Andre Sayegh Explained

Andre Sayegh
Office:Mayor of Paterson
Term Start:July 1, 2018
Predecessor:Jane Williams-Warren
Birth Date:20 March 1974
Birth Place:Paterson, New Jersey, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Farhanna Sayegh
Children:3
Education:Seton Hall University (BA)
Columbia University (MPA)

Andre Sayegh (born March 20, 1974) is an American politician who has served as the Mayor of Paterson, the third-most populous city in New Jersey, since July 2018.[1] Prior to being elected as Mayor, Sayegh served on the Paterson City Council from 2008 until 2018.

Biography

Sayegh was born in Paterson, the son of a Syrian mother and a Lebanese father.[2] A practicing Catholic, he was raised in the Lakeview neighborhood of Paterson. Sayegh graduated from DePaul Catholic High School in 1992.[3] He graduated from Seton Hall University with a B.A. in History and then earned a M.A. in Public Policy and Administration from Columbia University.[4] Sayegh began his public service by serving on the Paterson school board and then in 2008, as a city councilman representing the 6th Ward. In 2014, he ran for mayor of Paterson but was defeated by Jose Torres.[5] In the 2018 mayoral election, running on a coalition of various groups including Christian and Muslim Arabs, African-Americans, Peruvians and other Latinos, he successfully ran for mayor.[2] On May 8, 2018, he was sworn in as Mayor of Paterson[2] succeeding Jane Williams-Warren.[6]

In 2018, Sayegh was selected as one of 40 mayors to participate in the Bloomberg-Harvard City Leadership program.[7] This year-long education and professional development program was designed for mayors to help deliver results to residents. He had the opportunity to learn from other mayors from cities such as Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Quito, and Reykjavik. As a result of the program, Paterson hired a new Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Data Officer,[8] funded by the Taub Foundation. Sayegh identified best practices from his fellow mayors and launched the Financial Empowerment Center[9] and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income.[10] In Jan 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Paterson as one of 15 winning cities of the 2021-2022 Global Mayors Challenge, a worldwide innovation competition. Paterson's RealFix was awarded one million dollars in addition to technical support and coaching over three years.[11]

One of the first grants secured during the Sayegh administration was Paterson’s entry into a 2019 national campaign to expand access to parks across the city.[12] 72% of Paterson residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, a number this administration seeks to increase to 100% within five years. This grant helped create the current vision plan.

Getting a complete and accurate count for the Census was a major initiative in the Sayegh administration in 2020. This required creating a "Complete Count Committee" coalescing all the demographics groups in the city to fill out the Census survey. The census determined that Paterson had surpassed 150,000 residents,[13] earning the designation of first-class city[14] for the first time. A first class city receives additional grant funding and resources.

, Paterson is receiving an investment through $139 million in state tax credits.[15] The Sayegh administration identified several transformative projects such as reviving Hinchliffe Stadium,[16] one of only two ballparks still standing that hosted Negro league baseball games. The funding also supported an affordable housing initiative for senior citizens entitled "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren"[17] will provide 76 units for this vulnerable population. To enhance the appeal of the Great Falls, in cooperation with the Hamilton Partnership for Paterson and Devco, a visitors center named for Paterson's founder, Alexander Hamilton, is under construction with support of the grant.[18]

Recent work includes managing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic while simultaneously driving economic development.[19] Sayegh mobilized city resources to drive COVID-19 testing, provide PPE to essential front-line workers. The City of Paterson earned national recognition for its successful contact tracing program.[20]

On June 11, 2022 a Paterson Police officer, Jerry Moravek, shot unarmed 28-year-old Khalif Cooper in the back. Andre Sayegh came out in support of the officer and made a statement that that several guns and shell casings were found at the scene. This statement was also backed up further by Passaic County authorities that said Khalif Cooper had a gun. The Attorney General’s Office came out and refuted that claim and showed that Khalif Cooper was unarmed. Attorney General Matt Platkin announced that Jerry Moravek has been charged with assault after reviewing statements and body-worn camera footage.[21] [22] [23]

Jameek Lowery Case

In January of 2019, prior to an ambulance ride, Lowery posted two Facebook Live videos from the police headquarters in which he claimed that the police were trying to kill him. “I’m just paranoid. I’m not touching nobody,” he says. [24]

The City of Paterson faced protests after the death of Jameek Lowery following a police interaction.[25] Sayegh claimed Lowery had bacterial meningitis,[26] but Lowery's mother Patrice King disputed this. She confronted Sayegh at a City Council meeting.[27] Sayegh launched an audit of the police department and promised to equip police officers with body worn cameras. With Sayegh's leadership, the Paterson Police Department is the first in New Jersey to deploy body camera analytics.

State takeover of police department

The New Jersey Attorney General took over control of the Paterson Police Department on March 27, 2023, after the fatal police shooting of Najee Seabrooks.[28] Attorney General Matthew Platkin criticized the "revolving door" of police leadership in Paterson, which has resulted in dysfunction within police ranks and a lack of trust in local law enforcement.[29] Platkin's comments alluded to the challenges created by frequent turnover at the top of the police department and the negative impact it has had on community relations.[29] Sayegh fired two police chiefs Troy Oswald in 2020[30] and Mike Baycora in 2022.[31]

Personal life

Sayegh speaks Arabic.[2] He is married to Farhanna Sayegh and has two daughters and a son.[32]

Notes and References

  1. News: Rojas. Rick. 2018-07-05. A City Founded by Alexander Hamilton Sets the Stage for Its Next Act. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-09-19. 0362-4331. September 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210920211857/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/05/nyregion/paterson-nj-revitalization.html. live.
  2. News: Hannan . Adely . Paterson marks milestone with election of first Arab-American mayor . . May 19, 2018 . Sayegh, 44, said in an interview on Wednesday. . December 27, 2020 . November 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201122022406/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/paterson/2018/05/09/paterson-election-city-marks-milestone-first-arab-american-mayor/595936002/ . live .
  3. Staff. "Sayegh to Receive Distinguished Alumni Award from DePaul Catholic", TAP into Paterson, February 17, 2019. Accessed December 27, 2020.
  4. Web site: Mayor Sayegh . patersonnj.gov . December 27, 2020 . December 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201230075957/https://www.patersonnj.gov/department/index.php?structureid=2 . live .
  5. News: Sophie . Nieto-Munoz . Ex-Paterson mayor disqualified from holding public office, AG's office says . New Jersey Monitor . September 22, 2021 . October 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211017025031/https://newjerseymonitor.com/2021/09/22/ex-paterson-mayor-disqualified-from-holding-public-office-ags-office-says/ . live .
  6. News: Joe . Malinconico . Paterson says goodbye to popular outgoing Mayor Jane Williams-Warren, a 'class act' . . June 30, 2018 . October 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211026162500/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/paterson-press/2018/06/30/paterson-nj-popular-outgoing-mayor-jane-williams-warren-celebrated/748501002/ . live .
  7. Web site: 2nd Class Enters Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. 2021-09-19. Bloomberg Philanthropies. en-US. October 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028162528/https://www.bloomberg.org/press/bloomberg-harvard-city-leadership-initiative-announces-second-class-mayors-go-back-school/. live.
  8. Web site: With Appointment of Edward Boze Mayor Andre Sayegh Ushers in New Era of Innovation for Paterson. 2021-09-19. TAPinto. en. March 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210303061553/https://www.tapinto.net/towns/paterson/sections/government/articles/with-appointment-of-edward-boze-mayor-andre-sayegh-ushers-in-new-era-of-innovation-for-paterson. live.
  9. Web site: Paterson Launches Financial Empowerment Center. 2021-09-19. TAPinto. en. December 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211203051625/https://www.tapinto.net/towns/paterson/sections/economic-development/articles/paterson-launches-financial-empowerment-center. live.
  10. Web site: Malinconico. Joe. Paterson guaranteed income program begins giving $400 payments to residents. 2021-09-19. North Jersey Media Group. en-US. September 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210924034650/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/paterson-press/2021/07/30/guaranteed-income-program-paterson-nj-400-month/5417282001/. live.
  11. Web site: Paterson, USA Cities. 2022-02-06. bloombergcities.jhu.edu. en. September 28, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230928142645/https://bloombergcities.jhu.edu/mayors-challenge/2022/paterson-usa. live.
  12. Web site: Paterson Officials Kick Off 10-Minute Walk to a Park Campaign. 2021-09-19. TAPinto. en.
  13. Web site: Malinconico. Joe. Paterson's population grew by 9%, 2020 census results show. 2021-09-19. North Jersey Media Group. en-US. September 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210921211343/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/paterson-press/2021/08/14/paterson-nj-population-2020-census-results/8126206002/. live.
  14. Web site: Census Count Gives Paterson 159,732 Reasons to Celebrate. 2021-09-19. TAPinto. en.
  15. Web site: Malinconico. Joe. Murphy boosts Paterson tax credit plan by $20M to complete various projects. 2021-09-19. North Jersey Media Group. en-US. June 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210619064710/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/paterson-press/2020/11/17/governor-phil-murphy-boosts-paterson-nj-tax-credit-plan-20-million-for-projects/6317985002/. live.
  16. Web site: 2021-04-14. NJ city breaks ground on restoration of historic Hinchliffe Stadium. 2021-09-19. ABC7 New York. en.
  17. Web site: 72-Unit Housing Project with Space for Grandparents Resource Center in Paterson's Historic District Gains Housing Authority, State Approvals. 2021-09-19. TAPinto. en. May 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210524124020/https://www.tapinto.net/towns/paterson/sections/economic-development/articles/72-unit-housing-project-with-space-for-grandparents-resource-center-in-paterson-s-historic-district-gains-housing-authority-state-approvals. live.
  18. Web site: Great Falls Projects Appear Poised to Get Green Light From City Council. 2021-09-19. TAPinto. en. June 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200622103011/https://www.tapinto.net/towns/paterson/sections/economic-development/articles/great-falls-projects-appear-poised-to-get-green-light-from-city-council. live.
  19. News: Otterman. Sharon. 2020-05-21. As the Nation Begins Virus Tracing, It Could Learn From This N.J. City. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-09-19. 0362-4331. March 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210310120405/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/nyregion/contact-tracing-paterson-nj.html. live.
  20. Web site: How the mayor of NJ city built one of best contact tracing systems in U.S.. 2021-09-19. MSNBC.com. en. August 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803045256/https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/how-the-mayor-of-nj-city-built-one-of-best-contact-tracing-systems-in-u-s-83766341826. live.
  21. News: Tully . Tracey . 2023-02-06 . Police Officer Who Shot a Man in the Back Is Charged With Assault . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-02-14 . 0362-4331 . February 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240213072359/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/nyregion/new-jersey-officer-assault-charge.html . live .
  22. Web site: Mann . Niko . 2023-02-08 . Video: New Jersey Cop Hears Gunshots, Shoots First Black Man He Saw Running. AG Announces Charges Against the Officer After Bodycam Footage Was Released. . 2023-02-14 . Atlanta Black Star . en-US . February 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240227035837/https://atlantablackstar.com/2023/02/08/new-jersey-cop-shoots-unarmed-black-man-running-from-sound-of-gunfire-i-was-scared/ . live .
  23. Web site: DiFilippo . Dana . 2023-02-07 . Paterson cop criminally charged for shooting, paralyzing unarmed man . 2023-02-14 . New Jersey Monitor . en-US . January 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240124004453/https://newjerseymonitor.com/2023/02/06/paterson-cop-criminally-charged-for-shooting-paralyzing-unarmed-man/ . live .
  24. Throughout the video, two officers stand a distance away, ask him to relax and call for an ambulance.
  25. Web site: Zurita . Candace Mitchell and Anthony . Live stream: Paterson residents protest Jameek Lowery's death . 2023-03-04 . North Jersey Media Group . en-US . February 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240213073205/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/paterson/2019/01/09/live-stream-paterson-residents-protest-jameek-lowerys-death/2529543002/ . live .
  26. Web site: Ortiz . Keldy . Paterson man who died after frantic visit to police had bacterial meningitis, mayor says . 2023-03-04 . North Jersey Media Group . en-US . February 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240213073205/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/paterson/2019/01/09/paterson-nj-jameek-lowery-death-spinal-meningitis/2533653002/ . live .
  27. Web site: Rahman . Jayed . 2019-01-16 . Protests continue over death of Paterson man . 2023-03-04 . Paterson Times . en-US . March 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230304003450/https://patersontimes.com/2019/01/16/protests-continue-over-death-of-paterson-man/ . live .
  28. News: Tully . Tracey . 2023-03-27 . N.J. Attorney General Seizes Control of Paterson Police Department . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-05-08 . 0362-4331 . August 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230804045129/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/27/nyregion/nj-attorney-general-paterson-police.html . live .
  29. Web site: Greene . Jonathan . 2023-03-27 . New Jersey attorney general assumes control of Paterson police force . 2023-05-08 . Paterson Times . en-US . March 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240324053031/https://patersontimes.com/2023/03/27/new-jersey-attorney-general-assumes-control-of-paterson-police-force/ . live .
  30. Web site: Rahman . Jayed . 2020-01-30 . Paterson bids farewell to its popular police chief Troy Oswald . 2023-05-08 . Paterson Times . en-US . March 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240322224038/https://patersontimes.com/2020/01/30/paterson-bids-farewell-to-its-popular-police-chief-troy-oswald/ . live .
  31. Web site: NJ.com . Richard Cowen NJ Advance Media for . 2022-09-13 . Paterson officials fire police chief, allege he slept in meetings as crime surged . 2023-05-08 . nj . en . September 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230924184536/https://www.nj.com/passaic-county/2022/09/paterson-officials-fire-police-chief-allege-he-slept-in-meetings-as-crime-surged.html . live .
  32. Web site: Mayor Sayegh . patersonnj.gov . March 16, 2021 . March 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210327041536/https://www.patersonnj.gov/department/index.php?structureid=2 . live .

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