Re-open Astor Community Garden and the BITE Food Pantry

during the pandemic, with so many people in need of food, this is a God sent to so many people in the community, please let it remain open,

Man, I'm not even in NJ, but closing down a food pantry in the middle of a pandemic and a recession that mostly impacts service workers who would be struggling anyway?? That's SICK and WRONG. What the HELL, man??

The Astor Pl. Community Food Garden has become a staple in this neighborhood. The Garden has transformed a vacant lot filled with drug activity, broken glass, dumped household debris and unwanted loitering into a educational resource by teaching the value of growing and eating fresh vegetables, encouraging students to expand their horizons beyond traditional careers and by promoting community involvement; which all help reduce crime in the surrounding neighborhoods.

I turned over the first fork of dirt in what is now the defunct Astor Place garden. The garden slowly flourished, and provided a place in the community where a Combat Veteran (such as myself) suffering from PTSD could rise in the morning come to a clam place, away from the hustle of the city. This is the garden, where birds would come to sing, butterflies will float from the various plants to the vegetables garden, almost like dancing; Even the raccoons got in the activities at the beginning, as others and I watch them use the fence line as a highway. During the school seasons, the kids would come inquiring of the different plants and Vegetables and pitching in to tend & water them. When the harvesting of the vegetables grown in Astor Place garden were reaped, all in the community received a share, as a gift if they desire. That was the mission of the Astor Place garden, it grew larger, servicing more numbers in and outside the community. The State of NJ close the Astor Place garden. Surely all the stakeholders could have come to conclusion to see a way forward in keeping it opened. I would not like to see this space revert to what it was, where you you cannot plant food anymore, the birds cease to come and sing, butterflies would not visit; floating from flowers, plants and vegetables garden beds, whilst the raccoons return to their former abode. The space litter with trash, the smell of urine and dead animals rotting flesh; creating a hazard in the community whilst bellies goes hungry.

Please allow Bite to continue to use Astor Pl site. This Program is much needed for the residents of Jersey City.

This neighborhood needs the Astor place garden to survive. It's a way of bringing this community together.

Keep the garden open! This illuminates a glaring imperfection in the democratic process. When the citizenship of some matters more than others.

The garden provides opportunities for adults and school age children a sense of community and belonging. They get to learn and share knowledge on gardening and healthy lifestyle through the fresh fruits and vegetables provided from the garden

my family depends on this pantry for food thats how we live please you cannot close it.

This pantry has helped my family over the pandemic. Please reopen many families depends on it Thanks

This would be a shame if this project is shut down. Keep this going for the community!

Please keep the Astor Place Garden Open.

Let the garden grow

In a time when families are suffering and facing uncertain circumstances, this garden and the resources being given to the community have helped so many families during a highly stressful time. Many people relied on these weekly donations to sustain their families during this pandemic. These are the types of support that so many need and rely on. This is a situation that could have been worked on and resolved while still helping the families in this community. It's really sad that companies will continue to put business interests ahead of the interests in this community. But then will turn around and "need" this community in order to keep their business afloat. Some things should be bigger than your profit margins but what do I know! I've only lived in this community my entire life and have seen the benefits of having this garden in place!

Reopening must be Done

Also call on Mayor Fulop to stand with BITE!

This has blessed not only the students and the families the Board of Ed tries to fight for but everyone who needs food and Covid-19 testing and other programs. The Board of Ed should be ashamed of themselves for not supporting their own students. I call for PTA presidents across the city to stand with BITE to FIGHT!

What an initiative! Making a positive difference to someone is a blessing to many others. God bless you.

Please reopen Astor community Garden and the BITE Food Distribution and Service Program thank you for sharing with the community

Why is so much hostility to such a wonderful community project ?? Why close down such a beneficial project