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Located north of Newark on the Passaic River, it was first settled in 1678 by Dutch traders, as Acquackanonk Township. The city and river draw their name from the Lenape word "pahsayèk" which has been variously attributed to mean "valley" or "place where the land splits."[26][27][28][29]
History
Main Avenue in 1911
Old Passaic City Hall
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 ("landing") 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.[30][31][32] In 1854 Alfred Speer (later owner of the city's first newspaper[33] and public hall) and Judge Henry Simmons were principals in a political battle over the naming of village. Simmons wished to keep the old name, while Speer wished to simplify it to Passaic Village. Speer was losing the battle, but 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.[34]
Legally, Passaic was formed as an unincorporated village within Acquackanonk Township (now Clifton) on March 10, 1869. It was then incorporated as an independent village on March 21, 1871. Passaic was chartered as a city on April 2, 1873.[35]
663 Main Avenue, Passaic's tallest tower.
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.[36][37][38][39][40][41] The property was then turned into a furniture factory, whose owners redeveloped into an upscale mall, Contempo Plaza, in 2015.[42]
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.[43][44]
Passaic has been called "The Birthplace of Television".[45] 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.[46]
Passaic is served by two regional newspapers, The Record and Herald News, both owned by Gannett company and 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.[47][48][49][50][51]
Geography
According to the United States 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 and Wallington are connected via the Gregory Avenue, Market Street, and Eighth Street bridges. The city connects with Garfield at the Monroe Street Bridge and Passaic Street Bridge. The connection with Rutherford is via the Union Avenue Bridge, which is located on an extension off of the northbound lanes of Route 21. One cannot cross from Passaic into East Rutherford by vehicle directly, however, as there is no bridge 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 border with East Rutherford, or the Union Avenue Bridge, where East Rutherford can be accessed via surface streets.
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 Latino and Eastern European populations.
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 Southwest Passaic (known as Passaic Park) are part of Orthodox Judaism communities. With over 1,300 families (estimated at 15,000 population) this is one of the state's fastest-growing Orthodox communities. Home to over 20 yeshivas and other institutions, there are also many kosher food and shopping establishments.[55][56]
Passaic Park takes its name from Third Ward Park. This area is also noted for its large mansions and homes of various architectural styles, especially Queen Anne and Tudor. Several condominium and cooperative apartment complexes are also located here including:
Carlton Tower, a condominium of 21 stories, the city's tallest structure[57]
The Towers, rental across the street from Carlton Towers
Barry Gardens, co-operative garden apartments next door to The Towers
Presidential Towers, condominium
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.[58]
Demographics
Among the speakers of Polish in Passaic are many Gorals.[70]
Passaic, with over 20 synagogues and an Orthodox Jewish population of 15,000, has one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities in New Jersey, along with the townships of Lakewood and Teaneck.[56]
Census 2010
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.[9] The city's Hispanic population represented the fourth-highest percentage among municipalities in New Jersey as of the 2010 Census.[71]
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.[9]
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.[9]
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.[72]
Same-sex couples headed 107 households in 2010, a decline from the 142 counted in 2000.[73]
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census[19] 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 people per square mile (8,424.8/km2). There were 20,194 housing units at an average density of 6,488.6 per square mile (2,507.1/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.[68][69]
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.[74] 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.[75]
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.[68][69]
Aycrigg House
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.[68][69]
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.[68][69]
St John Lutheran Church
Economy
1 Market St. adaptive reuse conversion to loft apartments
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.[76] 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 % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.[77] Established in August 1994, the city Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in August 2025.[78] 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.[79]
Government
Local government
The city of 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.[80] The city is one of 71 municipalities (of the 565) statewide governed under this form.[81] 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]
Barry Gardens Co-operative - located on former Barry Estate
As of January 2020[update], the mayor of Passaic is Hector Carlos Lora, whose term of office ends June 30, 2021.[3] Lora was appointed in 2016 to fill a vacancy that followed the resignation of Dr. 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 was forced to resign his position. He served the remainder of Blanco's unexpired term and was elected to a full term in 2017.[82] Members of the Passaic City Council are Council President Gary Schaer (term ends June 30, 2019), Jose R. "Joe" Garcia (2021), Terrence L. Love (2021), Thania Melo (2019), Chaim M. Munk (2019), Zaida Polanco (2019) and Daniel J. Schwartz (2021).[3][83][84][85][86]
In addition to his role as council president, Schaer also holds a seat in 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.[87]
Corruption charges over the past decades have resulted in the federal convictions of two mayors, seven councilman and other public officials.[88][89] 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.[90]
Passaic City Hall
Alex Blanco became the first Dominican-American elected as mayor in the United States when he won a special election in November 2008 to succeed acting mayor Gary Schaer, who, as City Council president automatically moved into this position upon the resignation by previous mayor Samuel Rivera, after Rivera pleaded guilty to corruption charges.[91] 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, defeating Passaic Board of Education member Vinny Capuana.[92]
Federal, state and county representation
Passaic is located in the 9th Congressional District[93] and is part of New Jersey's 36th state legislative district.[11][94][95] 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.[96]
Passaic County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, 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.[104] As of 2017[update], Passaic County's Freeholders are
As of March 23, 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.[118] 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).[118][119]
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%.[120][121] 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).[122] 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).[123]
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%.[124][125] 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).[126]
Schools in the district (with 2018-19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[131]) are
Vincent Capuana School No. 15[132] (277; PreK),
Sallie D. Gamble School No. 16[133] (465; PreK),
Thomas Jefferson School No. 1[134] (788; K-8),
George Washington School No. 2 (172; K-1),
Mario J. Drago School No. 3 (formerly Franklin School)[135] (803; PreK-8),
Benito Juárez School No. 5[136] (472; K-8),
Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 6[137] (1,124; PreK-8),
Ulysses S. Grant School No. 7[138] (391; PreK-1),
Casimir Pulaski School No. 8[139] (%32; PreK-8),
Etta Gero School No. 9[140] (690; 2-8),
Theodore Roosevelt School No. 10[141] (905; PreK-8),
William B. Cruise Veterans Memorial School No. 11[142] (1,253; K-8),
Daniel F. Ryan School No. 19[143] (874; PreK/2-8),
Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20[144] (959; 2-8),
Sonia Sotomayor School No. 21[145] (; PreK-5),
Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering[146] (702; 6-11),
Passaic Preparatory Academy[147] (701; 6-11) and
Passaic High School[148] (2,618; 9-12).[149][150][151]
Passaic County Community College
Passaic County Community College opened a new campus in the city on September 11, 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.[152]
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 Hillel, each with a boys and girls division.
Noble Leadership Academy is an Islamic school located downtown, serving students 320 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.[156]
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.[157]
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.[158]
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.[159]
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.[160]
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.[161]
Transportation
Route 21 northbound in Passaic
Roads and highways
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.[162]
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.[167]
Ernest Blood (1872-1955), high school and college men's basketball coach who was best known for his "Wonder Teams" at Passaic High School, which lost only one game in the span of a decade and set an American high school record for most consecutive victories.[179]
Warren Bogle (born 1946), former Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in 16 games played for the Oakland Athletics during the 1968 season.[180]
Herbert Brucker (1898-1977), journalist, teacher, and national advocate for the freedom of the press, who served as editor-in-chief of the Hartford Courant.[183]
Gerald Goldman (born 1934), attorney and politician who served as Mayor of Passaic from 1971 to 1979.[]
Hezekiah Griggs (born 1988), entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor who became the youngest African-American venture capitalist when he founded H360 Capital in 2011.[209]
Fred R. Low (1860-1936), mechanical engineer, long-time editor of the journal Power, and an international figure in journalism and engineering who served as mayor of Passaic in 1908-09.[226]
Mary Meriam (born 1955), poet and editor, who is a founding editor of Headmistress Press, one of the few presses in the United States specializing in lesbian poetry.[230]
Thomas Stockham (1933-2004), scientist who developed one of the first practical digital audio recording systems, and pioneered techniques for digital audio recording and processing.[274]
^Martin, Jim. "Jim Martin", Schenectady Gazette, June 3, 1970. Accessed August 16, 2012. "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."
^Berman, 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."
^ abAdely, Hannan. "Clifton-Passaic Y gets ready to shut its doors, as donations plummet", The Record (North Jersey), 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 and a 24-hour doorman as well as secured assigned surface parking."
^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 Corporation, 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."
^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 (North Jersey), 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%)."
^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."
^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."
^O'Reilly, Charlie. Brant Alyea, Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed October 29, 2017. "Garrabrant Ryerson Alyea IV, a free-swinging right-handed batter and one of just nine players to hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues, was born on December 8, 1940, in Passaic, New Jersey, to a family of Dutch heritage that had been in the northern New Jersey area since the 17th century.
^Joan Knebl, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed September 16, 2015. "In 1953, the Passaic native put up a .247/~.328/.293 batting line with 44 walks, 31 swipes and 56 runs in 103 contests."
^Staff. "Aide Named for Ackerman", Columbia Spectator, Volume LV, Number 62, January 6, 1932. Accessed November 6, 2017. "Mr. Brucker, who has traveled extensively in Europe and served on the staffs of several papers and magazines in this country, is a native of Passaic, N. J., where he was born Oct. 4, 1898. He prepared for college at the Morristown School and the East Orange High School."
^"Florida attorney general winds up in spotlight"Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Court TV, November 14, 2000. Accessed May 13, 2007. "A native of Passaic, N.J., Butterworth was particularly invincible in his 1998 re-election effort after playing a key role with former Gov. Lawton Chiles in helping Florida secure a $13 billion settlement with tobacco companies."
^Howard Crook, bach-cantatas.com. Accessed September 16, 2015.
^AboutArchived March 20, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Edwin Decena. Accessed May 10, 2015. "Born and raised in Passaic New Jersey, Edwin Decena was heavily influenced by hip hop culture."
^Biography, Joel Diamond. Accessed October 2, 2016. "Joel was born and grew up in Passaic, NJ, and graduated from Rider College in Trenton, earning a BA Degree in business and psychology."
^Sullivan, Joseph F. "Passaic Mayor Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Extortion", The New York Times, March 25, 1992. Accessed May 10, 2015. "Paul DiGaetano, who is president of the Passaic City Council and a member of the General Assembly, said Mr. Lipari should step down as mayor while he fights the charges against him."
^Toribio, Elyse. "Bret Ernst to appear at Bananas Comedy Club", The Record (North Jersey), October 19, 2012. Accessed August 11, 2013. "Ernst, who refers to himself as 'That Guy' who wore cheesy vests to nightclubs in the '90s, is no stranger to this area. He was born in Princeton and spent part of his childhood in Passaic before moving to Florida for high school."
^Amod Field, profootballarchives.com. Accessed January 3, 2015.
^Clarke, Donald. The Penguin encyclopedia of popular music, p. 841. Penguin Books, 1998. Accessed August 6, 2013. "instrumental 'Piano Concerto In B Flat' on Tchaikovsky's most famous tune featuring pianist Jack Fina (b 13 Aug. '13, Passaic NJ. d 14 May '70: formed own band '46. recorded for Mercury. MGM; also composer)."
^Seifullah, Alan A. A.; and Strassmeyer, Mary. "Dorothy Fuldheim, TV news legend: Life Stories Revisited", Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 4, 1989. Accessed May 10, 2015. "She was born Dorothy Snell in Passaic, N.J. Her German-born father loved the English language and took the child to courthouses to hear lawyers speak."
^"Obituaries: Joel Gersmann", Madison.com, June 28, 2005. Accessed October 16, 2013. "Joel Gersmann, age 62, died at home of a heart attack on Friday, June 24, 2005.... After growing up in Passaic, N.J., he earned his bachelor's degree at Rutgers University, did graduate work at Adelphi and completed course work for a Ph.D. in theater at UW-Madison."
^Staff. "Hezekiah Griggs, A Self-Made Man", WWOR, February 10, 2012. Accessed January 3, 2015. "Multi-millionaire Hezekiah Griggs the third sure isn't poor anymore! He won't say exactly how much he's worth, but tells us, 'On paper I look very promising. My future wife is gonna have to sign a pre-nup.' Does that sounds sassy for a 23 year old from Passaic who grew up fatherless, penniless, sometimes even homeless?"
^Anderson, John. "Grisman's Eclectic Mandolin Returns", Newsday, September 20, 1996. Accessed January 28, 2011. "He's been making music since he was a teenager in Passaic, N.J., in the '60s, but the quintet has been an institution since 1976."
^Merwin, Ted. "Parlor Room Drama", The Jewish Week, April 23, 2013. Accessed October 16, 2019. "In an interview, Heinze told The Jewish Week that he was born in Passaic and spent half of his childhood in a New Jersey development built by William Levitt, who built Levittown on Long Island, as well as in Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and other places. 'People who didn't have much money could afford [such developments],' he said. 'It made American life possible.'"
^Gianfranco Iannotta, Team USA. Accessed December 13, 2019. "Birthplace: Passaic, N.J. Hometown: Garfield, N.J. High School: Garfield High School (Garfield, N.J.) '12"
^Kerman, Christina. "Ballet, Broadway and TV Dancer Ilona Murai Dies, 96", Dance Magazine, April 21, 2020. Accessed December 16, 2020. "Ilona Murai (Kerman) died of COVID-19 and dementia on April 8 at the age of 96 at Parker Jewish in New Hyde Park, NY. Born Ellen Josephine Muray in Passaic, NJ, she changed her name to Ilona Murai when she started her career as a soloist for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet."
^Fox, Margalit. "Paul Lioy, Scientist Who Analyzed 9/11 Dust and Its Health Effects, Dies at 68", The New York Times, July 11, 2015. Accessed August 22, 2018. "Paul James Lioy was born on May 27, 1947, in Passaic, N.J. He earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Montclair State College, as it was then known, followed by a master's degree in the field from Auburn University in Alabama and master's and doctoral degrees in environmental science from Rutgers."
^Staff. "F. R. Low, 75, Dies; Noted As Engineer; Editor of Magazine Power 42 Years Retired in 1930; Was Inventor and Author.", The New York Times January 23, 1936. Accessed September 11, 2017. "Frederick Rollins Low, editor emeritus of the engineering magazine Power and past president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, died today of myocarditis at his home, after an illness of four years. Mr. Low was a former Mayor of Passaic... Republican, Mr. Low was Councilman here in 1901-03, president of the City Council in 1905-06 and Mayor in 1908-09."
^Joe McHale, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed January 20, 2020. "Born: September 26, 1963 (Age: 56-116d) in Passaic, NJ... High School: Morris Catholic (NJ)"
^Ager, Deborah; and Silverman, M. E. The Bloomsbury Anthology of Contemporary Jewish American Poetry, p. 150. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2013. ISBN9781441183040. Accessed December 26, 2017. "Mary Meriam - Born in Passaic, New Jersey in 1955, she has published essays, reviews, and poems appearing recently in The New York Times, Poetry Foundation, American Life in Poetry, Measure, Mezzo Cammin, Bridges, Light, Think, and Sentence."
^Rosenberg, I. J. "Whatever happened to: Nick Mike-Mayer", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 2, 2016. Accessed March 14, 2018. "His father was a star soccer player in Hungary before the country joined the Soviet bloc nation and he left for Italy. But the family wasn't allowed to stay in Italy for long, having to choose between the United States and Sweden when Mike-Mayer was 14. The U.S. became the choice and he ended up at Passaic (N.J.) High School, where Oakland Raiders great Jack Tatum was three classes ahead of him."
^Staff. "Giants Careful About Tangling With a 'Villain''", The New York Times, September 16, 1976. Accessed March 14, 2018. "Arnsparger hopes he has a football hero Sunday, when Mikolajczyk may start at left guard on the wounded offensive line against the Eagles in Philadelphia. The Passaic, N.J., native arrived eight days ago, after a trade with the Oakland Raiders, with a reputation as one of the finest young linemen."
^Thomas, Dan. "Jack Mulhall Talked In Films Long Before 'Talkies' Day", The Pittsburgh Press, January 10, 1929. Accessed January 28, 2011. "While he was still a school boy, his family migrated to New York and later moved to Passaic, N.J. It was in Passaic that he started his stage career by playing boy parts in a stock company there."
^Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, 1978, p. 261. J.A. Fitzgerald, 1978. Accessed August 4, 2019. "Emil Olszowy, Rep., Passaic - Assemblyman Olszowy was born in Passaic, Oct. 18. 1921."
^Staff. "Eleanore Pettersen, 86, Pioneering Architect", The New York Times, January 18, 2003. Accessed October 14, 2015. "Eleanore Pettersen, a New Jersey architect who helped lead the way for women in her profession, died on Wednesday at her home in Saddle River, N.J.... Ms. Pettersen was born in Passaic, N.J."
^Stuart Rabner: State Attorney General, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 28, 2017. "Rabner grew up in Passaic and was graduated summa cum laude in 1982 from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University."
^Radcliff, Pamela. Interpreting the 20th Century: The Struggle Over Democracy, The Great Courses. The Teaching Company, 2004. Accessed October 18, 2017. "Pamela Radcliff, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of History; University of California, San Diego - Pamela Radcliff was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and grew up in Clifton, New Jersey, and Escondido, California."
^Busciglio, Rick. "A Frank Sinatra Video Tribute from Frankie Randall", Examiner.com, March 21, 2010.
^Staff. "Rosenberg is a quiet note in frantic fun", Sun Sentinel, April 7, 1996. Accessed January 28, 2011. "Alan Rosenberg was born in Passaic, NJ. During the turbulent '60s at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, Alan mixed political activism with acting."
^ abcCorliss, Richard. "Nostalgia Hits the Tracks in 'Be Kind Rewind'", Time (magazine), February 22, 2008. Accessed January 13, 2011. "Ah, Passaic, New Jersey! That crumbling, grumbling city across the Hudson from the gleaming skyline of New York, yet worlds removed from Manhattan magic. A place whose residents shiver in dour poverty, and whose most famous native sons and daughters had to leave town to make it big. The honor roll would include Joe Piscopo, Paul Rudd, Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, Gilligan's Island creator Sherwood Schwartz, three-time Oscar-winning producer Saul Zaentz, sitcom regulars Loretta Swit and Larry Storch, sports hysteric Dick Vitale...and, Be Kind Rewind tells us, the legendary pianist and composer Fats Waller."
^Thomas, Robert McG."Bob Russell, Entertainer, Is Dead at 90", The New York Times, February 2, 1998. Accessed April 22, 2012. "A native of Passaic, N.J., Mr. Russell, whose father was a Russian-born baker, lived in Schenectady, N.Y., before moving to Manhattan at 9, catching the opera bug and changing his name from Roltner to Russell."
^Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 197, p. 255. E.J. Accessed April 3, 2019. "Mr. Rys was born June 24, 1913, in Passaic. He was educated in the Passaic parochial schools, and graduated from East Rutherford High School."
^Weber, Ben. "Sakiewicz Named New Metro Gm", New York Post, January 13, 2000. Accessed February 1, 2011. "Investor-operator Stuart Subotnick, the MLS equivalent of the MetroStars' owner, announced that [Charlie Stillitano] would be replaced with Nick Sakiewicz of Passaic, N.J."
^King, George. "Yank Bats Stay Hot; Blast Three Hrs In Rout Of Tigers", New York Post, July 27, 2001. Accessed January 28, 2011. "Knoblauch, who has been the leadoff hitter the Yankees need the past week, snapped a 5-5 tie with his fifth homer off former Passaic (NJ) High School pitcher Victor Santos."
^Offensive Coordinator Rich Skrosky, Monmouth Hawks football. Accessed February 23, 2018. "He served as an assistant coach at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City in 1984 and later served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at his alma mater Lodi (N.J.) High School in 1985 and 1986. Skrosky and his wife, the former Suzanne Quentz, reside in Howell, N.J."
^Staff. "Robert Smithson", The New York Times. Accessed January 3, 2015. "The artist Robert Smithson is best known for the Spiral Jetty, which has lain in the Great Salt Lake since 1970. Born in Passaic, NJ, in 1938, Smithson died at 35 in an airplane crash in 1973."
^Dr. Edith E. Sproul, National Library of Medicine. Accessed October 16, 2013. "Her work with George Papanicolou at Cornell University Medical School led to the development of the pap smear test for cervical cancer, and she and Charles Gutman of Mount Sinai, New York, were co-discoverers of the association between prostatic cancer and the enzyme acid phosphatase. Edith Sproul was born in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1907."
^Mark Stevens, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed September 25, 2019. "Born: February 19, 1962 (Age: 57-218d) in Passaic, NJ... High School: Passaic (NJ)"
^Gilpin, Kenneth N. "Thomas G. Stockham Jr., 70, Digital Pioneer", The New York Times, January 31, 2004. Accessed December 3, 2017. "Thomas Greenway Stockham was born on Dec. 22, 1933, in Passaic, N.J. He earned his bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees at M.I.T."
^Staff. "Signed, sealed, delivered", The Washington Times, July 25, 2009. Accessed January 28, 2011. "The Passaic, N.J., native also mentioned that regardless of his fitness level, it may be hard for him to get on the field right away, especially considering how stacked United is at midfield."
^via Associated Press. "Passaic native Jack Tatum, NFL star known for vicious hits, dies at 61", The Star-Ledger, July 27, 2010. Accessed August 28, 2011. "Tatum was born in North Carolina but grew up in Passaic, where he was named an All-American as a senior at Passaic High School. In 1999, The Star-Ledger named Tatum, a running back, fullback and defensive back at Passaic despite starting his football career as a sophomore, one of New Jersey's top defensive high school football players of the 20th century."
^via Associated Press. "Osel Tendzin, 47, Head of Tibetan Buddhists, Dies", The New York Times, August 28, 1990. Accessed August 28, 2011. "Mr. Tendzin, who was born in Passaic, N.J., met Mr. Trungpa Rinpoche in 1971 and became his top student, receiving the name Osel Tendzin, or 'radiant holder of the teachings.' His name had been Thomas Rich."
^Vajra Regent, Ösel TendzinArchived October 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Shambhala.org. Accessed August 28, 2011. "Born in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1943, Thomas F. Rich attended Fordham University, graduating in 1965."
^Twentieth-century Children's Writers, p. 1251. Macmillan International Higher Education, 1978. ISBN9781349036486. Accessed August 22, 2018. "Tresselt, Alvin. American. Born in Passaic, New Jersey, 30 September 1916. Educated at Passaic High School, graduated 1934."
^"Paul Troast, Led Jersey Turnpike"The New York Times, July 23, 1972. Accessed December 28, 2017. "Born in 1894 in nearby Garfield, Mr. Troast spent his life in developing resources in Passaic and Clifton. In 1908, when he was graduated from Passaic High School, where he had been president of the senior class, he shared much of his time with the vice president of the class, Eleanor Mahony, who later became his wife."
^Rahshon Turner, RealGM. Accessed November 7, 2020. "Birthplace/Hometown: Passaic, New Jersey"
^Staff. "Darrin A. Winston, 42, of Clarksburg in Millstone Township", Asbury Park Press, August 17, 2008. Accessed September 4, 2008. "Darrin A. Winston, 42, of Clarksburg in Millstone Township, passed away Friday, Aug. 15, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Passaic, he lived in Edison before moving to Millstone Township 10 years ago."
^Narvaez, Alfonso A. "Oscar Winners Return For Passaic Festivities", The New York Times, May 1, 1976. Accessed December 3, 2017. "Porky Zaentz and Beansie Lieberman came home today, and Mayor Gerald Goldman, members of the City Council and 200 others gathered on the steps of City Hall to honor the two local boys who had made good."
^Staff. "Physical Examination for Frankie Zak Wednesday", Chicago Tribune, April 22, 1945. Accessed August 28, 2011. "Zak, Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop, was notified today by his Passaic, N. J., draft board to report for a physical examination there next Wednesday."