Located north of Newark on the Passaic River, it was first settled in 1678 by Dutch traders, as Acquackanonk Township. The city and river get their name from the Lenape word "pahsayèk" which has been variously attributed to mean "valley" or "place where the land splits."[30][31][32][33]
History
Main Avenue in 1911
The city originated from a Dutch settlement on the Passaic River established in 1679 which was called Acquackanonk. Industrial growth began in the 19th century, as Passaic became a textile and metalworking center.
A commercial center formed around a wharf at the foot of present-day Main Avenue. This came to be commonly known as Acquackanonk Landing, and the settlement that grew around it became known as the Village of Acquackanonk Landing or simply Acquackanonk Landing Settlement.[34][35][36] In 1854 Alfred Speer (later owner of the city's first newspaper[37] and public hall) and Judge Henry Simmons were the principals in a political battle over the naming of village. Simmons wished to keep the old name while Speer wanted to simplify it to Passaic Village. Speer was losing the battle however he convinced the U.S. Postmaster General to adopt the name, and hung a Passaic sign at the local railroad depot. The de facto name change was effective.[38]
Passaic was formed as an unincorporated village within Acquackanonk Township (now Clifton) on March 10, 1869. It was incorporated as an independent village on March 21, 1871. Passaic was chartered as a city on April 2, 1873.[39] The Okonite company owned an industrial site here from 1878 to 1993. It was the company's headquarters and primary manufacturing plant for most of the company's history. Early uses of the company's insulated wires include some of the earliest telegraph cables, and the wiring for Thomas Edison's first generating plant, Pearl Street Station in Lower Manhattan.[40][41][42][43][44][45] The property was then turned into a furniture factory, whose owners have been attempting to redevelop the property into an upscale mall since 2015.[46]
The 1926 Passaic Textile Strike led by union organizer Albert Weisbord saw 36,000 mill workers leave their jobs to oppose wage cuts demanded by the textile industry. The workers successfully fought to keep their wages unchanged but did not receive recognition of their union by the mill owners.[47][48]
Passaic has been called "The Birthplace of Television".[49] In 1931, experimental television station W2XCD began transmitting from DeForest Radio Corporation in Passaic. It has been called the first television station to transmit to the home, and was the first such station to broadcast a feature film. Allen B. DuMont, formerly DeForest's chief engineer, opened pioneering TV manufacturer DuMont Laboratories in Passaic in 1937, and started the DuMont Television Network, the world's first commercial television network, in 1946.
In 1992, the voters of Passaic Township in Morris County voted to change the name of their municipality to Long Hill Township, to avoid confusion between the City of Passaic and the largely rural community 22 miles (35 km) away, as well as association with the more urban city.[50]
Passaic is served by two regional newspapers, The Record and Herald News which are both owned by the Gannett company and its predecessor North Jersey Media Group.
The city previously had many of its own newspaper companies, among them Speer's The Passaic Item (1870–1904), the Passaic City Herald (1872–1899), the Passaic Daily Times (1882–1887), the Passaic City Record (1890–1907), the Passaic Daily News (1891–1929), the Passaic Daily Herald (1899–1929), and the Passaic Herald News (1932–1987). The Passaic Herald News went through several mergers with other Passaic County newspapers to become the current Herald News.[51][52][53][54][55]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 3.24 square miles (8.39 km2), including 3.13 square miles (8.11 km2) of land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km2) of water (3.33%).[1][2]
Passaic's only land border is with neighboring Clifton, which borders Passaic to the north, south, and west. The namesake Passaic River forms the eastern border of Passaic. Four additional neighboring municipalities in southern Bergen County, immediately across the river from Passaic, are East Rutherford, Garfield, Rutherford, and Wallington.[56][57][58]
Passaic and Wallington are connected via the Gregory Avenue, Market Street, and Eighth Street bridges. The city connects with Garfield at both the Monroe and Passaic Street Bridges. The road connection with Rutherford is via the Union Avenue Bridge, which is located on an extension off the northbound lanes of Route 21. One cannot cross from Passaic into East Rutherford by vehicle directly, however, as there is no bridge directly connecting the two municipalities. Drivers wanting to cross from Passaic to East Rutherford must use either the Gregory Avenue Bridge, which is located near Wallington's line with East Rutherford, or the Union Avenue Bridge, where East Rutherford can be accessed via surface streets briefly passing through Rutherford.
Passaic is located 10 miles (16 km) from New York City, and 12 miles (19 km) from Newark Airport.
Passaic has several business districts: Main Avenue begins in Passaic Park and follows the curve of the river to downtown. Broadway runs east–west through the center of the city, ending at Main Avenue in downtown. Main Avenue has many shops, restaurants, and businesses reflecting the city's growing Latino, and declining Eastern European populations in the city.
The city is home to several architecturally notable churches, including St. John's Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian of Passaic, and St. John's Episcopal Church.
Passaic Park
Many residents of the Passaic Park section of Passaic are part of Orthodox Jewish communities. With over 1,300 families, estimated at a total population of 15,000, Passaic is one of the state's fastest-growing Orthodox communities. It is home to over 20 yeshivas and other educational institutions, as well as many kosher food and other shopping establishments.[59][60]
The Passaic Park section is noted for its large park and large homes of various architectural styles, especially Queen Anne and Tudor. Several condominium and cooperative apartment complexes are also located there including:
Carlton Tower, a condominium of 21 floors, the city's tallest structure[61]
Passaic Towers Apartments, rental across the street from Carlton Tower
Barry Gardens, co-operative garden apartments built following World War II on a portion of the former Barry Estate
Presidential Towers, condominium at 180 Lafayette Ave.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Passaic has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[62]
Among the speakers of Polish in Passaic are many Gorals.[73]
With over 1,300 families, estimated at a total population of 15,000, Passaic has one of the state's fastest-growing Orthodox Jewish communities. It is home to over 20 yeshivas and other educational institutions, as well as many kosher food and other shopping establishments.[59]
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 69,781 people, 19,411 households, and 14,597 families in the city. The population density was 22,179.6 per square mile (8,563.6/km2). There were 20,432 housing units at an average density of 6,494.2 per square mile (2,507.4/km2). The racial makeup was 45.06% (31,440) White, 10.64% (7,425) Black or African American, 1.07% (745) Native American, 4.36% (3,040) Asian, 0.04% (27) Pacific Islander, 33.37% (23,284) from other races, and 5.47% (3,820) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 71.02% (49,557) of the population.[26] The city's Hispanic population represented the fourth-highest percentage among municipalities in New Jersey as of the 2010 Census.[74]
Of the 19,411 households, 42.8% had children under the age of 18; 41.7% were married couples living together; 23.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.8% were non-families. Of all households, 19.5% were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.57 and the average family size was 4.02.[26]
31.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.2 males.[26]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $31,135 (with a margin of error of +/− $1,280) and the median family income was $34,934 (+/− $2,987). Males had a median income of $30,299 (+/− $1,883) versus $25,406 (+/− $2,456) for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,424 (+/− $581). About 25.0% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.9% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.[75]
Same-sex couples headed 107 households in 2010, a decline from the 142 counted in 2000.[76]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census,[18] there were 67,861 people, 19,458 households, and 14,457 families residing in the city of Passaic, New Jersey. The population density was 21,804.7 inhabitants per square mile (8,418.8/km2). There were 20,194 housing units at an average density of 6,488.6 per square mile (2,505.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 35.43% White, 13.83% African American, 0.78% Native American, 5.51% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 39.36% from other races, and 5.04% from two or more races. The cultural groupings for Hispanic or Latino of any race were 62.46% of the population.[70][71]
As of the 2000 census, 59.3% of residents spoke Spanish at home, while 28.9% of residents identified themselves as speaking only English at home. An additional 2.5% were speakers of Gujarati and 2.4% spoke Polish.[77] There were 31,101 foreign-born residents of Passaic in 2000, of which 79.4% were from Latin America, with 31.3% of foreign-born residents from Mexico and 27.2% from the Dominican Republic.[78]
There were 19,458 households, of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18, 43.7% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 8.2% of Passaic households were same-sex partner households. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.46 and the average family size was 3.93.[70][71] The city population comprised 30.8% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.[70][71]
The median income for a household in the city was $33,594, and the median income for a family was $34,935. Males had a median income of $24,568 versus $21,352 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,874. About 18.4% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.[70][71]
Economy
Portions of the city are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. The city was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program.[79] In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the 6+5⁄8% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.[80] Established in August 1994, the city Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in August 2025.[81] Overseen by the Passaic Enterprise Zone Development Corporation, the program generates $1.2 million annually in tax revenues that are reinvested into the local zone.[82]
Passaic is governed by the Faulkner Act system of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council (Plan B), enacted by direct petition as of July 1, 1973.[83] The city is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.[84] Under this form of government, the governing body is comprised of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected directly by the voters for a four-year term of office. The seven members of the city council serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either three seats (together with the mayoral seat) or four seats up for election in odd-numbered years. Elections are non-partisan, with all positions selected at-large in balloting held in May.[7][85]
As of 2022[update], Passaic's mayor is Hector Carlos Lora, whose term of office ends June 30, 2025.[86] Lora was appointed in 2016 to fill a vacancy that followed the resignation of Democratic mayor Alex Blanco after he was indicted on federal corruption charges; Lora was the Director of the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders at the time and chose to resign his position and accept an appointment to serve as Mayor and finish the remainder of Blanco's unexpired term. Lora was elected to a full term in 2017.[87] Members of the Passaic City Council are Council President Gary Schaer (term ends 2023), Jose R. "Joe" Garcia (2025), Terrence L. Love (2025), Thania Melo (2023), Chaim M. Munk (2023) and Daniel J. Schwartz (2025), with one seat currently declared vacant.[3][88][89][90][91]
The seat expiring in June 2023 that had been held by Salim Patel was declared vacant in June 2022, after it was determined that he had missed more council meetings than allowed by statute.[92]
In addition to his role as council president, Schaer also holds a seat in the 36th Legislative District of the New Jersey General Assembly. This dual position, often called double dipping, is allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law enacted by the New Jersey Legislature and signed into law by Governor of New JerseyJon Corzine in September 2007 that prevents dual-office-holding but allows those who had held both positions as of February 1, 2008, to retain both posts.[93]
Corruption charges over the past decades have resulted in the federal convictions of two mayors, seven councilman and other public officials, all members of the Democratic Party.[94][95] Passaic Business Administrator Anthony Ianoco was terminated in February 2011, after he was charged with cocaine possession, following his arrest in Hoboken, where police arrested him after he was caught driving the wrong way in a Passaic city vehicle.[96]
Alex Blanco became the first Dominican-American elected as mayor in the United States winning a special election in November 2008 to succeed acting mayor Gary Schaer, who as City Council president automatically moved into the position upon the resignation by previous mayor Samuel Rivera, after Rivera pleaded guilty to corruption charges.[97] Blanco was elected to serve the remainder of Rivera's term, and was re-elected to a full term on May 12, 2009, with 53.1% of votes cast. He won running against Passaic Board of Education member Vinny Capuana.[98]
In November 2016, Blanco pled guilty to a single federal count of bribery, agreeing to resign immediately Blanco admitted in court to accepting $110,000 in bribes from two unnamed housing developers in exchange for directing more than $200,000 in HUD funds to a failed low-income housing development. He faced up to 10 years in federal prison upon sentencing, scheduled for February 2017. He was succeeded by Passaic County Freeholder Hector Lora, in an appointment made by the City Council. Blanco is the second consecutive elected mayor of Passaic, and the third in two decades (following Joseph Lipari and Sammy Rivera), to be convicted of or plead guilty to official misconduct charges.[99]
Federal, state, and county representation
Passaic is located in the 9th Congressional District[100] and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.[101][102][103] Prior to the 2010 Census, Passaic had been part of the 8th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.[104]
Passaic County is governed by Board of County Commissioners, composed of seven members who are elected at-large to staggered three-year terms office on a partisan basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At a reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members to serve for a one-year term.[111] As of 2024[update], Passaic County's Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Danielle Ireland-Imhof (D, Hawthorne, 2028),[124][125]
Acting Sheriff Gary Giardina (D, Wayne, 2024)[126][127] and
Surrogate Zoila S. Cassanova (D, Wayne, 2026).[128][129][120]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 24,227 registered voters in Passaic, of which 8,753 (36.1% vs. 31.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,063 (8.5% vs. 18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 13,408 (55.3% vs. 50.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties.[130] Among the city's 2010 Census population, 34.7% (vs. 53.2% in Passaic County) were registered to vote, including 50.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.8% countywide).[130][131]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 77.1% of the vote (12,011 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 22.1% (3,447 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (119 votes), among the 15,755 ballots cast by the city's 27,433 registered voters (178 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 57.4%.[132][133] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 12,386 votes (72.7% vs. 58.8% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 4,012 votes (23.6% vs. 37.7%) and other candidates with 93 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 17,033 ballots cast by the city's 25,496 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.8% (vs. 70.4% in Passaic County).[134] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 9,539 votes (66.3% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 4,291 votes (29.8% vs. 42.7%) and other candidates with 62 votes (0.4% vs. 0.7%), among the 14,391 ballots cast by the city's 23,389 registered voters, for a turnout of 61.5% (vs. 69.3% in the whole county).[135]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 59.6% of the vote (4,109 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 39.1% (2,697 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (88 votes), among the 7,143 ballots cast by the city's 28,209 registered voters (249 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 25.3%.[136][137] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 5,958 ballots cast (68.7% vs. 50.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 2,319 votes (26.7% vs. 43.2%), Independent Chris Daggett with 124 votes (1.4% vs. 3.8%) and other candidates with 52 votes (0.6% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,672 ballots cast by the city's 24,219 registered voters, yielding a 35.8% turnout (vs. 42.7% in the county).[138]
Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[144]) are
Vincent Capuana School No. 15[145] (277; Pre-K),
Sallie D. Gamble School No. 16[146] (465; Pre-K),
Thomas Jefferson School No. 1[147] (788; K–8),
George Washington School No. 2 (172; K–1),
Mario J. Drago School No. 3 (formerly Franklin School)[148] (803; Pre-K–8),
Benito Juárez School No. 5[149] (472; K–8),
Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 6[150] (1,124; Pre-K–8),
Ulysses S. Grant School No. 7[151] (391; Pre-K–1),
Casimir Pulaski School No. 8[152] (%32; Pre-K–8), Etta Gero School No. 9[153] (690; 2–8), Theodore Roosevelt School No. 10[154] (905; Pre-K–8),
William B. Cruise Veterans Memorial School No. 11[155] (1,253; K–8),
Daniel F. Ryan School No. 19[156] (874; Pre-K/2–8), Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20[157] (959; 2–8),
Sonia Sotomayor School No. 21[158] (; Pre-K–5),
Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering[159] (702; 6–11),
Passaic Preparatory Academy,[160] (701; 6–11) and
Passaic High School[161] (2,618; 9–12).[162][163][164]
Passaic County Community College opened a new campus in the city in September 2008, which will allow PCCC to reach the 15% of its students who come from the city of Passaic. The college's nursing program will be relocated and expanded at the new campus to provide a qualified program to help fill the longstanding nursing shortage.[165]
The Yeshiva Gedola of Passaic is an institute of Talmudic learning for post-high-school-age men. It is led by Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Meir Stern. Passaic has two primary Orthodox K–8 elementary schools, Yeshiva Ketana and YBH of Passaic, each of them has a boys and girls division.
Noble Leadership Academy is an Islamic school located downtown, serving students 320 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.[169]
Emergency services
Police
In October 2016, Deputy Chief Luis Guzman became the first Dominican-American to be selected to lead the city's police department.[170]
Fire
The Passaic Fire Department (PFD) is a paid fire department with over 100 firefighters. The PFD was organized in November 1869 and became a paid department in 1909. There are two fire houses equipped with four engines and two ladder trucks. Passaic also operates a large foam tanker truck, a Quick Attack Response Vehicle (QRV), a haz-mat decon trailer, a utility unit, a rehab unit, and a Zodiac rescue boat.[171]
Ambulance
In October 2015, the city approved a contract under which ambulance service in the city is covered by Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC), a non-profit consortium which also provides paramedic services to other municipalities in the area. Under the plan Passaic laid off 30 EMS workers who had been employed by the city.[172]
Hatzolah of Passaic/Clifton EMS is a volunteer service that primarily covers the Passaic Park section of town and parts of Clifton, in addition to assisting Passaic Police and EMS when requested in other parts of the city. Hatzolah operates two ambulances strategically parked throughout the community with a third on standby and available to assist neighboring chapters.[173]
Office of Emergency Management
The OEM coordinates emergency response by all of the city's agencies—Police, Fire, Ambulance, health, and public works—to disasters and other emergencies, including large storms. The city OEM is affiliated with the Passaic County and New Jersey State OEM agencies and with the state's Emergency Management Association.
OEM also manages street traffic at all large events in the city, including festivals and parades.
The office is run by representatives of the Police and Fire departments. In addition to city staff, it makes use of volunteers from Passaic's Community Emergency Response Team and other community organizations.[174]
As of May 2010[update], the city had a total of 70.14 miles (112.88 km) of roadways, of which 53.20 miles (85.62 km) were maintained by the municipality, 13.82 miles (22.24 km) by Passaic County and 3.12 miles (5.02 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[175]
Passaic formerly had four train stations (Passaic Park, Prospect Street, Passaic and Harrison Street) on the Erie Railroad main line. In 1963, these stations were abandoned and the main line was moved to the Boonton Branch.[180]
^Page, Jeffrey. "Our towns challenge our tongues", The Record, June 17, 2005. Accessed May 19, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Some people also add an extra syllable to Passaic. They say pa-SAY-ik, which renders them incomprehensible when speaking with residents, especially old-timers. 'The correct pronunciation is puh-SAKE,' said Mark Auerbach, the city historian. Very authoritative, but he himself says pa-SAY-ik. What is that all about? 'Yes, it's wrong,' he said, 'but I'm from Brooklyn and I'm too old to change habits now.'"
^Jennings, Rob. "N.J. welcome center sign spelled P-A-S-S-A-I-C wrong", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 11, 2019. Accessed May 19, 2021. "Of New Jersey’s 21 counties, it is easy enough to understand why some persist in misspelling Passaic. Sure, the pronunciations -- 'puh-SAY-ik' or 'puh-sake' - provide a clear hint to the ordering of letters, yet it is not uncommon to spot the county mistakenly listed as 'Passiac.'"
^Martin, Jim. "Jim Martin", Schenectady Gazette, June 3, 1970. Accessed May 19, 2021, via Newspapers.com "When you have to run 20 miles a day through a corridor of urban sprawl without bumping into Hackensack, South Orange (pronounced 'Arnj'), Passaic (pronounced 'Puh-sake'), Cedar Ave., Nutley or the Delaware-Lackawanna tracks, you are a human being of extraordinary determination."
^Maciag, Mike. "Population Density for U.S. Cities Statistics", Governing, November 29, 2017. Accessed December 4, 2020. "The following are the most densely populated cities with populations exceeding 50,000:... [5th] Passaic, N.J.: 22,424 persons/sq. mile"
^Cunningham, John T. This is New Jersey, p. 67. Rutgers University Press, 1994. ISBN978-0-8135-2141-1. Accessed January 27, 2015. "Passaic was a Lenape word, too. Some say it meant 'place where the land splits' or 'place where the river splits'. Others claim the word meant 'valley' to the Lenape."
^Jailer, Mildred. "Map to Tell Story Of Passaic's Past", The New York Times, January 4, 1976. Accessed August 22, 2018. "Also to be depicted are such significant sites as the Acquackanonk Landing Settlement, now the city of Passaic, where a bridge to halt the progress of the British troops was dismantled, and Canalville, an 1828 residential subdivision on the Morris Canal in Clifton."
^Smyk, Edward A.; Masiello, Robert J. (2004). Historic Passaic County: An Illustrated History. HPN Books. p. 18. ISBN9780965499941. Speer managed to outwit the judge by writing to Postmaster General James Campbell, requesting that the name of the local post office be changed. Campbell complied. Speer was not a man to leave loose ends. He painted a sign twelve feet long with the name 'Passaic.'
^Nieves, Evelyn. "How Green Was My Passaic, Now Long Hill", The New York Times, December 3, 1992. Accessed August 28, 2011. "No one used to mind when the City of Passaic and the Township of Passaic, 22 miles away, were confused.... Passaic Township, as bucolic as New Jersey gets, began to wear its name like an itchy sweater. Residents tired of explaining the difference between their remote green stretch of southern Morris County and urban blight."
^ abBerman, Rachel. "Passaic/Clifton - The New Jewish Boom Town", The Jewish Press, November 22, 2006, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 10, 2008. Accessed June 21, 2015. "To the out-of-towner, it's a place exceedingly dense with Jews and Judaism, with 25 shuls and 2,500 families packed into three square miles, and a buzzing Main Avenue that with its baby carriages and bochurim on Friday afternoons almost resembles Jerusalem. To the Jewish world in general, it's the current It Community, sprawling out at a pace of 80 new families a year, with a reputation for being the fastest growing Jewish community next to Lakewood."
^Adely, Hannan. "Clifton-Passaic Y gets ready to shut its doors, as donations plummet", The Record, July 5, 2011. Accessed August 28, 2011. "The Young Men's Hebrew Association formed in Passaic in 1904, adding a women's counterpart the following year, and moved to the 7-acre campus in Clifton in 1976. In that year, the Jewish population in Clifton and Passaic was estimated at 9,000, according to the American Jewish Year Book; in 2010, the figure was 12,000. While the Jewish population has grown, the historic population of Reform and Conservative Jews has been largely replaced by Orthodox practitioners, said local residents and Jewish leaders.... The growth of the Orthodox community can be seen throughout the southern end of Clifton and Passaic, which is home to about 20 Orthodox synagogues and minyans, or prayer groups, and to a cluster of kosher shops and Jewish schools."
^Carlton TowerArchived July 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, The Shallis Group. Accessed January 14, 2013. "Carlton Tower, the city's tallest structure, is 22 stories with 228 units."
^Strybel, Robert. "Gromada examines highlanders impact on Poland", Am-Pol Eagle. Accessed January 14, 2013. "They and their descendants can be encountered throughout the Northeast and Midwest, including in the author's own hometown of Passaic, NJ, but also in California and Colorado."
^Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "In 1994 the legislation was amended and ten more zones were added to this successful economic development program. Of the ten new zones, six were predetermined: Paterson, Passaic, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Lakewood, Asbury Park/Long Branch (joint zone). The four remaining zones were selected on a competitive basis. They are Carteret, Pleasantville, Union City and Mount Holly."
^Passaic Enterprise Zone Development CorporationArchived February 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, City of Passaic. Accessed November 19, 2019. "Passaic currently receives about $1.2 million per year in these revenues. The municipal UEZ is administered by a special entity set up specially for that purpose. In Passaic, the UEZ is administered by the Passaic Enterprise Zone Development Corporation."
^Na, Myles; and Attrino, Anthony G. "Anger in Passaic as acting mayor replaces corrupt one", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 17, 2016. Accessed November 20, 2016. "Freeholder Hector Lora was sworn in as interim mayor Thursday night, hours after Mayor Alex Blanco pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge. Lora resigned as Passaic County freeholder Thursday, a position he had held since 2013, and for which he had been re-elected last year.... Blanco, a podiatrist and father of four, admitted in court Thursday that he received $110,000 in payments from developers in exchange for directing federal housing funds to their projects."
^Fagan, Matt. "Passaic councilman's seat vacated after he misses months of meetings", The Record, June 21, 2022. Accessed July 2, 2022. "After he missed too many consecutive Passaic City Council meetings, it was announced at Tuesday's meeting that Councilman Salim Patel had vacated his council seat. City Council President Gary Schaer noted that Patel had missed the majority of meetings, all of which were virtual, since the first of the year."
^Hanley, Robert. "The Mayor Of Passaic Is Convicted Of Corruption", The New York Times, November 29, 1992. Accessed January 14, 2013. "Joseph Lipari, the Mayor of Passaic, N.J., was convicted today on two charges of extortion and five counts of income tax evasion after a five-week corruption trial in Federal District Court."
^Siemaszko, Corky; and Sanderson, Bill. "Passaic's Alston Indicted", The Record, July 15, 1992. Accessed August 28, 2011. "Former Passaic City Councilman Wayne Alston was indicted Tuesday on federal and state charges of conspiring to take $6,000 in bribes from a landlord in return for preferential treatment in a program administered by the city-based anti-poverty agency Alston headed."
^Conte, Michaelangelo. "Fired Passaic Business Administrator Anthony Iacono makes first court appearance on DWI, drug charges", The Jersey Journal, February 25, 2011. Accessed August 28, 2011. "Iacono, 48, of Lyndhurst, was arrested at 10:36 p.m. Feb. 10 by Hoboken police officers who spotted him driving the wrong way down a one-way street in a City of Passaic-owned car with a flashing light on the top, police said at the time.... The day after Iacono's arrest, Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco announced Iacono's termination from his post as City of Passaic business administrator."
^Coyne, Kevin. "Dominican Wins City Hall and a Community's Pride", The New York Times, November 28, 2008. Accessed July 28, 2016. "On the same night that President-elect Barack Obama broke one electoral barrier, Dr. Blanco broke another, becoming the first Dominican elected to a mayor's office in the United States.... 'He's a classic American success story,' said Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer, the longtime city council president who has been acting mayor since Mr. Rivera's resignation, and who encouraged Dr. Blanco to run."
^Pizarro, Max. "Blanco's win reconfirms Schaer alliance as the mayor reaches out to Capuana", PolitickerNJ, May 13, 2009. Accessed July 28, 2016. "Mayor Alex Blanco's victory over city supervisor Vincent Capuana last night concretized the alliance between Blanco and Assemblyman/Council President Gary Schaer (D-Passaic), as Blanco secured a full, four-year term. After prevailing in a special election last November, Blanco beat Capuana last night, 4,988 (53.1%) to 4,409 (46.1%)."
^Cowen, Richard. "Passaic mayor pleads guilty to accepting bribes",The Record, November 17, 2016. Accessed September 14, 2023. "Passaic Mayor Alex D. Blanco, a politician who came into office eight years ago under a banner of honest government on the heels of a corruption scandal that brought down his predecessor, pleaded guilty on Thursday to accepting $110,000 in bribes from two developers involved in a failed, low-income housing project on Paulison Avenue.... At the culmination of a boisterous, if only acrimonious special meeting of the City Council Thursday, Passaic County Freeholder Hector C. Lora, was unanimously approved as acting Mayor."
^Biography, Congressman Bill Pascrell. Accessed January 3, 2019. "A native son of Paterson, N.J., Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. has built a life of public service upon the principles he learned while growing up on the south side of the Silk City."
^ abBoard of County Commissioners, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 21, 2022. "Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners. Each County Commissioner is elected at large for a three-year term. The board is headed by a director, who is selected for a one-year term at the board's annual reorganization meeting (at the first meeting of the year in January)."
^Bruce James, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 21, 2022.
^District Policy 9001 - Identification, Passaic City School District. Accessed March 26, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-K through 12 in the City of Passaic Public Schools. Composition: The Passaic Public Schools is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the City of Passaic."
^What We Do: History, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'."
^Our School, Noble Leadership Academy. Accessed January 3, 2017.
^Cowen, Richard. "Luis Guzman makes history as first Dominican police chief in Passaic", The Record, October 26, 2016. Accessed October 16, 2019. "Deputy Chief Luis Guzman made history when he assumed command of the Passaic Police Department on Wednesday, marking the first time that a Dominican has been chosen to lead the force."
^Cowen, Richard. "Passaic ends city ambulance service, opts for privatization", The Record, October 1, 2015. Accessed October 6, 2015. "The city on Thursday quietly disbanded its ambulance squad, laying off 30 workers and handing over emergency medical services to MONOC, an Ocean County-based non-profit."
^About, Hatzolah of Passaic/Clifton EMS. Accessed December 3, 2015.
^Sullivan, Tom. "Have some Mercy on cancelled TV shows", Clifton Journal, May 21, 2010. Accessed January 27, 2015. "Dramas set in hospitals have long been a staple of television, both for daytime and prime time, and while Mercy did not have the benefit of star names in its regular cast, it had the luxury of a very competent ensemble and a totally authentic setting, because Mercy Hospital was played by St. Mary's of Passaic. When you saw hectic stories unfolding in the emergency room, it was right here. So were the tense and somber moments in the intensive care unit."
_from_the_southern_overpass_for_Passaic_County_Route_624_(River_Drive)_in_Passaic,_Passaic_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
