Resources and Services
North Bergen’s official website [1] has an extensive display of information regarding how the town is run. Under the section called Departments, information about parks and public property, public affairs which includes information about community service, court, and the health department to name a few, public safety which includes information about alcoholic beverage control and the Office of Emergency Management to name a few, public works, and revenue and finance. What mainly caught my eye is their Health Department page. This page contains information about food pantries and soup kitchens, and Hudson County’s resources to “prevent and end homelessness.” This page additionally contains lots of decisions made to help stop the spread of COVID-19. What is excellent is that the list of emergency resources is posted both in English and in Spanish, catering to the larger ethnic proportions of North Bergen’s population. It contains many phone numbers to call, depending on what kind of emergency one is facing, such as domestic violence, or living with HIV/AIDS. They also include numbers to call for Mental Health and Social Services for the homeless, and also for those who are unemployed to seek various options and solutions. The phone numbers for shelters, Hudson Country Welfare, and even the Hudson Pride Center for LGBTQ+ is also included. This poster contains an expansive amount of resources that cater to many social issues. These lists the website pages include can help any struggling person, immigrant or native.
There is a page on their website called “Hispanic Affairs” which provides resources needed to apply for citizenship and to renew or replace a green card. According to Phil Swibinski, the township spokesman of North Bergen, the immigrant population of North Bergen mainly comprised of Cubans, but it has grown to include other Hispanic nationalities as well such as Dominicans and Central Americans [14]. The page called Hispanic Affairs lists the prerequisites and required steps to follow, such as even being a “person of good moral character,” having “a basic knowledge of U.S. government” and being “able to read, write, and speak basic English.” It includes the link to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services [2] as well. Aside from the services listed on their website, North Bergen additionally has immigration lawyers [3] and immigration legal aid and Pro Bono services [4].
West New York’s official website [5] also has information in their health department page about COVID-19. This page additionally has a list of numbers to call to talk to services such as Poison Control, the Psychiatric/Crisis Hotline, the Adult Protective Services, and the West New York Police Department. They have a smaller list than the one North Bergen has on their website, but nevertheless, the numbers to these resources are easy to reach in case of an emergency. West New York’s website does not have a page about Hispanic affairs but it does have a page for their Cultural Affairs Office in addition to their Recreation Office, offices that ensure that there are events for the entire community to enjoy at reasonable prices. Like North Bergen, West New York also has immigration lawyers [6] along with immigration legal aid and Pro Bono services [7].
Union City’s official website [8] also has health, emergency medical, and utilities services. They also have a page that allows citizens to fill out a Citizen Service Request Form to report issues such as crime concerns, street issues, and property maintenance issues. They additionally have recreation page that mentions their parks and pools for the who community to gather together. As claimed on their Police Department website page, Union City is known to be one of the most heavily populated cities in the nation; hence, their police department is ready for any concerns that face them in order to ensure safety and protection. Union City also lists the hospitals that are nearby on their health department page along with nursing homes and adult medical day care centers. They do not have an extensive list of phone numbers to different service facilities, but they provide an ample amount of assistance for those who need it. They also host a Hispanic Heritage Month Festival that has free admission. There is a Union City Immigration Center, and immigration lawyers [9] along with immigration legal aid and Pro Bono services also exist in this city [10].
Jersey City’s official website [11] has community pages that comprise of information on art and culture, diversity, health and human services, recreation, their Resident Response Center, and sanitation and recycling to name a few. Moreover, under City Hall, they display information on affordable housing, agencies, financial reports, health and human services, human resources, and public safety to also name a few. Under their Jobs website section, information on their human resources, their Grow Forward Program, and internship, job, and volunteer listings are available. Their website additionally has a page for information about their Division of Immigrant Affairs which is at the Department of Health & Human Services and whose purpose is to assist immigrants in their journey of assimilating the ways of America. It offers help on how to fill out immigration forms, and finding lawyers and services such as those under health and wellness and those that offer English classes.
They claim on their Diversity page that Jersey City is the most diverse city in New Jersey and is apparently the second most diverse in the United States. Jersey City is “a melting pot of nations, ethnicities, and cultural traditions, ” and for this reason, it earned the name “America’s ‘Golden Door.'” This city embraces its history especially because of its proximity to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Jersey City also has the contact information for their Office of Cultural Affairs along with their Office of Diversity and Inclusion which promotes equality and fair treatment towards all people. Their Community website page talks briefly about what Jersey City is most famous for: their history and diversity. The City of Jersey City used to be a city run by working immigrants in shipping and manufacturing industries. Due to modernity, it developed into a metropolis. They continue to embrace their history by not getting rid of the old rundown factories, but rather, by repurposing them into other facilities such as offices and houses. This city’s profound reputation has driven those who lead the city to do everything they can to make all their citizens, both immigrants and natives, feel belonged and welcomed. Immigration lawyers [12] and immigration legal aid and Pro Bono services also exist in this city [13].
Bibliography:
[1] “The Township of North Bergen” The Official Website of The Township of North Bergen, NJ, The Township of North Bergen, NJ, www.northbergen.org/.
[2] “Homepage.” USCIS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, www.uscis.gov/.
[3] “North Bergen Immigration Lawyers.” Justia Lawyers, Justia, www.justia.com/lawyers/immigration-law/new-jersey/north-bergen.
[4] “North Bergen Immigration Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services .” Justia Lawyers, Justia, www.justia.com/lawyers/immigration-law/new-jersey/north-bergen/legal-aid-and-pro-bono-services.
[5] “The Official Website of The Town of West New York, NJ – Home.” The Official Website of The Town of West New York, NJ – Home, The Town of West New York, NJ, www.westnewyorknj.org/.
[6] “West New York Immigration Lawyers.” Justia Lawyers, Justia, www.justia.com/lawyers/immigration-law/new-jersey/west-new-york.
[7] “West New York Immigration Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services .” Justia Lawyers, Justia, www.justia.com/lawyers/immigration-law/new-jersey/west-new-york/legal-aid-and-pro-bono-services.
[8] “City of Union City, NJ – Official Website : Home.” Union City, NJ, City of Union City, www.ucnj.com/.
[9] Union City Immigration Lawyers.” Justia Lawyers, Justia, www.justia.com/lawyers/immigration-law/new-jersey/union-city.
[10] “Union City Immigration Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services .” Justia Lawyers, Justia, www.justia.com/lawyers/immigration-law/new-jersey/union-city/legal-aid-and-pro-bono-services.
[11] “Home – City of Jersey City.” Jersey City, City of Jersey City, jerseycitynj.gov/.
[12] “Jersey City Immigration Lawyers.” Justia Lawyers, Justia, www.justia.com/lawyers/immigration-law/new-jersey/jersey-city.
[13] “Jersey City Immigration Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services .” Justia Lawyers, Justia, www.justia.com/lawyers/immigration-law/new-jersey/jersey-city/legal-aid-and-pro-bono-services.
[14] Herzog, Laura. “North Bergen’s Immigrants Seek Answers, Citizenship.” Nj.com, Advance Local Media LLC, 11 Feb. 2015, www.nj.com/hudson/2015/02/north_bergen_immigration_new_laws_citizenship.html.