This why the Passaic County Jail consolidation plan is a win-win | Opinion

Keith Kazmark
Updated ·2 min read

When you serve as mayor — regardless of which party you are affiliated with, what part of the county you are from, or who your constituency is — one thing we all have in common is putting the taxpayer first. It may sound cliché, but the truth is, if protecting the taxpayer is not your top priority, you don’t belong in the mayor’s office — anywhere.

That brings up the topic of the Passaic County Jail. 

After much discussion with various stakeholders and a task force review — which included elected officials, state and local union officials, representatives from law enforcement, the judiciary and the community — the Passaic County Board of Commissioners decided to relocate inmates from one of the oldest jails in the state in Paterson to facilities in Bergen and Hudson counties, through shared service agreements. Mayors were also consulted and brought up to speed about the plan along the way.

The Passaic County Jail on September 15, 2021.
The Passaic County Jail on September 15, 2021.

Here are the facts as to why the mayors in Passaic County collectively supported the plan:

  1. The Passaic County jail was old and inefficient, and the county had two choices — build a new jail at a cost of $550 million to $650 million (at a different location than the current one as there is not enough square footage to accommodate current standards) or consolidate with other counties. They chose the latter.

  2. None of the 16 mayors in Passaic County wanted a new jail built in their town. Additionally, no taxpayer wants to pay the $650 million to build it.

  3. If you are an employee, inmate or family member of an inmate, the facility conditions in Bergen and Hudson are far better than the jail in Paterson. They are newer, cleaner and safer.

  4. Passaic County will need to build a smaller processing hub on a section of the site where the current jail sits to process those arrested before they are transported to a neighboring county, at a fraction of the cost of a new jail.

  5. Until it is built, processing will occur at the sheriff’s office on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne. This is the same processing that happens at every one of our police departments in all 16 towns in the county.

This entire consolidation plan is a win-win for everyone — with the taxpayer being the biggest winner.

Yes, it is a change. Yes, with change there are always questions — and there should be. And answers must be provided by county leaders. However, rarely in government is there a win all the way around. Here, there is.

A new jail doesn’t have to be built at an astronomical cost and neighboring counties can accommodate Passaic County’s inmates in better facilities.

Passaic County residents should consider it as a big win for everyone.

Keith Kazmark was, until this month, the mayor of Woodland Park. He is now village manager of Ridgewood.

Mayor Keith Kazmark served at his final Woodland Park Borough Council meeting on June 21, 2023, before his departure on July 9 to assume the position of village manager of Ridgewood on July 10. The Council presented him with a plaque that included the key to Woodland Park in recognition of his 22 years of service.
Mayor Keith Kazmark served at his final Woodland Park Borough Council meeting on June 21, 2023, before his departure on July 9 to assume the position of village manager of Ridgewood on July 10. The Council presented him with a plaque that included the key to Woodland Park in recognition of his 22 years of service.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic County NJ jail consolidation plan is a win-win