And she she also throws the biggest party in
Jersey City every year.
It's the art house productiongala.
Everyone in the art creativecommunity goes to this gala.
Uh, there's always these awesomethemes.
You get to dress up and and it'sjust a good night.
You remember I was pregnant withNoah.
I was like six weeks pregnantwith Noah, where I took Tony to
(02:31):
our first theme, which I thinkwas like water something,
mermaid something.
I don't I we'll ask Meredith.
I don't know.
SPEAKER_00 (02:38):
I think it's the only time I wore a turtleneck
with a suit, though.
I can tell you that's it.
SPEAKER_01 (02:41):
But it was weird walking around all night and
like I had this secret that I'mpregnant.
It was kind of fun.
So I have like a nice memory.
Anyway, welcome to the show,Meredith Burns.
Hi.
So why run for city council?
SPEAKER_02 (02:54):
Yeah, it's uh great question.
You know, I mean, I'm an artistand an arts producer.
I never thought I would dosomething like this, but I was
really activated by the Pompeo.
You know, as an arts producer, Iam typically for most arts
initiatives, but this was justso kind of half-baked.
(03:15):
And um, you know, once we lostthe funding from the state, not
to bore your listeners, butessentially there's this museum,
the Pompeo, it's a Frenchmuseum.
They're under renovation inFrance, they're about to close
their doors for five years.
It's a$500 million renovation.
They are$250 million short.
They're looking for outpostsaround the world.
(03:37):
They found Jersey City, ofcourse, and they're looking to
build a museum here.
There was going to be a ton ofstate funding that would chip in
to help the operational budgetyear after year.
SPEAKER_00 (03:48):
Okay.
So for editing purposes, we hada little technical difficulty,
and we're gonna we're gonnacircle back to exactly what the
Pompeie was supposed to be andwhat it kind of has turned into
now.
SPEAKER_02 (03:59):
Yeah.
And sorry about this.
I'm in uh I'm in the CanopyHotel.
So there might be me.
It is, it's really nice.
So basically to try and sum thisup quickly, I kind of feel like
this is a little bit of a a baitand switch.
And it was never clear what thismuseum was supposed to be.
First, it was called a museum.
And it was, I think, theimpression of everybody that
(04:21):
there was gonna be modern artthere.
We'd have Picasso's and, youknow, et cetera.
And um, and that's not what it'sgoing to be.
It's going to be a communitycenter, which will be doing a
lot of the same work that manyof our nonprofits already do.
Work with other artists in town,have vents, have events, have
(04:41):
education classes for adults andchildren.
So it does feel like it'scannibalizing the arts community
a little bit.
And of course, you know, thebiggest thing is the finances.
I mean, I now walk the city.
I'm running at large, whichmeans citywide.
I am out every single day,knocking doors, talking to
people, talking to homeowners,talking to renters.
You know, property taxes are ahuge issue.
(05:04):
I mean, I am talking to folks intheir 70s and 80s with tears in
their eyes who are on fixedincome, saying, I can't do it.
I want to live here and I havenowhere else to go.
I mean, that's the thing.
There's nowhere for them to go.
Like their family is here.
Everything they know and love ishere in Jersey City, and yet the
taxes keep going up and it'sbecoming impossible for them to
(05:26):
make ends meet.
So, so the finances of thePompeo are really, I think, the
crux of the issue, which is thatoriginally the state was going
to come in and put a largeportion of money behind the
annual operating budget, whichis sizable, just around it'll
soon probably be 40 million, 50million dollars a year.
And not only that, the state wasgoing to help with construction
(05:48):
costs.
So the state pulled out becauseaccording to them, you know, it
the numbers were not viable.
They couldn't make it work.
They didn't see how this museumwould become the sort of
economic driver that it waspurported to be.
And so then Fullip, you know, hefound a loophole.
He decided to work with adeveloper, give the developer a
pilot, you know, which ispayment in lieu of taxes, so an
(06:10):
abatement, and uh say thatbasically the city and, you
know, these apparent taxcredits, which she's yet to
secure, would pay for theconstruction, pay for several
years of operation, but none ofthat has materialized.
And so now it's just going to bea huge taxpayer burden.
You know, recently had the theyhad to cancel the meeting.
(06:31):
It was a couple of days ago, theJersey City Um Redevelopment
Agency was voting on a$40million loan to take care of the
construction.
All this just say, this was sortof my motivation for getting in.
I was like, you know, whatbothered me the most is that the
arts community came out anddroves against this, telling
folks how we were we wereconcerned.
(06:51):
I mean, as someone who runs anonprofit here in Hudson County,
the the philanthropic support isnot where other counties in New
Jersey are.
And I was just concerned aboutwhat this would mean for the
rest of us here.
A lot of people just had, youknow, lots of different concerns
about this, this project, thisinitiative.
(07:12):
And the city council, prettymuch across the board, with with
a couple exceptions, all justrubber stamp this project.
And that really angered me.
And I thought, I can do betterthan this.
I can listen to my constituentsbetter than this.
And that's why I decided to uhto sort of throw my hand in the
ring, but I kind of thendisabused myself of that.
(07:34):
But then Jim McGreevy asked me.
He said, you know, I think you'dbe great.
And I was concerned because Ihave a two-year-old son and I
run arthouse productions, andthat's a full-time job, and then
some.
But my family wanted me to doit.
My husband really wanted me todo it.
My mom wanted me to do it.
They just felt like I would begood and uh I could do a good
job.
And so they said that they wouldhelp.
(07:56):
And they have.
They've really, really helped.
They are sort of the, you know,doing amazing work behind the
scenes to make this all possiblefor me.
And yeah, and I, you know, and Ithink the sort of secondary
reason, aside from this, thisreason that really hit close to
home with the arts is that Iwant to raise my son here.
I'm a fourth generation JerseyCity resident.
I love this city.
(08:16):
I I would love to be here longterm, but the affordability is
out of control.
I mean, and everybody knowsthat.
And and the schools are notwhere they should be.
There's like five or six goodschools in Jersey City, and
there's a$1.2 billion schoolboard budget.
And I don't really feel likeCity Council or the current
(08:37):
administration has really doneanything to help that issue in
the past 12 years.
I feel like they have justavoided talking about it because
it is, it is complicated andit's difficult to figure out,
but we've got to dive in thereand start trying to figure it
out.
I mean, or it's never going toget solved and it's just going
to get worse and worse andworse.
(08:58):
So, you know, and and you know,Jim has committed to that.
I mean, he cares deeply abouteducation and ensuring that
every kid from every zip codehas access to a great public
school.
And I'm a thousand percentcommitted to that too.
And I'm really hoping that, youknow, we prevail this November
and we get in and we can startaddressing these issues and
(09:19):
making some changes.
SPEAKER_00 (09:20):
Nice.
Um, those are obviously greatreasons to get involved.
I think a lot of us can sit hereand talk about reasons why we
should, but it takes a lot toactually do it.
So from that perspective, I Iadmire everybody that's running.
Even if I disagree with theirpositions, I do, I do
acknowledge the guts that ittakes to to withstand the public
(09:43):
scrutiny, the public pressure,the criticism, the noise, and
everything else that's involvedwith being in that position.
Because, you know, I've I'msitting next to somebody who has
never ran for office, but haswithstood public scrutiny and
criticism and pressure for aslong as I've known her and well
beyond that.
SPEAKER_01 (09:59):
So are we talking about?
SPEAKER_00 (10:01):
Ari.
Ari is one of Ari is blowing upthe internet right now.
No, but I I do I'm I'm familiarintimately with what it looks
like behind the scenes to dealwith with that sort of role, and
it takes a lot of guts, uh,regardless of political
positioning.
So kudos for you to see a gapthat you wanted to fill and
decided to take a run at it,because that is very cool.
(10:25):
My my next question would be atlarge seems like one of the
hardest positions to run for.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it it doesfeel like it it comes with a
unique challenge.
Uh if nothing else, just becausethere's more uh people running
at large than in a particularward, which means that at the
end of the day, you have to getpeople have to get familiar
(10:45):
enough with you to trust forwith one of the three votes,
which I think in city council isprobably the most difficult part
because people are going to votefor somebody that they quote
unquote know, I think.
And getting to know three, threecandidates per slate is a is a
heavy lift for the averageperson that may be interested,
(11:05):
but may not have time to care asmuch as we would hope to.
Like, so the question is why whyat large?
Why was that the fit for you?
SPEAKER_02 (11:14):
Well, I mean, I think that I sort of have this
citywide presence.
You know, my family is from theheights, and then my dad, when
he moved back when I was 11,moved downtown to Hamilton Park.
I run um Art House, which islocated downtown, steps from the
Grove Street path.
And I live in Port Liberté inGreenville.
(11:35):
So I do, I do have sort of a areach across the city.
You know, I run programscitywide.
So I think that's why it it feltlike the right fit as opposed to
running ward A.
And Brandy on my ticket is alsoa far better candidate than me
for for ward A.
And so, so that's that's reallyit.
And in terms of, I guess, youknow, who I am, you know, I
(11:57):
mean, I'm somebody that I workreally hard and I I really don't
like to fail.
That's sort of, I think, youknow, it's a double-edged sword,
right?
Like it's a good thing and it'sa it's also a curse.
But I work really hard tosucceed because the idea of
failure to me is like anathema,like pains me and gives me a lot
of anxiety.
(12:18):
So, you know, that being said, Ithink I'm somebody that I really
want to do a good job.
I want to succeed.
And I and I don't have, youknow, further ambitions.
Like really, I know people arelike, no, that's what everyone
says when they get intopolitics.
But truly, I am an arts producerthrough and through.
And that's what I'll, you know,do forever.
But I I do love this city and Iwant to throw my hat in and try
(12:40):
and and prove it where I feel Ican.
SPEAKER_00 (12:43):
So you you mentioned you mentioned you don't like
failing, which of course nobodylikes failing, but failure and
pain are some of our bestteachers.
We know that.
But in terms of if we're tospeak in terms of success, you
win this November, okay?
Now you're you're on the citycouncil and four years go by and
you're looking back on your fouryears at City Council.
What does success look like toyou?
What have you done that you canlook back and go, that's what I
(13:06):
came here to do?
SPEAKER_02 (13:07):
Yeah, that's interesting.
I mean, listen, like there'sspecific things I want to do
with the arts, like specificplans that I want to do with the
arts.
I want to, you know, increasethe arts trust fund.
I want to double it.
I want to try and double itevery year through private
foundations and philanthropicsupport.
But I mean, honestly, I I wantto feel like at the end of four
(13:28):
years, I've, you know, that I'veI've achieved a vision with a
group of people to make JerseyCity more livable for families.
That would that would be successto me.
If I feel like more families arekeeping their kids in the public
school system past pre-K, andI'm hearing feedback from folks
(13:48):
that Jersey City is a morelivable place to be, that would
be success because I think thatis the number one pressing
issue.
Quality of life, affordability,the schools.
So that that to me is where Iwill work and that's where I
will put my energy and efforts.
And again, you know, you nowthat I'm in this, and of course
I knew this before, but yourealize that so much is is
(14:11):
really dependent on who are whothe people are who are in these
seats and the decisions thatthey make.
And for me, you know, it's it'san interesting thing that we're,
you know, I we've been workingvery closely as a team, the
entire Jim McGreevy slate.
And now, you know, we're gettingcloser to the realization that,
oh, you know, there's apossibility that not everybody
will get on.
(14:32):
And so what does that look like?
Who you're working with?
But I think I'm the type ofperson who can build coalitions.
I can work with people that Imight not politically see eye to
eye with, but you know, I treateverybody with respect and I
know how to sort of bringdifferent stakeholders to the
table who have differing ideasand opinions.
So I'm hoping that whomever's upthere, I'll be the type of
(14:53):
person to be able to work withthem and get them sort of
aligned with hopefully what isthe ultimate vision and um and
actually get results.
Because this is what I hear allthe time.
And I know you guys talk aboutthis a lot too, is that there's
just so much lips lip servicepaid out there and not enough
people actually doing things.
(15:13):
So so that's sort of my, youknow, somewhat broad general
answer.
Um, but I think it it it's beinghonest because you know, some of
it's like you have to get in andlook under the hood and see
where we're at.
We're about to be in a seriousdeficit crunch.
It's gonna be, I've heard, ahundred million dollar deficit
for 2026.
(15:34):
So, you know, I think for meit's about making the best
decisions for the most amount ofpeople.
And that's what I want to do.
And I think I have theexperience, the skill set, the
know-how to be able to do thatand to guide Jersey City into
this next this You said twothings in that answer that I
that I wanted to touch on that Ithe both of which I liked.
SPEAKER_00 (15:55):
And and one was something that I'm not used to
hearing from candidates ingeneral, and it was very
specific to your niche of thearts and what you wanted to
accomplish with the arts.
And my first thought was, wow,that's that's very specific.
I wonder if people will resonatewith that that that aren't
engaged in the arts.
Yeah.
And the second was, no, this isthis is why she is in the race,
(16:18):
and it's specific to what sheknows, and it's probably exactly
what she can accomplish, which Ifind to be a more authentic
answer than than most, becausethis is what you know, this is
what you know how to do, andthis is what you can do with
that seat, which I I really likethat type of answer that's
that's narrowed down to yourspecific zone of genius.
SPEAKER_01 (16:39):
And I also think that Jersey City in itself, like
being here for 15 years, whatmakes Jersey City unique is the
art world, is the creativecommunity.
You know, you talk like oldschool downtown, like 150 Bay.
What was the uh name of that?
There was like a an artcommunity.
Yes.
And like, you know, people usedto talk to me about all the all
(17:01):
the artists that I used tointerview would talk to me about
how you know there's this wholecreative community before people
started moving here.
And it's it's what made JerseyCity special, really.
And sadly, you know, as morepeople move here because they
they w want the proximity.
And I and I'll be honest, that'sI moved to Jersey City 15 years
ago because I was paying, I wasliving in the Upper East Side
(17:23):
and I hated it.
And I came to Jersey City andthe rent was a little bit
cheaper.
I could get to work easily, andthen I discovered the community,
and that's where Chick PJC wasborn.
So I'm what one of those people,but I'm one of those people who
was like, I'm investing in thiscommunity and I'm gonna do my my
part.
Whereas a lot of people, theyjust come and they don't really,
they just use they just itbecomes a transient city.
(17:44):
But what Jersey City, what makesit special is the art community.
And that's why I've alwaysappreciated your work and the
and the work of many people inthe in the downtown uh Jersey
City like art community, uh themural program, all these things
for continuing the efforts.
So I think it's it's a big partof what makes us special.
SPEAKER_02 (18:02):
I do too.
And we don't want to lose that.
You know, we don't want to loseour creative community.
We don't.
We don't want to lose thecreative class here.
And because of the affordabilityissues, we're really we're in
real danger of losing that classof people.
And we have to fight for itbecause I think it, you know, if
if we're in this ecosystem whereit all, we're all affecting one
(18:23):
another, you know, like you justsaid, Lynn, it's what makes
Jersey City an attractive placeto be.
And, you know, we need toattract people in order to keep
the businesses running.
And, you know, even I know,like, you know, mentioning
developers is like a four-letterword in this race, but I don't
think it is because they havestake in this game.
(18:44):
They have skin in the game here.
And so, you know, if they wantto ensure that their buildings
are fully occupied with folkswho have the means to afford the
rents that they're charging, youhave to make sure that the
community at large is a placethat they want to be.
And not every spot is atransient spot.
I mean, Castor and Lofts, whereArt House used to reside
(19:06):
temporarily before the pandemicand we moved into our new, you
know, long-term home, um, isjust a very unique neighborhood
now in Jersey City.
It's all rental units.
But I was talking to somebodydown there yesterday, Becky, who
runs um the farmer's market downthere.
And, you know, she was, Ithought she had a just spot-on
(19:29):
calculation of what's happening,which is that, you know, I think
for a long time there was this,there was this sort of
understanding that folks wouldcycle in and out.
They'd be here for a few yearsbefore they moved to the
suburbs, or a few years beforethey moved back into the city.
But now people, just given theeconomics of everything, they're
(19:49):
a little stuck.
They're not able to afford thehouse that they want out in the
burbs.
They're not able to afford orthey don't want to go back into
New York City for, you know, asmaller footprint and higher
rents and a fourth floor walk-upor whatever it might be.
And so they're kind of here forthe long term in Jersey City.
That's kind of us.
That's us right now.
And so we need to really figureout okay, well, what then does
(20:13):
the neighborhood look like?
Where is where do they goshopping for groceries?
What's exciting for them to doat night?
I mean, you need to build aculture.
And I think the arts play alarge part in that in the local
economy.
And I think we need to beconsidered more.
I do.
I think that you know, and I'mhopeful that artists really see
(20:36):
my potential representation oncity council as their
representate representation oncity council.
SPEAKER_01 (20:42):
And yeah, I'm really hoping.
How is the artist communitytaken with your decision?
Have they like welcomed it?
Are they excited for you?
SPEAKER_02 (20:52):
Yeah, I think they are by and large.
I mean, I think, you know, Imean, I think they feel I think
they feel excited that I'm doingthis.
I also do feel to keep it 100%honest.
I think that they I think thatthere is a trepidation around
(21:13):
anyone who would want to dothis.
And I feel that deeply because Ithink I have some of that same
trepidation.
I have some of that same sort oflike, oh my gosh, why would you
want to be in this world?
That is so ugly at times.
It's like an ugly business.
But I hope that they know thatlike I'm not changing.
(21:33):
I'm the same person I'm going tobe.
And I hope that they can see nowthat I've been running, you
know, I've been running for thepast what, seven months?
And I think I've done it with alot of integrity.
And I'm certainly not gettinginto any of the nonsense.
I'm just staying true to who Iam and what I believe and why
I'm doing this.
So I hope that they can they canfeel some comfort knowing that
(21:54):
after that, like now they'vethey've seen me on this campaign
trail for a significant amountof time.
But yeah, I do think there's alittle bit of like, she wants to
be a politician now.
Like, who is she?
But um but I I mean, and again,I I hate I because I sound like
I'm completely conflictingmyself, and in some ways I am,
but that's whatever, that'shuman.
(22:16):
I don't feel like I'm apolitician, you know?
I just feel like I'm the sameperson, I have the same career,
but I am running for citycouncil because I believe I can
do a good job, I believe I canmake a difference, and I believe
I can serve both the artists'interests and you know the
greater cities' interests aswell.
How does your two two-year-oldfeel about it?
(22:39):
You know, he has no idea.
He has no idea.
He's definitely getting used tosaying like bye mommy a lot, you
know, which is a littlebreaking.
I know.
But it's it's uh my husband andI are in the thick of it now.
We're just like, it's anothermonth.
I mean, it might be another twomonths given the runoff.
SPEAKER_00 (22:57):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:58):
But yeah, things will slow down.
It will not be at the same pace.
Like, of course, city councilpeople are busy, they're going
to events, but this is on awhole nother level.
Like I'm going through.
SPEAKER_01 (23:07):
No, and the and the council meetings.
I don't how are you gonna getthrough these long council
meetings?
That's what I want to know.
I know people have asked me torun like in the past.
People are like, oh, you shouldrun, you know, like when I was
like living downtown.
And I was like, just me doingthe council meetings, absolutely
not.
I don't have the attention span.
(23:28):
I'm I'm not patient with people.
I'm impatient.
Like I would probably tellpeople to shut the fuck up, and
that's not very nice.
Because you're supposed tovalidate people.
SPEAKER_00 (23:36):
Yeah.
Yeah, I'd be people ask me,like, I got you can't do that.
I got asked to run twice andbrilliant.
SPEAKER_01 (23:42):
I don't know why people keep keep asking us.
People keep asking Tony or me.
It's the weirdest thing.
SPEAKER_00 (23:46):
Well, what you said was particularly interesting
because you were like, I stayout of the nonsense.
I love the nonsense.
I thrive in nonsense.
I'll do that all day long.
And if I did actually win, therewould be nobody left for me to
work with because I burned burnsgreat.
SPEAKER_01 (24:01):
I would take a flamethrower to everybody, and
by the end of it, even if I won,it the He he's been blocked by
probably like thirty percent ofthe people currently running.
SPEAKER_00 (24:11):
I've been blocked by three candidates, which I
believe by law, if they win,they have to unblock me because
I don't think you can blockpeople from an official official
account that you use forcampaigning.
SPEAKER_02 (24:21):
Good to know.
I'm gonna double check on that.
SPEAKER_00 (24:23):
But I don't I don't one of them will probably win at
least.
But I'm not gonna mention nameshere.
I'll probably blast it out on onsocial media again at some
point, whatever.
But the other the other part ofit is is like I I don't have I
don't have the voice that I wantto represent everybody.
I want to represent the thingsthat I care about right now, and
(24:43):
and that's about it.
Like I don't and I'm I'm awareof it too.
Like I don't want to speak foreveryone.
I don't want to representeveryone.
I don't think I'm as effectiveif I if I'm beholden to to
literally considering everyone,which I can do, but that's not
where I am right now.
So I would never consider it.
SPEAKER_01 (24:58):
And I've dealt with enough local drama that I could
really that I'm reallyinterested, you know?
SPEAKER_00 (25:06):
Yeah.
And so what is worth, Meredith?
You do not read like apolitician.
SPEAKER_01 (25:10):
You're not.
Yeah.
I was surprised.
When I saw your name, I waslike, oh wow.
Like, because I know you fromart house, you know, and and I I
know you like she must reallywant.
And my first reaction was like,she must really care and want
change, you know, because that'swhat I would do too.
Of course I want change, but Idon't I don't have the capacity
to do it, but I I appreciatewhat you're doing because I get
(25:31):
it.
Because you get frustrated.
It's like you feel like, arethey doing what are you doing?
Like, are you doing anything?
Spending your time on, you know,like I see, and I'm not gonna
name names, but I see currentcouncil people just spending
time on things that aren'tmoving the needle forward for
our community because they wantclicks.
Because they want clicks, theywant votes, and it's
(25:51):
frustrating.
And it's like, why are youspending time on things that
don't, you know, that don't helpus in any way?
And it's like, what have youdone in the past four or eight
years?
What have you accomplished?
I have no idea.
And I appreciate a womanstanding up and like, I'm I'm
gonna do something about this,you know?
SPEAKER_00 (26:09):
So seven months in, is this what you thought it was
gonna be?
SPEAKER_02 (26:12):
I knew it was going to be very intense.
My husband, I think, thought itwould be contained that I would
only campaign on the weekendsand maybe a couple nights a
week.
I knew and I tried to preparehim.
I said, it's gonna be full on.
Um and it is full on.
And it just, you know, kicked upa notch in October.
(26:32):
But I have to say, I adorecanvassing.
Like I love it.
I love, like I have never Ivolunteered phone banking before
for Obama and Hillary and yeah,but I had never canvassed with
any candidate.
I always thought that it wouldbe, I'd be very awkward.
And, you know, you're knockingon people's.
I just feel like we things havealso changed.
(26:54):
I think like we're I'm an oldermillennial.
I think you guys are too.
And you know, like we just don'tdo that as millennials.
That's just like we I haveanxiety.
SPEAKER_01 (27:02):
Yeah, I have anxiety making a phone call.
SPEAKER_00 (27:04):
Yeah, if you call me on the phone, I'm like, why
you're a weirdo.
Don't don't call me, text mefirst, please.
SPEAKER_02 (27:09):
Well, yeah, I mean, I actually am a phone person.
Every like my staff, they arenot phone people, and they're
always like, you are on thephone constantly, but but I am
certainly not a I'm gonna justpop in and say hello person.
Like my family, like we're justnot pop-in people, you know.
So in the beginning it was kindof like, you know, be soft.
But now I love it.
And it's shocking to me howpeople love it too.
(27:31):
They love to sort of meet thecandidates and to they and they
get right into the heart of it.
Like they tell you immediatelywhat their concerns are, and I
think it's cathartic for them.
And it's just it's just great tomake that, you know, in-person
connection with people.
Um, and you know, I thought Iknew the city.
(27:51):
I'm fourth generation.
I've been around and no, like Ididn't I didn't know the city.
I now know the city in a wholenew way.
Walking it block by block.
I mean, and and you know, again,it's kind of cliche.
We talk about the diversity inJersey City all the time, but it
is oh my god, it truly is themost diverse city in America.
(28:15):
And uh, and that is a gift toall of us.
And so I enjoy that immensely.
The events and sort of poppingaround and trying to make these
like calculated appearances andand trying to like, you know,
have a connection in 20 minuteswith the person who's running
the thing is that's not myfavorite part.
But uh but yeah, but I I thinkit it's a privilege to run.
(28:36):
It really is.
And honestly, I know, I mean, Itotally respect what you both
just said that you sort of haveyou have a very clear agenda of
the activism that you areembarking upon.
And and I find myself to be moreof a convener and a collaborator
and uh, okay, we have these veryopposing views.
How do we move forward?
SPEAKER_00 (28:58):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (29:00):
So yeah, that's why I think I'll be, you know, I
think I'm well suited and um andand and I think that's a great
answer.
But to everything you see, I'm abridge burner.
Yeah.
And I and he her name, her lastname is is Burns.
My last name is Burns, it'strue.
Yeah, and I'm from a family offirefighters, so I guess that's
you know No way.
(29:21):
Yeah, so last name is destiny,yeah.
But no, I mean, I I hear you andI hear that on the campaign
trail all the time about currentcouncil candidates.
And I I try and be compassionateand understanding and
magnanimous about when I hearthat, well, this person has done
nothing for me, or I they'vebeen in in whatever in that seat
(29:41):
for 12 years, and what have theydone?
Because I understand that it'snot just them, right?
Like they are voting as a groupand the majority wins, and you
know, so I get that it'sdifficult, but I do think that
we need to do a better job ofcommunicating um with our, you
know.
Know with our residents aboutwhat it is that we are doing and
(30:03):
accomplishing.
And you know, we just need to beout there more.
And I think the currentadministration for a lot of
different reasons just has notbeen, especially in the past
four years.
So I know that our ticket,especially Jim McGreevy, he
wants to be out there all thetime.
I mean, he loves it.
We love him.
SPEAKER_01 (30:22):
He's great.
I mean, he's very clear thatwe're, you know, he's our guy.
SPEAKER_00 (30:26):
Yeah.
I mean, listen, full disclosurefor everybody.
Are you kidding?
SPEAKER_01 (30:30):
Yeah, we are we are big.
SPEAKER_00 (30:32):
No, we're we're 100% all in on McGreevy for our
listeners.
We are not paid.
We have not dime.
We have no official role in thecampaign.
SPEAKER_01 (30:40):
We've also been like we haven't been podcasting.
Like we're in our mom and dadera, and you know, we podcasted
our birth story, and then wewanted to talk to you and and
see if other candidates wantedto talk.
Like we're not we're not we havenothing.
SPEAKER_00 (30:54):
Yeah.
We we want we want Jim to win.
I am completely open tointerviewing people from any,
any, literally any slate.
SPEAKER_01 (31:02):
I think some people are not gonna want to talk to
you.
SPEAKER_00 (31:04):
That's fine.
I don't care.
But I I will I listen, theinvitation is there.
I will talk to anybody, I willdebate ideas with anybody, but
I'm full on with I I know I'mvoting for in the mayoral race.
There are some gaps I'm fillingelsewhere, but I know who I'm
voting for for mayor.
And this is kind of the idea islike I am chronically online.
(31:25):
I study, I read every HudsonCounty Chronicles, Hudson County
View, uh Jersey City Times.
I read every every single thing.
So I'm probably more informed onlocal politics than a lot of
people, and I still don't knowall the candidates, and I still
don't know who I'm gonna votefor across the board.
So we figured we'd give someinsights to candidates that are
(31:46):
willing to come on and and youknow tell us a little bit about
themselves because how do youhow do you wrap your head around
all these candidates?
It's next to impossible.
Yeah.
So the other thing that I was Iwanted to go back to is that
what I liked hearing and what Iwhat I've seen, what I've
witnessed is how cohesive yourslate seems to be in terms of
(32:07):
like you guys do really you allseem like a team and you you do
seem to ride for each other in avery, very meaningful way.
And we know candidates on otherslates where if we challenge
them on the slate, they're like,oh well, you know, I just had to
pick one because you can't runindependent, and we had to we
had to go with somebody in orderto stand a chance.
And it's like you don't have towait to vote for them, you know,
(32:28):
wink wink.
And it's like uh okay.
SPEAKER_01 (32:31):
It's so icky, it's like the weirdest thing.
I don't like that either.
That feels like a common thing.
We've heard that yeah, we'veheard that like twice already.
SPEAKER_00 (32:38):
I've heard it multiple times.
SPEAKER_01 (32:40):
And it's just like it gives us the ick.
SPEAKER_00 (32:41):
It's like I've heard it multiple times in the
assembly race uh with thoseslates, and I've heard it
multiple times now in themayoral race, like well, you
know, like you don't have tovote for him, you can just vote.
It's like, well, but you willyou picked your slate for a
reason, presumably.
And if you only picked it to getyour profile raised, that's on
you.
You're still tied to that wagon.
If you picked it because youbelieve in it, then stand on it
(33:02):
and say, no, I back my guybecause or girl because that's
who I believe in.
Yeah.
Um, and that's not what I'mhearing in a lot of camps, uh,
but what I heard from you nowtwice unsolicited was how much
you enjoy being on your ticketand who you're around.
So how did how did you how didyou get involved with Jim
specifically and and become apart of his ticket?
SPEAKER_02 (33:24):
Well, I really not know Jim at all.
He he came to the ribbon cuttingat Art House.
I saw him, there was a lot ofpeople there, and he was across
the room.
I was like, wow, oh, that's theformer governor.
And then we never connected umthat day.
He later showed up to severalother art house events and we
sort of chatted a little bit.
And then I went to a meet andgreet that he had at Port
(33:48):
Liberté.
And I sort of challenged him onsome things as he was chatting
about what he'd do for the city.
And then shortly after that, hecontacted me and said, you know,
would you run at large on myticket?
And I said, I said, I don'tthink so.
I was like, I don't think thisis really for me at this time.
Um but he said, just you know,give it some thought.
And it was over the holidays,and uh, and that's when I spent
(34:09):
time talking to my family.
And they said, you know, youshould really do this.
But I'm so glad I did becauseI've learned so much from Jim as
a leader.
Um he's taught me a lot.
He's a he's a class act.
He is such a class act.
He really is, and I like the wayhe I think in all candid candor
(34:30):
that I as a woman, as a womanboss, oh Ari.
SPEAKER_00 (34:34):
So he's like, wrap it up, guys.
SPEAKER_02 (34:36):
Yeah.
Oh my goodness.
Well, I'll just say that I'velearned a lot from him.
And then when I met the rest ofthe team, I I it's just a team
of good-hearted people.
Like you just feel it across theboard.
And I feel like I have seven uheight new friends, you know, for
life.
People that I can really counton, rely on.
(34:59):
They're just loyal, good,quality people who care deeply
about this city, who havealready been doing the work in
the community helping people.
They're not doing it to raisetheir pro.
It's not it's just not that kindof ticket.
I mean, so I I really and I justfeel like there's not a ton of
ego on our team.
I really there's like no diva inthe room.
(35:20):
And I I really like that becauseI have a difficult time when
there's sort of like aproblematic, you know,
personality in the room that'staking over and makes it all
about them.
And we don't have that on ourticket at all.
It's just, yeah, I can'trecommend any of them enough.
I really do feel like they arethe best choice for Jersey City.
So I hope everyone will do theirresearch and take a look and you
(35:43):
know, in my humble opinion, voteMcGreavy.
Well sorry, I'm sorry, and Ican't.
SPEAKER_01 (35:48):
We really why don't you uh finish up?
I'll take her.
Yeah, she's gonna so nicetalking to you.
Likewise, my boss.
Of course.
So I'll let you guys finish up.
SPEAKER_00 (35:59):
Yeah, I only had like one more thing I kind of
wanted to touch on because likeI I think I think it matters to
a lot of people, and and that islike obviously with a body of
work as large as Jim McGreeby's,you you have the things that
people are going to bring up andand beat him over the head with,
and presumably you too, as thecampaign goes on.
(36:21):
What what do you say to peoplethat are like, well, this this
happened and he got he left indisgrace and all these things,
and he takes contributions fromXYZ and all like how do you
reconcile some of the criticismsthat come his way?
I know how I do, uh, but I'mcurious as a candidate on his
ticket how you how you respondto some of that.
SPEAKER_02 (36:39):
Yeah, I mean, it's very frustrating to me because I
think, you know, all of thedetails get left out.
And I think there's just so muchmisinformation out there about
what happened, about thedecisions he made.
But all I can say, because Jimalways, you know, I think Jim's
oh good, I can finally see younow, Tony.
You know, Jim is very cognizantof not being defensive.
(37:02):
And uh, so you know, but I willjust say that I think this is a
person who owned his mistakes.
He didn't, you know, continue toserve as governor after he'd
very publicly admitted to hismistakes.
He stepped down.
I mean, that's somebody who ownsit and says, you're right.
I've lost your trust, I'mleaving.
(37:22):
And this is somebody who, youknow, didn't go on to corporate
America or whatever.
He went to re-entry.
He built New Jersey reentry,which serves court involved
people, immigrants, veterans,addicts, victims of domestic
violence.
He has 13 locations across NewJersey doing job training, legal
(37:44):
aid, housing placement.
I mean, that's significant realwork working with our most
forgotten about populations.
That is somebody who is in thethick of it.
And I respect that tremendously.
And I do not want to live in aworld in general where people
are irredeemable, where peoplemake mistakes and then that's
(38:04):
it.
We just toss them aside and theyhave to what?
We have to bring people backinto the fold.
And I think Jim has redeemedhimself.
I think his reasons for wantingto do this are legitimate.
And I think he loves JerseyCity.
I think for him, talks aboutthis a lot on the campaign trail
that he, you know, he has plentyof guys that he's worked with
(38:27):
who are court involved fromJersey City who, after they come
out of prison, can no longerafford to move back to Jersey
City where their families andsupport system are.
And there's a real problemthere.
And I think for him, this isreally legacy.
He wants to do a great job.
He doesn't have any futureambitions, right?
He wants to walk down the hillas he says.
(38:48):
Those are his words.
And I think he wants to feellike, okay, I have, I have done
a job, you know, job well donehere in Jersey City, the home of
my family, my parents, mygrandparents.
So I really believe in Jim.
I believe in his leadership.
I believe that he is the bestperson for this job, frankly.
I think we're lucky to havesomebody with his level of
(39:10):
experience wanting to do this.
And I wish more people would beopen to that.
And it upsets me that I feellike some of our most
apparently, you know,progressive people are kind of
closed-minded when it comes tothis.
And that, you know, that upsetsme.
But of course, everyone isentitled to their opinion.
And but I just think we shouldbe, we should be open to the
(39:32):
fact that Jim McGreevy deservesa second chance.
He's done great work.
And and I think he's gonna be.
I mean, I I hope he's going towin.
And I I think if he does win,I'm really hoping that the proof
will be in the pudding then,right?
People will see the results,they'll see the city change for
the better.
And I hope that they will changetheir minds eventually and open
(39:53):
their hearts to to him and thethe entire, you know, the entire
ticket.
Hopefully we all get on.
SPEAKER_00 (39:59):
Yeah, listen, we're we're rooting for you.
I think the criticism, I mean,fair game to criticize criticize
anybody, criticize a candidate,criticize whatever, but you and
I are both in a unique positionof sobriety where if I was if I
was measured today by the thingsI did 10, 11 years ago, what are
we talking about?
I would, you know, there wouldbe can cannon fodder.
(40:20):
Like I've I've made numerousmistakes in my life that are
some some that I will neverrepeat again simply because of
the growth that I've had, andthat's just over 10 years.
So, you know, some of that stuffis just like, yeah, I understand
why you want to talk about it,but at the same time, like your
house is glass for sure.
Like, let's be honest.
SPEAKER_02 (40:40):
Like we've all made mistakes, and it doesn't take
away the fact that he is, Ithink, an amazing leader.
You know, I think we need tosort of recognize that that he
has unique skills that I thinkare are really well suited to
take us out of some of the messthat we're in here.
And I I feel that way.
Thank you, Tony, for sort ofmentioning that, because that is
(41:02):
a unique part of my journeywhere, yeah, for sure.
I, you know, I'm I'm an AA, Ithink you're an AA.
And you know, you hear storiesall the time and you see the
transformation, and we can'tgive up on people.
We just can't.
What kind of society is that ifwe just give up on people for
the mistakes that they've madeor the regrets that they have?
(41:23):
So and I feel the same way.
Um I've personally changed, youknow, so much in my own life.
And so I know it's possible.
Change, change, redemption ispossible.
And so I hope that I hope thatother folks can eventually open
their hearts to that.
SPEAKER_00 (41:39):
Yeah.
I would I would say change andredemption are not only
possible, that for most peoplethey're inevitable.
If you're leading a life of anysort of purpose or mission,
those things are just gonna bepart of the recipe.
If they aren't, then I don'tknow.
I I want to say if they aren't,you're not pushing hard enough.
So that's kind of where I landon it.
And as far as I'll just put thisdown on tape just to have it,
(42:02):
the criticism of him taking dondonations from Republicans is
one of the craziest criticisms II can imagine because what
you're essentially saying islike not only do I disagree with
their political viewpoint, Iview them as so other than me
that it's repulsive that theywould even be allowed to give
money to a candidate that's in athat's a Democrat in Jersey
(42:24):
City, which is I listen, I'm aregistered Democrat, but I I am
by no means like very far leftat all.
But the idea of any of thecandidates taking money from
somebody that I might not agreewith politically is like, I
don't, I don't care.
Like, do everything you have todo to win and get your and get
yourself in a position to makethe change that you want to
(42:44):
make.
I don't like this like uh thispearl clutching over where the
money comes from.
I agreed there are probably someplaces that you wouldn't want to
see, but like I don't care if ifa candidate takes a money money
from a Republican.
Like I might change myregistration now and donate to
to everyone else as aRepublican, just so I can say
that everybody took donationsfrom Republicans and they can
just shut up about it.
(43:05):
But it's you are an agitator.
SPEAKER_02 (43:07):
I love it.
SPEAKER_00 (43:08):
A little bit, yes.
SPEAKER_02 (43:09):
I I just think it's a slippery slope and and where
does it end?
Do we are we okay with, youknow, sort of differentiating by
type, but not by degree, right?
What if somebody is more of aDemocrat or they have certain
opinions about, you know,undocumented pe is that okay?
Or, you know, like where wheredoes it end?
(43:31):
Where does it begin and wheredoes it end?
I mean, ultimately, this is anonpartisan race.
And I just think that I knowsome of the Republicans who've
actually been skewered for, youknow, the MAGA Republicans.
And some of them are justindependents, right?
They're not actual Yeah, yeah.
And they donate to a lot ofdifferent campaigns, right?
(43:55):
And that doesn't necessarilymean, you know, I think what
frustrates me so much too in therhetoric is like that means he's
going to do everything they wanthim to do.
Like, that's not what thatmeans.
SPEAKER_00 (44:06):
You know, it's not what a$5,000 donation gets you.
Let's be honest.
Like you don't get to call theshots for the phone.
He gets a phone donating five.
You don't you don't get to callin a bunch of favors for that.
It's just not that's not how itworks at all.
SPEAKER_02 (44:18):
I should just say something that is like because
I'm not for money, I'm from aworking class family.
I just think that and and Jim'snot for money, he's from a
working class family.
And I just think if we get intothis again, slippery slope,
where does it begin, where doesit end, of who we allow to
donate to campaigns, then theonly people who are going to be
able to run for office arepeople who are independently
(44:41):
wealthy.
And I don't think that's reallyfair.
SPEAKER_00 (44:44):
No, and I can only I can only think of one off the
top of my head that that wouldbenefit.
So other than that, do you knowwhat I mean?
SPEAKER_02 (44:50):
It's it's not fair that, oh, well, you can make
sort of these you can have theseprinciples, but but you can have
those principles because they'reeasy principles to have right.
Because if you just have afamily that's going to bankroll
your whole campaign, then so doyou know what I mean?
Like, and again, like no one noone is in charge of who they
(45:11):
were born to or how they werebrought.
Like that's not but at the sametime, I think I do think that
this has gotten twisted.
I think it is it's just typicalpolitics that have used this as
a way to sort of paint Jim assomething other than a Democrat
who helps the most forgottenabout populations.
MAGA, I mean, my understanding,my broad understand, and I I
(45:33):
just hate the sort ofgeneralization across the board,
but I just, you know, JimMcGreevy is not MAGA.
He's just not MAGA.
And he is, you know, he's not,and I don't want to speak for
him because I know, but I'mtelling you, the man is not in
the pocket of Trump.
He's just not.
And he wants to do a good jobfor Jersey City.
(45:54):
He wants to, you know, as hesort of says, the Fiorello
LaGuardia quote of, you know,there's no Republican or
Democratic way to fill apothole.
And that's what we're doinghere.
We're making this city work.
We're getting back to basics.
We're talking aboutinfrastructure and the school
system and taxes and the artsand community and workforce
(46:14):
housing and affordable housingand making that all possible for
people.
So to sort of get in this, Ithink, ridiculous whatever,
political fight about whether ornot Jim McGreevy is MAGA is to
me just ridiculous.
SPEAKER_00 (46:27):
It's ridiculous, but it's effective.
And that's why I wanted to talkabout it.
Because if we're talking aboutwhether or not Jim McGreevy's
MAGA, then we're not talkingabout how good he could be as a
mayor.
And and so that's I understandif I was on that side, I would
be doing the same thing.
Like as a as a tactician, Iwould absolutely I would drag
that out and and get as muchmileage out of it as I can.
(46:47):
But at the same time, like Ithink that what you're all's
messaging behind that is is likeit doesn't matter because it's
not well, we know that.
We know it's not true, but butregardless of whether or not we
think it's true, the perceptionrules whatever people are going
to is how people are going to beswayed.
So truth doesn't really matterin this moment.
What I like doing is saying, youfind it true, great, you don't
(47:09):
think it's true, great.
What I'm telling you is itdoesn't matter one way or the
other.
It doesn't affect thegovernance, it doesn't affect
how Jersey City is going to beran.
Trump isn't coming into JerseyCity to tell anybody X, Y, Z,
because none of it matters.
Yeah.
Like it doesn't matter.
Like that, that's what I thinkis like the the biggest way to
combat it because you're notgoing to convince people that
already think it's true thatit's not true.
(47:30):
Yeah.
And you're not going to convincepeople that think it's untrue
that it is true.
What you can convince people ofis that none of it matters.
It doesn't matter at the end ofthe day.
It doesn't matter that when hesits in that chair, whether he
has Republicans behind him orDemocrats behind him, it's can
he be effective at delivering onthe things that he said he was
going to do?
And that's about it.
SPEAKER_02 (47:48):
A thousand percent.
I think you're spot on.
SPEAKER_00 (47:49):
Yeah.
I generally think I'm sp- I'mjust kidding.
Meredith, thank you so much.
Your my first impression of youwas a video where you were you
were very down to earth and youwere even self-deprecating.
You were, I think you weretalking about your teeth, which
I I don't even remember why youwere making fun of your your
smile or something, because Iwas like, oh, that's funny and
and endearing, but at the sametime, not something that it
(48:10):
would have ever occurred to meelsewhere.
But you come across as very downto earth and in it for the right
reasons.
And even after a long-formconversation, I still hold that
opinion of you.
Um, and I want to thank you verymuch for your time.
SPEAKER_02 (48:23):
Yeah, thank you.
I still appreciate it.
Both doing this.
Yeah, and I feel the same way.
So thank you.
And I know my gosh, you weren'tin those like early months with
a newborn.
So I appreciate it even morethat you've decided to do this.
And I hope everybody comes onand talks to you.
I really do.
SPEAKER_00 (48:41):
Yeah, we're gonna we'll take as many as as many as
are willing, I'll make time for.
Like that's my that's mypromise.
And I won't get everybody,obviously.
But listen, the door is open, soif people want to take advantage
of it, great.
If they don't, that's fine too.
Yeah.
But I'm glad you did, and I'mglad you got to kick it off for
us.
Hey, welcome to the Lynn and Tony Know podcast.
I'm your host, Lynn.
SPEAKER_00 (00:04):
And I'm Tony.
We are both wellness coaches andmarried with kids.
SPEAKER_01 (00:07):
Join us as we talk about all things health,
wellness, relationships, lifehacks, parenting, and everything
in between unfiltered.
Thanks for listening and let'sget into it.
Welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_00 (00:18):
Welcome back.
SPEAKER_01 (00:19):
We're back for a special episode.
unknown (00:21):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (00:22):
This is for our Jersey City people.
SPEAKER_00 (00:24):
Yes, very Jersey City specific.
If you don't live in JerseyCity, I'm not going to tell you
to tune out.
Feel free to listen in and uhlearn about some local politics.
Uh otherwise, we're we're gonnatake on some interviewing of
some candidates here for thehome stretch of the election
cycle, which ends uh at thebeginning of November.
So we are getting down to it.
We are within less than a monthof election day.
SPEAKER_01 (00:47):
And go out to vote.
Go out to vote, but now stopfucking complaining on the
internet.
Walk to your local pollingstation and cast your vote.
Like I'm so tired of peoplebeing keyboard warriors and like
not going to vote.
And I know, and I've been votingin Jersey City since I moved
here, and I'm always astoundedat how I I'm always like, you
(01:07):
know, I go at like four or fivePM and I'm number like 50, you
know?
Like it's it it astounds me athow little people vote in local
elections.
SPEAKER_00 (01:16):
Yeah.
And for our guest today, it'seven more important because
these these races for citycouncil are decided within such
small margins.
So any amount of impact can begreat, and your vote literally
does count when it comes tolocal elections.
SPEAKER_01 (01:33):
So before you read her bio, I know Meredith, we go
way back.
Uh she was the executive directshe she's the executive director
of Art House Production, whichis like the hub of art in Jersey
City.
And in my chick PJC days, I youknow was a huge fan of her work
and all that she's done.
She's a great human being.
So it's not like she just likedecided one day to be a city
(01:54):
council person.
She's part of the Jersey Citycommunity.
She knows what's up.
She knows that, you know, it's avery creative, artistic, a
diverse community.
And, you know, we're excited tochat with her.
So you want to read her littlebio?
SPEAKER_00 (02:06):
Nope, you just did.
I just did.
I mean, that's that's yeah, thatthat's that's a good thing.
SPEAKER_01 (02:10):
And she she also throws the biggest party in
Jersey City every year.
It's the art house productiongala.
Everyone in the art creativecommunity goes to this gala.
Uh, there's always these awesomethemes.
You get to dress up and and it'sjust a good night.
You remember I was pregnant withNoah.
I was like six weeks pregnantwith Noah, where I took Tony to
(02:31):
our first theme, which I thinkwas like water something,
mermaid something.
I don't I we'll ask Meredith.
I don't know.
SPEAKER_00 (02:38):
I think it's the only time I wore a turtleneck
with a suit, though.
I can tell you that's it.
SPEAKER_01 (02:41):
But it was weird walking around all night and
like I had this secret that I'mpregnant.
It was kind of fun.
So I have like a nice memory.
Anyway, welcome to the show,Meredith Burns.
Hi.
So why run for city council?
SPEAKER_02 (02:54):
Yeah, it's uh great question.
You know, I mean, I'm an artistand an arts producer.
I never thought I would dosomething like this, but I was
really activated by the Pompeo.
You know, as an arts producer, Iam typically for most arts
initiatives, but this was justso kind of half-baked.
(03:15):
And um, you know, once we lostthe funding from the state, not
to bore your listeners, butessentially there's this museum,
the Pompeo, it's a Frenchmuseum.
They're under renovation inFrance, they're about to close
their doors for five years.
It's a$500 million renovation.
They are$250 million short.
They're looking for outpostsaround the world.
(03:37):
They found Jersey City, ofcourse, and they're looking to
build a museum here.
There was going to be a ton ofstate funding that would chip in
to help the operational budgetyear after year.
SPEAKER_00 (03:48):
Okay.
So for editing purposes, we hada little technical difficulty,
and we're gonna we're gonnacircle back to exactly what the
Pompeie was supposed to be andwhat it kind of has turned into
now.
SPEAKER_02 (03:59):
Yeah.
And sorry about this.
I'm in uh I'm in the CanopyHotel.
So there might be me.
It is, it's really nice.
So basically to try and sum thisup quickly, I kind of feel like
this is a little bit of a a baitand switch.
And it was never clear what thismuseum was supposed to be.
First, it was called a museum.
And it was, I think, theimpression of everybody that
(04:21):
there was gonna be modern artthere.
We'd have Picasso's and, youknow, et cetera.
And um, and that's not what it'sgoing to be.
It's going to be a communitycenter, which will be doing a
lot of the same work that manyof our nonprofits already do.
Work with other artists in town,have vents, have events, have
(04:41):
education classes for adults andchildren.
So it does feel like it'scannibalizing the arts community
a little bit.
And of course, you know, thebiggest thing is the finances.
I mean, I now walk the city.
I'm running at large, whichmeans citywide.
I am out every single day,knocking doors, talking to
people, talking to homeowners,talking to renters.
You know, property taxes are ahuge issue.
(05:04):
I mean, I am talking to folks intheir 70s and 80s with tears in
their eyes who are on fixedincome, saying, I can't do it.
I want to live here and I havenowhere else to go.
I mean, that's the thing.
There's nowhere for them to go.
Like their family is here.
Everything they know and love ishere in Jersey City, and yet the
taxes keep going up and it'sbecoming impossible for them to
(05:26):
make ends meet.
So, so the finances of thePompeo are really, I think, the
crux of the issue, which is thatoriginally the state was going
to come in and put a largeportion of money behind the
annual operating budget, whichis sizable, just around it'll
soon probably be 40 million, 50million dollars a year.
And not only that, the state wasgoing to help with construction
(05:48):
costs.
So the state pulled out becauseaccording to them, you know, it
the numbers were not viable.
They couldn't make it work.
They didn't see how this museumwould become the sort of
economic driver that it waspurported to be.
And so then Fullip, you know, hefound a loophole.
He decided to work with adeveloper, give the developer a
pilot, you know, which ispayment in lieu of taxes, so an
(06:10):
abatement, and uh say thatbasically the city and, you
know, these apparent taxcredits, which she's yet to
secure, would pay for theconstruction, pay for several
years of operation, but none ofthat has materialized.
And so now it's just going to bea huge taxpayer burden.
You know, recently had the theyhad to cancel the meeting.
(06:31):
It was a couple of days ago, theJersey City Um Redevelopment
Agency was voting on a$40million loan to take care of the
construction.
All this just say, this was sortof my motivation for getting in.
I was like, you know, whatbothered me the most is that the
arts community came out anddroves against this, telling
folks how we were we wereconcerned.
(06:51):
I mean, as someone who runs anonprofit here in Hudson County,
the the philanthropic support isnot where other counties in New
Jersey are.
And I was just concerned aboutwhat this would mean for the
rest of us here.
A lot of people just had, youknow, lots of different concerns
about this, this project, thisinitiative.
(07:12):
And the city council, prettymuch across the board, with with
a couple exceptions, all justrubber stamp this project.
And that really angered me.
And I thought, I can do betterthan this.
I can listen to my constituentsbetter than this.
And that's why I decided to uhto sort of throw my hand in the
ring, but I kind of thendisabused myself of that.
(07:34):
But then Jim McGreevy asked me.
He said, you know, I think you'dbe great.
And I was concerned because Ihave a two-year-old son and I
run arthouse productions, andthat's a full-time job, and then
some.
But my family wanted me to doit.
My husband really wanted me todo it.
My mom wanted me to do it.
They just felt like I would begood and uh I could do a good
job.
And so they said that they wouldhelp.
(07:56):
And they have.
They've really, really helped.
They are sort of the, you know,doing amazing work behind the
scenes to make this all possiblefor me.
And yeah, and I, you know, and Ithink the sort of secondary
reason, aside from this, thisreason that really hit close to
home with the arts is that Iwant to raise my son here.
I'm a fourth generation JerseyCity resident.
I love this city.
(08:16):
I I would love to be here longterm, but the affordability is
out of control.
I mean, and everybody knowsthat.
And and the schools are notwhere they should be.
There's like five or six goodschools in Jersey City, and
there's a$1.2 billion schoolboard budget.
And I don't really feel likeCity Council or the current
(08:37):
administration has really doneanything to help that issue in
the past 12 years.
I feel like they have justavoided talking about it because
it is, it is complicated andit's difficult to figure out,
but we've got to dive in thereand start trying to figure it
out.
I mean, or it's never going toget solved and it's just going
to get worse and worse andworse.
(08:58):
So, you know, and and you know,Jim has committed to that.
I mean, he cares deeply abouteducation and ensuring that
every kid from every zip codehas access to a great public
school.
And I'm a thousand percentcommitted to that too.
And I'm really hoping that, youknow, we prevail this November
and we get in and we can startaddressing these issues and
(09:19):
making some changes.
SPEAKER_00 (09:20):
Nice.
Um, those are obviously greatreasons to get involved.
I think a lot of us can sit hereand talk about reasons why we
should, but it takes a lot toactually do it.
So from that perspective, I Iadmire everybody that's running.
Even if I disagree with theirpositions, I do, I do
acknowledge the guts that ittakes to to withstand the public
(09:43):
scrutiny, the public pressure,the criticism, the noise, and
everything else that's involvedwith being in that position.
Because, you know, I've I'msitting next to somebody who has
never ran for office, but haswithstood public scrutiny and
criticism and pressure for aslong as I've known her and well
beyond that.
SPEAKER_01 (09:59):
So are we talking about?
SPEAKER_00 (10:01):
Ari.
Ari is one of Ari is blowing upthe internet right now.
No, but I I do I'm I'm familiarintimately with what it looks
like behind the scenes to dealwith with that sort of role, and
it takes a lot of guts, uh,regardless of political
positioning.
So kudos for you to see a gapthat you wanted to fill and
decided to take a run at it,because that is very cool.
(10:25):
My my next question would be atlarge seems like one of the
hardest positions to run for.
Maybe I'm wrong, but it it doesfeel like it it comes with a
unique challenge.
Uh if nothing else, just becausethere's more uh people running
at large than in a particularward, which means that at the
end of the day, you have to getpeople have to get familiar
(10:45):
enough with you to trust forwith one of the three votes,
which I think in city council isprobably the most difficult part
because people are going to votefor somebody that they quote
unquote know, I think.
And getting to know three, threecandidates per slate is a is a
heavy lift for the averageperson that may be interested,
(11:05):
but may not have time to care asmuch as we would hope to.
Like, so the question is why whyat large?
Why was that the fit for you?
SPEAKER_02 (11:14):
Well, I mean, I think that I sort of have this
citywide presence.
You know, my family is from theheights, and then my dad, when
he moved back when I was 11,moved downtown to Hamilton Park.
I run um Art House, which islocated downtown, steps from the
Grove Street path.
And I live in Port Liberté inGreenville.
(11:35):
So I do, I do have sort of a areach across the city.
You know, I run programscitywide.
So I think that's why it it feltlike the right fit as opposed to
running ward A.
And Brandy on my ticket is alsoa far better candidate than me
for for ward A.
And so, so that's that's reallyit.
And in terms of, I guess, youknow, who I am, you know, I
(11:57):
mean, I'm somebody that I workreally hard and I I really don't
like to fail.
That's sort of, I think, youknow, it's a double-edged sword,
right?
Like it's a good thing and it'sa it's also a curse.
But I work really hard tosucceed because the idea of
failure to me is like anathema,like pains me and gives me a lot
of anxiety.
(12:18):
So, you know, that being said, Ithink I'm somebody that I really
want to do a good job.
I want to succeed.
And I and I don't have, youknow, further ambitions.
Like really, I know people arelike, no, that's what everyone
says when they get intopolitics.
But truly, I am an arts producerthrough and through.
And that's what I'll, you know,do forever.
But I I do love this city and Iwant to throw my hat in and try
(12:40):
and and prove it where I feel Ican.
SPEAKER_00 (12:43):
So you you mentioned you mentioned you don't like
failing, which of course nobodylikes failing, but failure and
pain are some of our bestteachers.
We know that.
But in terms of if we're tospeak in terms of success, you
win this November, okay?
Now you're you're on the citycouncil and four years go by and
you're looking back on your fouryears at City Council.
What does success look like toyou?
What have you done that you canlook back and go, that's what I
(13:06):
came here to do?
SPEAKER_02 (13:07):
Yeah, that's interesting.
I mean, listen, like there'sspecific things I want to do
with the arts, like specificplans that I want to do with the
arts.
I want to, you know, increasethe arts trust fund.
I want to double it.
I want to try and double itevery year through private
foundations and philanthropicsupport.
But I mean, honestly, I I wantto feel like at the end of four
(13:28):
years, I've, you know, that I'veI've achieved a vision with a
group of people to make JerseyCity more livable for families.
That would that would be successto me.
If I feel like more families arekeeping their kids in the public
school system past pre-K, andI'm hearing feedback from folks
(13:48):
that Jersey City is a morelivable place to be, that would
be success because I think thatis the number one pressing
issue.
Quality of life, affordability,the schools.
So that that to me is where Iwill work and that's where I
will put my energy and efforts.
And again, you know, you nowthat I'm in this, and of course
I knew this before, but yourealize that so much is is
(14:11):
really dependent on who are whothe people are who are in these
seats and the decisions thatthey make.
And for me, you know, it's it'san interesting thing that we're,
you know, I we've been workingvery closely as a team, the
entire Jim McGreevy slate.
And now, you know, we're gettingcloser to the realization that,
oh, you know, there's apossibility that not everybody
will get on.
(14:32):
And so what does that look like?
Who you're working with?
But I think I'm the type ofperson who can build coalitions.
I can work with people that Imight not politically see eye to
eye with, but you know, I treateverybody with respect and I
know how to sort of bringdifferent stakeholders to the
table who have differing ideasand opinions.
So I'm hoping that whomever's upthere, I'll be the type of
(14:53):
person to be able to work withthem and get them sort of
aligned with hopefully what isthe ultimate vision and um and
actually get results.
Because this is what I hear allthe time.
And I know you guys talk aboutthis a lot too, is that there's
just so much lips lip servicepaid out there and not enough
people actually doing things.
(15:13):
So so that's sort of my, youknow, somewhat broad general
answer.
Um, but I think it it it's beinghonest because you know, some of
it's like you have to get in andlook under the hood and see
where we're at.
We're about to be in a seriousdeficit crunch.
It's gonna be, I've heard, ahundred million dollar deficit
for 2026.
(15:34):
So, you know, I think for meit's about making the best
decisions for the most amount ofpeople.
And that's what I want to do.
And I think I have theexperience, the skill set, the
know-how to be able to do thatand to guide Jersey City into
this next this You said twothings in that answer that I
that I wanted to touch on that Ithe both of which I liked.
SPEAKER_00 (15:55):
And and one was something that I'm not used to
hearing from candidates ingeneral, and it was very
specific to your niche of thearts and what you wanted to
accomplish with the arts.
And my first thought was, wow,that's that's very specific.
I wonder if people will resonatewith that that that aren't
engaged in the arts.
Yeah.
And the second was, no, this isthis is why she is in the race,
(16:18):
and it's specific to what sheknows, and it's probably exactly
what she can accomplish, which Ifind to be a more authentic
answer than than most, becausethis is what you know, this is
what you know how to do, andthis is what you can do with
that seat, which I I really likethat type of answer that's
that's narrowed down to yourspecific zone of genius.
SPEAKER_01 (16:39):
And I also think that Jersey City in itself, like
being here for 15 years, whatmakes Jersey City unique is the
art world, is the creativecommunity.
You know, you talk like oldschool downtown, like 150 Bay.
What was the uh name of that?
There was like a an artcommunity.
Yes.
And like, you know, people usedto talk to me about all the all
(17:01):
the artists that I used tointerview would talk to me about
how you know there's this wholecreative community before people
started moving here.
And it's it's what made JerseyCity special, really.
And sadly, you know, as morepeople move here because they
they w want the proximity.
And I and I'll be honest, that'sI moved to Jersey City 15 years
ago because I was paying, I wasliving in the Upper East Side
(17:23):
and I hated it.
And I came to Jersey City andthe rent was a little bit
cheaper.
I could get to work easily, andthen I discovered the community,
and that's where Chick PJC wasborn.
So I'm what one of those people,but I'm one of those people who
was like, I'm investing in thiscommunity and I'm gonna do my my
part.
Whereas a lot of people, theyjust come and they don't really,
they just use they just itbecomes a transient city.
(17:44):
But what Jersey City, what makesit special is the art community.
And that's why I've alwaysappreciated your work and the
and the work of many people inthe in the downtown uh Jersey
City like art community, uh themural program, all these things
for continuing the efforts.
So I think it's it's a big partof what makes us special.
SPEAKER_02 (18:02):
I do too.
And we don't want to lose that.
You know, we don't want to loseour creative community.
We don't.
We don't want to lose thecreative class here.
And because of the affordabilityissues, we're really we're in
real danger of losing that classof people.
And we have to fight for itbecause I think it, you know, if
if we're in this ecosystem whereit all, we're all affecting one
(18:23):
another, you know, like you justsaid, Lynn, it's what makes
Jersey City an attractive placeto be.
And, you know, we need toattract people in order to keep
the businesses running.
And, you know, even I know,like, you know, mentioning
developers is like a four-letterword in this race, but I don't
think it is because they havestake in this game.
(18:44):
They have skin in the game here.
And so, you know, if they wantto ensure that their buildings
are fully occupied with folkswho have the means to afford the
rents that they're charging, youhave to make sure that the
community at large is a placethat they want to be.
And not every spot is atransient spot.
I mean, Castor and Lofts, whereArt House used to reside
(19:06):
temporarily before the pandemicand we moved into our new, you
know, long-term home, um, isjust a very unique neighborhood
now in Jersey City.
It's all rental units.
But I was talking to somebodydown there yesterday, Becky, who
runs um the farmer's market downthere.
And, you know, she was, Ithought she had a just spot-on
(19:29):
calculation of what's happening,which is that, you know, I think
for a long time there was this,there was this sort of
understanding that folks wouldcycle in and out.
They'd be here for a few yearsbefore they moved to the
suburbs, or a few years beforethey moved back into the city.
But now people, just given theeconomics of everything, they're
(19:49):
a little stuck.
They're not able to afford thehouse that they want out in the
burbs.
They're not able to afford orthey don't want to go back into
New York City for, you know, asmaller footprint and higher
rents and a fourth floor walk-upor whatever it might be.
And so they're kind of here forthe long term in Jersey City.
That's kind of us.
That's us right now.
And so we need to really figureout okay, well, what then does
(20:13):
the neighborhood look like?
Where is where do they goshopping for groceries?
What's exciting for them to doat night?
I mean, you need to build aculture.
And I think the arts play alarge part in that in the local
economy.
And I think we need to beconsidered more.
I do.
I think that you know, and I'mhopeful that artists really see
(20:36):
my potential representation oncity council as their
representate representation oncity council.
SPEAKER_01 (20:42):
And yeah, I'm really hoping.
How is the artist communitytaken with your decision?
Have they like welcomed it?
Are they excited for you?
SPEAKER_02 (20:52):
Yeah, I think they are by and large.
I mean, I think, you know, Imean, I think they feel I think
they feel excited that I'm doingthis.
I also do feel to keep it 100%honest.
I think that they I think thatthere is a trepidation around
(21:13):
anyone who would want to dothis.
And I feel that deeply because Ithink I have some of that same
trepidation.
I have some of that same sort oflike, oh my gosh, why would you
want to be in this world?
That is so ugly at times.
It's like an ugly business.
But I hope that they know thatlike I'm not changing.
(21:33):
I'm the same person I'm going tobe.
And I hope that they can see nowthat I've been running, you
know, I've been running for thepast what, seven months?
And I think I've done it with alot of integrity.
And I'm certainly not gettinginto any of the nonsense.
I'm just staying true to who Iam and what I believe and why
I'm doing this.
So I hope that they can they canfeel some comfort knowing that
(21:54):
after that, like now they'vethey've seen me on this campaign
trail for a significant amountof time.
But yeah, I do think there's alittle bit of like, she wants to
be a politician now.
Like, who is she?
But um but I I mean, and again,I I hate I because I sound like
I'm completely conflictingmyself, and in some ways I am,
but that's whatever, that'shuman.
(22:16):
I don't feel like I'm apolitician, you know?
I just feel like I'm the sameperson, I have the same career,
but I am running for citycouncil because I believe I can
do a good job, I believe I canmake a difference, and I believe
I can serve both the artists'interests and you know the
greater cities' interests aswell.
How does your two two-year-oldfeel about it?
(22:39):
You know, he has no idea.
He has no idea.
He's definitely getting used tosaying like bye mommy a lot, you
know, which is a littlebreaking.
I know.
But it's it's uh my husband andI are in the thick of it now.
We're just like, it's anothermonth.
I mean, it might be another twomonths given the runoff.
SPEAKER_00 (22:57):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:58):
But yeah, things will slow down.
It will not be at the same pace.
Like, of course, city councilpeople are busy, they're going
to events, but this is on awhole nother level.
Like I'm going through.
SPEAKER_01 (23:07):
No, and the and the council meetings.
I don't how are you gonna getthrough these long council
meetings?
That's what I want to know.
I know people have asked me torun like in the past.
People are like, oh, you shouldrun, you know, like when I was
like living downtown.
And I was like, just me doingthe council meetings, absolutely
not.
I don't have the attention span.
(23:28):
I'm I'm not patient with people.
I'm impatient.
Like I would probably tellpeople to shut the fuck up, and
that's not very nice.
Because you're supposed tovalidate people.
SPEAKER_00 (23:36):
Yeah.
Yeah, I'd be people ask me,like, I got you can't do that.
I got asked to run twice andbrilliant.
SPEAKER_01 (23:42):
I don't know why people keep keep asking us.
People keep asking Tony or me.
It's the weirdest thing.
SPEAKER_00 (23:46):
Well, what you said was particularly interesting
because you were like, I stayout of the nonsense.
I love the nonsense.
I thrive in nonsense.
I'll do that all day long.
And if I did actually win, therewould be nobody left for me to
work with because I burned burnsgreat.
SPEAKER_01 (24:01):
I would take a flamethrower to everybody, and
by the end of it, even if I won,it the He he's been blocked by
probably like thirty percent ofthe people currently running.
SPEAKER_00 (24:11):
I've been blocked by three candidates, which I
believe by law, if they win,they have to unblock me because
I don't think you can blockpeople from an official official
account that you use forcampaigning.
SPEAKER_02 (24:21):
Good to know.
I'm gonna double check on that.
SPEAKER_00 (24:23):
But I don't I don't one of them will probably win at
least.
But I'm not gonna mention nameshere.
I'll probably blast it out on onsocial media again at some
point, whatever.
But the other the other part ofit is is like I I don't have I
don't have the voice that I wantto represent everybody.
I want to represent the thingsthat I care about right now, and
(24:43):
and that's about it.
Like I don't and I'm I'm awareof it too.
Like I don't want to speak foreveryone.
I don't want to representeveryone.
I don't think I'm as effectiveif I if I'm beholden to to
literally considering everyone,which I can do, but that's not
where I am right now.
So I would never consider it.
SPEAKER_01 (24:58):
And I've dealt with enough local drama that I could
really that I'm reallyinterested, you know?
SPEAKER_00 (25:06):
Yeah.
And so what is worth, Meredith?
You do not read like apolitician.
SPEAKER_01 (25:10):
You're not.
Yeah.
I was surprised.
When I saw your name, I waslike, oh wow.
Like, because I know you fromart house, you know, and and I I
know you like she must reallywant.
And my first reaction was like,she must really care and want
change, you know, because that'swhat I would do too.
Of course I want change, but Idon't I don't have the capacity
to do it, but I I appreciatewhat you're doing because I get
(25:31):
it.
Because you get frustrated.
It's like you feel like, arethey doing what are you doing?
Like, are you doing anything?
Spending your time on, you know,like I see, and I'm not gonna
name names, but I see currentcouncil people just spending
time on things that aren'tmoving the needle forward for
our community because they wantclicks.
Because they want clicks, theywant votes, and it's
(25:51):
frustrating.
And it's like, why are youspending time on things that
don't, you know, that don't helpus in any way?
And it's like, what have youdone in the past four or eight
years?
What have you accomplished?
I have no idea.
And I appreciate a womanstanding up and like, I'm I'm
gonna do something about this,you know?
SPEAKER_00 (26:09):
So seven months in, is this what you thought it was
gonna be?
SPEAKER_02 (26:12):
I knew it was going to be very intense.
My husband, I think, thought itwould be contained that I would
only campaign on the weekendsand maybe a couple nights a
week.
I knew and I tried to preparehim.
I said, it's gonna be full on.
Um and it is full on.
And it just, you know, kicked upa notch in October.
(26:32):
But I have to say, I adorecanvassing.
Like I love it.
I love, like I have never Ivolunteered phone banking before
for Obama and Hillary and yeah,but I had never canvassed with
any candidate.
I always thought that it wouldbe, I'd be very awkward.
And, you know, you're knockingon people's.
I just feel like we things havealso changed.
(26:54):
I think like we're I'm an oldermillennial.
I think you guys are too.
And you know, like we just don'tdo that as millennials.
That's just like we I haveanxiety.
SPEAKER_01 (27:02):
Yeah, I have anxiety making a phone call.
SPEAKER_00 (27:04):
Yeah, if you call me on the phone, I'm like, why
you're a weirdo.
Don't don't call me, text mefirst, please.
SPEAKER_02 (27:09):
Well, yeah, I mean, I actually am a phone person.
Every like my staff, they arenot phone people, and they're
always like, you are on thephone constantly, but but I am
certainly not a I'm gonna justpop in and say hello person.
Like my family, like we're justnot pop-in people, you know.
So in the beginning it was kindof like, you know, be soft.
But now I love it.
And it's shocking to me howpeople love it too.
(27:31):
They love to sort of meet thecandidates and to they and they
get right into the heart of it.
Like they tell you immediatelywhat their concerns are, and I
think it's cathartic for them.
And it's just it's just great tomake that, you know, in-person
connection with people.
Um, and you know, I thought Iknew the city.
(27:51):
I'm fourth generation.
I've been around and no, like Ididn't I didn't know the city.
I now know the city in a wholenew way.
Walking it block by block.
I mean, and and you know, again,it's kind of cliche.
We talk about the diversity inJersey City all the time, but it
is oh my god, it truly is themost diverse city in America.
(28:15):
And uh, and that is a gift toall of us.
And so I enjoy that immensely.
The events and sort of poppingaround and trying to make these
like calculated appearances andand trying to like, you know,
have a connection in 20 minuteswith the person who's running
the thing is that's not myfavorite part.
But uh but yeah, but I I thinkit it's a privilege to run.
(28:36):
It really is.
And honestly, I know, I mean, Itotally respect what you both
just said that you sort of haveyou have a very clear agenda of
the activism that you areembarking upon.
And and I find myself to be moreof a convener and a collaborator
and uh, okay, we have these veryopposing views.
How do we move forward?
SPEAKER_00 (28:58):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (29:00):
So yeah, that's why I think I'll be, you know, I
think I'm well suited and um andand and I think that's a great
answer.
But to everything you see, I'm abridge burner.
Yeah.
And I and he her name, her lastname is is Burns.
My last name is Burns, it'strue.
Yeah, and I'm from a family offirefighters, so I guess that's
you know No way.
(29:21):
Yeah, so last name is destiny,yeah.
But no, I mean, I I hear you andI hear that on the campaign
trail all the time about currentcouncil candidates.
And I I try and be compassionateand understanding and
magnanimous about when I hearthat, well, this person has done
nothing for me, or I they'vebeen in in whatever in that seat
(29:41):
for 12 years, and what have theydone?
Because I understand that it'snot just them, right?
Like they are voting as a groupand the majority wins, and you
know, so I get that it'sdifficult, but I do think that
we need to do a better job ofcommunicating um with our, you
know.
Know with our residents aboutwhat it is that we are doing and
(30:03):
accomplishing.
And you know, we just need to beout there more.
And I think the currentadministration for a lot of
different reasons just has notbeen, especially in the past
four years.
So I know that our ticket,especially Jim McGreevy, he
wants to be out there all thetime.
I mean, he loves it.
We love him.
SPEAKER_01 (30:22):
He's great.
I mean, he's very clear thatwe're, you know, he's our guy.
SPEAKER_00 (30:26):
Yeah.
I mean, listen, full disclosurefor everybody.
Are you kidding?
SPEAKER_01 (30:30):
Yeah, we are we are big.
SPEAKER_00 (30:32):
No, we're we're 100% all in on McGreevy for our
listeners.
We are not paid.
We have not dime.
We have no official role in thecampaign.
SPEAKER_01 (30:40):
We've also been like we haven't been podcasting.
Like we're in our mom and dadera, and you know, we podcasted
our birth story, and then wewanted to talk to you and and
see if other candidates wantedto talk.
Like we're not we're not we havenothing.
SPEAKER_00 (30:54):
Yeah.
We we want we want Jim to win.
I am completely open tointerviewing people from any,
any, literally any slate.
SPEAKER_01 (31:02):
I think some people are not gonna want to talk to
you.
SPEAKER_00 (31:04):
That's fine.
I don't care.
But I I will I listen, theinvitation is there.
I will talk to anybody, I willdebate ideas with anybody, but
I'm full on with I I know I'mvoting for in the mayoral race.
There are some gaps I'm fillingelsewhere, but I know who I'm
voting for for mayor.
And this is kind of the idea islike I am chronically online.
(31:25):
I study, I read every HudsonCounty Chronicles, Hudson County
View, uh Jersey City Times.
I read every every single thing.
So I'm probably more informed onlocal politics than a lot of
people, and I still don't knowall the candidates, and I still
don't know who I'm gonna votefor across the board.
So we figured we'd give someinsights to candidates that are
(31:46):
willing to come on and and youknow tell us a little bit about
themselves because how do youhow do you wrap your head around
all these candidates?
It's next to impossible.
Yeah.
So the other thing that I was Iwanted to go back to is that
what I liked hearing and what Iwhat I've seen, what I've
witnessed is how cohesive yourslate seems to be in terms of
(32:07):
like you guys do really you allseem like a team and you you do
seem to ride for each other in avery, very meaningful way.
And we know candidates on otherslates where if we challenge
them on the slate, they're like,oh well, you know, I just had to
pick one because you can't runindependent, and we had to we
had to go with somebody in orderto stand a chance.
And it's like you don't have towait to vote for them, you know,
(32:28):
wink wink.
And it's like uh okay.
SPEAKER_01 (32:31):
It's so icky, it's like the weirdest thing.
I don't like that either.
That feels like a common thing.
We've heard that yeah, we'veheard that like twice already.
SPEAKER_00 (32:38):
I've heard it multiple times.
SPEAKER_01 (32:40):
And it's just like it gives us the ick.
SPEAKER_00 (32:41):
It's like I've heard it multiple times in the
assembly race uh with thoseslates, and I've heard it
multiple times now in themayoral race, like well, you
know, like you don't have tovote for him, you can just vote.
It's like, well, but you willyou picked your slate for a
reason, presumably.
And if you only picked it to getyour profile raised, that's on
you.
You're still tied to that wagon.
If you picked it because youbelieve in it, then stand on it
(33:02):
and say, no, I back my guybecause or girl because that's
who I believe in.
Yeah.
Um, and that's not what I'mhearing in a lot of camps, uh,
but what I heard from you nowtwice unsolicited was how much
you enjoy being on your ticketand who you're around.
So how did how did you how didyou get involved with Jim
specifically and and become apart of his ticket?
SPEAKER_02 (33:24):
Well, I really not know Jim at all.
He he came to the ribbon cuttingat Art House.
I saw him, there was a lot ofpeople there, and he was across
the room.
I was like, wow, oh, that's theformer governor.
And then we never connected umthat day.
He later showed up to severalother art house events and we
sort of chatted a little bit.
And then I went to a meet andgreet that he had at Port
(33:48):
Liberté.
And I sort of challenged him onsome things as he was chatting
about what he'd do for the city.
And then shortly after that, hecontacted me and said, you know,
would you run at large on myticket?
And I said, I said, I don'tthink so.
I was like, I don't think thisis really for me at this time.
Um but he said, just you know,give it some thought.
And it was over the holidays,and uh, and that's when I spent
(34:09):
time talking to my family.
And they said, you know, youshould really do this.
But I'm so glad I did becauseI've learned so much from Jim as
a leader.
Um he's taught me a lot.
He's a he's a class act.
He is such a class act.
He really is, and I like the wayhe I think in all candid candor
(34:30):
that I as a woman, as a womanboss, oh Ari.
SPEAKER_00 (34:34):
So he's like, wrap it up, guys.
SPEAKER_02 (34:36):
Yeah.
Oh my goodness.
Well, I'll just say that I'velearned a lot from him.
And then when I met the rest ofthe team, I I it's just a team
of good-hearted people.
Like you just feel it across theboard.
And I feel like I have seven uheight new friends, you know, for
life.
People that I can really counton, rely on.
(34:59):
They're just loyal, good,quality people who care deeply
about this city, who havealready been doing the work in
the community helping people.
They're not doing it to raisetheir pro.
It's not it's just not that kindof ticket.
I mean, so I I really and I justfeel like there's not a ton of
ego on our team.
I really there's like no diva inthe room.
(35:20):
And I I really like that becauseI have a difficult time when
there's sort of like aproblematic, you know,
personality in the room that'staking over and makes it all
about them.
And we don't have that on ourticket at all.
It's just, yeah, I can'trecommend any of them enough.
I really do feel like they arethe best choice for Jersey City.
So I hope everyone will do theirresearch and take a look and you
(35:43):
know, in my humble opinion, voteMcGreavy.
Well sorry, I'm sorry, and Ican't.
SPEAKER_01 (35:48):
We really why don't you uh finish up?
I'll take her.
Yeah, she's gonna so nicetalking to you.
Likewise, my boss.
Of course.
So I'll let you guys finish up.
SPEAKER_00 (35:59):
Yeah, I only had like one more thing I kind of
wanted to touch on because likeI I think I think it matters to
a lot of people, and and that islike obviously with a body of
work as large as Jim McGreeby's,you you have the things that
people are going to bring up andand beat him over the head with,
and presumably you too, as thecampaign goes on.
(36:21):
What what do you say to peoplethat are like, well, this this
happened and he got he left indisgrace and all these things,
and he takes contributions fromXYZ and all like how do you
reconcile some of the criticismsthat come his way?
I know how I do, uh, but I'mcurious as a candidate on his
ticket how you how you respondto some of that.
SPEAKER_02 (36:39):
Yeah, I mean, it's very frustrating to me because I
think, you know, all of thedetails get left out.
And I think there's just so muchmisinformation out there about
what happened, about thedecisions he made.
But all I can say, because Jimalways, you know, I think Jim's
oh good, I can finally see younow, Tony.
You know, Jim is very cognizantof not being defensive.
(37:02):
And uh, so you know, but I willjust say that I think this is a
person who owned his mistakes.
He didn't, you know, continue toserve as governor after he'd
very publicly admitted to hismistakes.
He stepped down.
I mean, that's somebody who ownsit and says, you're right.
I've lost your trust, I'mleaving.
(37:22):
And this is somebody who, youknow, didn't go on to corporate
America or whatever.
He went to re-entry.
He built New Jersey reentry,which serves court involved
people, immigrants, veterans,addicts, victims of domestic
violence.
He has 13 locations across NewJersey doing job training, legal
(37:44):
aid, housing placement.
I mean, that's significant realwork working with our most
forgotten about populations.
That is somebody who is in thethick of it.
And I respect that tremendously.
And I do not want to live in aworld in general where people
are irredeemable, where peoplemake mistakes and then that's
(38:04):
it.
We just toss them aside and theyhave to what?
We have to bring people backinto the fold.
And I think Jim has redeemedhimself.
I think his reasons for wantingto do this are legitimate.
And I think he loves JerseyCity.
I think for him, talks aboutthis a lot on the campaign trail
that he, you know, he has plentyof guys that he's worked with
(38:27):
who are court involved fromJersey City who, after they come
out of prison, can no longerafford to move back to Jersey
City where their families andsupport system are.
And there's a real problemthere.
And I think for him, this isreally legacy.
He wants to do a great job.
He doesn't have any futureambitions, right?
He wants to walk down the hillas he says.
(38:48):
Those are his words.
And I think he wants to feellike, okay, I have, I have done
a job, you know, job well donehere in Jersey City, the home of
my family, my parents, mygrandparents.
So I really believe in Jim.
I believe in his leadership.
I believe that he is the bestperson for this job, frankly.
I think we're lucky to havesomebody with his level of
(39:10):
experience wanting to do this.
And I wish more people would beopen to that.
And it upsets me that I feellike some of our most
apparently, you know,progressive people are kind of
closed-minded when it comes tothis.
And that, you know, that upsetsme.
But of course, everyone isentitled to their opinion.
And but I just think we shouldbe, we should be open to the
(39:32):
fact that Jim McGreevy deservesa second chance.
He's done great work.
And and I think he's gonna be.
I mean, I I hope he's going towin.
And I I think if he does win,I'm really hoping that the proof
will be in the pudding then,right?
People will see the results,they'll see the city change for
the better.
And I hope that they will changetheir minds eventually and open
(39:53):
their hearts to to him and thethe entire, you know, the entire
ticket.
Hopefully we all get on.
SPEAKER_00 (39:59):
Yeah, listen, we're we're rooting for you.
I think the criticism, I mean,fair game to criticize criticize
anybody, criticize a candidate,criticize whatever, but you and
I are both in a unique positionof sobriety where if I was if I
was measured today by the thingsI did 10, 11 years ago, what are
we talking about?
I would, you know, there wouldbe can cannon fodder.
(40:20):
Like I've I've made numerousmistakes in my life that are
some some that I will neverrepeat again simply because of
the growth that I've had, andthat's just over 10 years.
So, you know, some of that stuffis just like, yeah, I understand
why you want to talk about it,but at the same time, like your
house is glass for sure.
Like, let's be honest.
SPEAKER_02 (40:40):
Like we've all made mistakes, and it doesn't take
away the fact that he is, Ithink, an amazing leader.
You know, I think we need tosort of recognize that that he
has unique skills that I thinkare are really well suited to
take us out of some of the messthat we're in here.
And I I feel that way.
Thank you, Tony, for sort ofmentioning that, because that is
(41:02):
a unique part of my journeywhere, yeah, for sure.
I, you know, I'm I'm an AA, Ithink you're an AA.
And you know, you hear storiesall the time and you see the
transformation, and we can'tgive up on people.
We just can't.
What kind of society is that ifwe just give up on people for
the mistakes that they've madeor the regrets that they have?
(41:23):
So and I feel the same way.
Um I've personally changed, youknow, so much in my own life.
And so I know it's possible.
Change, change, redemption ispossible.
And so I hope that I hope thatother folks can eventually open
their hearts to that.
SPEAKER_00 (41:39):
Yeah.
I would I would say change andredemption are not only
possible, that for most peoplethey're inevitable.
If you're leading a life of anysort of purpose or mission,
those things are just gonna bepart of the recipe.
If they aren't, then I don'tknow.
I I want to say if they aren't,you're not pushing hard enough.
So that's kind of where I landon it.
And as far as I'll just put thisdown on tape just to have it,
(42:02):
the criticism of him taking dondonations from Republicans is
one of the craziest criticisms II can imagine because what
you're essentially saying islike not only do I disagree with
their political viewpoint, Iview them as so other than me
that it's repulsive that theywould even be allowed to give
money to a candidate that's in athat's a Democrat in Jersey
(42:24):
City, which is I listen, I'm aregistered Democrat, but I I am
by no means like very far leftat all.
But the idea of any of thecandidates taking money from
somebody that I might not agreewith politically is like, I
don't, I don't care.
Like, do everything you have todo to win and get your and get
yourself in a position to makethe change that you want to
(42:44):
make.
I don't like this like uh thispearl clutching over where the
money comes from.
I agreed there are probably someplaces that you wouldn't want to
see, but like I don't care if ifa candidate takes a money money
from a Republican.
Like I might change myregistration now and donate to
to everyone else as aRepublican, just so I can say
that everybody took donationsfrom Republicans and they can
just shut up about it.
(43:05):
But it's you are an agitator.
SPEAKER_02 (43:07):
I love it.
SPEAKER_00 (43:08):
A little bit, yes.
SPEAKER_02 (43:09):
I I just think it's a slippery slope and and where
does it end?
Do we are we okay with, youknow, sort of differentiating by
type, but not by degree, right?
What if somebody is more of aDemocrat or they have certain
opinions about, you know,undocumented pe is that okay?
Or, you know, like where wheredoes it end?
(43:31):
Where does it begin and wheredoes it end?
I mean, ultimately, this is anonpartisan race.
And I just think that I knowsome of the Republicans who've
actually been skewered for, youknow, the MAGA Republicans.
And some of them are justindependents, right?
They're not actual Yeah, yeah.
And they donate to a lot ofdifferent campaigns, right?
(43:55):
And that doesn't necessarilymean, you know, I think what
frustrates me so much too in therhetoric is like that means he's
going to do everything they wanthim to do.
Like, that's not what thatmeans.
SPEAKER_00 (44:06):
You know, it's not what a$5,000 donation gets you.
Let's be honest.
Like you don't get to call theshots for the phone.
He gets a phone donating five.
You don't you don't get to callin a bunch of favors for that.
It's just not that's not how itworks at all.
SPEAKER_02 (44:18):
I should just say something that is like because
I'm not for money, I'm from aworking class family.
I just think that and and Jim'snot for money, he's from a
working class family.
And I just think if we get intothis again, slippery slope,
where does it begin, where doesit end, of who we allow to
donate to campaigns, then theonly people who are going to be
able to run for office arepeople who are independently
(44:41):
wealthy.
And I don't think that's reallyfair.
SPEAKER_00 (44:44):
No, and I can only I can only think of one off the
top of my head that that wouldbenefit.
So other than that, do you knowwhat I mean?
SPEAKER_02 (44:50):
It's it's not fair that, oh, well, you can make
sort of these you can have theseprinciples, but but you can have
those principles because they'reeasy principles to have right.
Because if you just have afamily that's going to bankroll
your whole campaign, then so doyou know what I mean?
Like, and again, like no one noone is in charge of who they
(45:11):
were born to or how they werebrought.
Like that's not but at the sametime, I think I do think that
this has gotten twisted.
I think it is it's just typicalpolitics that have used this as
a way to sort of paint Jim assomething other than a Democrat
who helps the most forgottenabout populations.
MAGA, I mean, my understanding,my broad understand, and I I
(45:33):
just hate the sort ofgeneralization across the board,
but I just, you know, JimMcGreevy is not MAGA.
He's just not MAGA.
And he is, you know, he's not,and I don't want to speak for
him because I know, but I'mtelling you, the man is not in
the pocket of Trump.
He's just not.
And he wants to do a good jobfor Jersey City.
(45:54):
He wants to, you know, as hesort of says, the Fiorello
LaGuardia quote of, you know,there's no Republican or
Democratic way to fill apothole.
And that's what we're doinghere.
We're making this city work.
We're getting back to basics.
We're talking aboutinfrastructure and the school
system and taxes and the artsand community and workforce
(46:14):
housing and affordable housingand making that all possible for
people.
So to sort of get in this, Ithink, ridiculous whatever,
political fight about whether ornot Jim McGreevy is MAGA is to
me just ridiculous.
SPEAKER_00 (46:27):
It's ridiculous, but it's effective.
And that's why I wanted to talkabout it.
Because if we're talking aboutwhether or not Jim McGreevy's
MAGA, then we're not talkingabout how good he could be as a
mayor.
And and so that's I understandif I was on that side, I would
be doing the same thing.
Like as a as a tactician, Iwould absolutely I would drag
that out and and get as muchmileage out of it as I can.
(46:47):
But at the same time, like Ithink that what you're all's
messaging behind that is is likeit doesn't matter because it's
not well, we know that.
We know it's not true, but butregardless of whether or not we
think it's true, the perceptionrules whatever people are going
to is how people are going to beswayed.
So truth doesn't really matterin this moment.
What I like doing is saying, youfind it true, great, you don't
(47:09):
think it's true, great.
What I'm telling you is itdoesn't matter one way or the
other.
It doesn't affect thegovernance, it doesn't affect
how Jersey City is going to beran.
Trump isn't coming into JerseyCity to tell anybody X, Y, Z,
because none of it matters.
Yeah.
Like it doesn't matter.
Like that, that's what I thinkis like the the biggest way to
combat it because you're notgoing to convince people that
already think it's true thatit's not true.
(47:30):
Yeah.
And you're not going to convincepeople that think it's untrue
that it is true.
What you can convince people ofis that none of it matters.
It doesn't matter at the end ofthe day.
It doesn't matter that when hesits in that chair, whether he
has Republicans behind him orDemocrats behind him, it's can
he be effective at delivering onthe things that he said he was
going to do?
And that's about it.
SPEAKER_02 (47:48):
A thousand percent.
I think you're spot on.
SPEAKER_00 (47:49):
Yeah.
I generally think I'm sp- I'mjust kidding.
Meredith, thank you so much.
Your my first impression of youwas a video where you were you
were very down to earth and youwere even self-deprecating.
You were, I think you weretalking about your teeth, which
I I don't even remember why youwere making fun of your your
smile or something, because Iwas like, oh, that's funny and
and endearing, but at the sametime, not something that it
(48:10):
would have ever occurred to meelsewhere.
But you come across as very downto earth and in it for the right
reasons.
And even after a long-formconversation, I still hold that
opinion of you.
Um, and I want to thank you verymuch for your time.
SPEAKER_02 (48:23):
Yeah, thank you.
I still appreciate it.
Both doing this.
Yeah, and I feel the same way.
So thank you.
And I know my gosh, you weren'tin those like early months with
a newborn.
So I appreciate it even morethat you've decided to do this.
And I hope everybody comes onand talks to you.
I really do.
SPEAKER_00 (48:41):
Yeah, we're gonna we'll take as many as as many as
are willing, I'll make time for.
Like that's my that's mypromise.
And I won't get everybody,obviously.
But listen, the door is open, soif people want to take advantage
of it, great.
If they don't, that's fine too.
Yeah.
But I'm glad you did, and I'mglad you got to kick it off for
us.
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