Jersey City’s Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham
The first African American mayor of Jersey City, Glenn D. Cunningham brought hope and change to the city he called home.
Serving the City and Country
Before Glenn Cunningham became the transformative Mayor of Jersey City, his dedication was evident during his service in the United States Marine Corps, where he even served as a uniformed usher at President John F. Kennedy's funeral.
His time in the marine life honed his leadership qualities and commitment to community service, which he carried into his subsequent 25-year tenure with the Jersey City Police Department, rising to the rank of captain. Only leaving this position to become the director of Hudson County’s Public Safety Office, Mayor Cunningham was elected by former U.S. president Bill Clinton to become the head of New Jersey’s Marshal Service in 1996.
The unwavering protection, honor, and love that Glenn Cunningham extended to Jersey City culminated in a historic moment on July 1st, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the first African American mayor of the city. As mayor, he was a pillar of strength and a shining example of courage, justice, and passion, tackling the drug abuse, crime, and neglect that inner-city neighborhoods faced. “...we saw the crime-ridden vacant lots, and despair on the streets. I said something has to be done for the people, my city,” he had stated.
“As mayor, he was a pillar of strength and a shining example of courage, justice, and passion, tackling the drug abuse, crime, and neglect that inner-city neighborhoods faced.”
Light for the People
Only 2 months after his inauguration as mayor, Cunningham was faced with an enormous crisis - the harrowing 9/11 attacks in New York. Cunningham was quick to respond and take charge of the fire and police departments in Jersey City to provide immediate relief and rescue for anyone that was affected by the attacks. Under Cunningham, Jersey City became a first-responder city for refuge and supplies that were direly needed. He took charge and became a light for the people- a light that was desperately needed.
A Visionary: Ambition and Dreams
Identifying deeply with the people of JerseyCity, Glenn Cunningham's vision for the city's progress was inseparable from his own aspirations. Immediately after taking office, Cunningham went to work on developing Jersey City to keep up with the growth and popularity of the cities’ “Golden Coast,” also known today as “The Waterfront.” His plan to create safer neighborhoods for Jersey City residents perfectly aligned with his awe-inspiring “Golden Neighborhoods” plan. In November 2001, Cunningham started the “Anti-Crime Initiative” in the city, and it showed immediate benefits such as lowering crime rates, identifying at-risk youth, and creating a program allowing first-time offenders of drug-related crimes help and treatment. The value of justice and safety he held during his service as a captain of the Jersey City police department shone bright as he put the safety of the people first before beginning any economic developments. This in fact, proved to be immensely beneficial for the city's growth as investors and developers took notice of the increasing safety and value of the city.
Cunningham advocated working with waterfront developers, ultimately inspiring Goldman Sachs to donate a multimillion dollar development on Martin Luther King Drive, which still thrives today. New apartments in the historic Powerhouse District were constructed, many reserved for lower-income residents, and new projects broke ground on soil that had not seen development for as long as twenty years, such as Journal Square. Ultimately, Cunningham made sure to let the people of Jersey City know that they would get the attention and protection they deserved.
The untimely passing of Glenn Cunningham on May 25th, 2004 sent shockwaves throughout JerseyCity. His active engagement in the city's growth, his efforts to uplift underdeveloped neighborhoods, and his support for the Jersey City Library are indelible legacies. Cunningham was instrumental in paving the way for the Jersey City of today, opening doors to justice and prosperity for the community he so deeply cherished.