Former Jersey City Mayor Gerald McCann, a member of Hudson Catholic’s first graduating class, Hudson Catholic’s first All County Athlete (Cross Country), and its first athlete to receive a full college athletic scholarship - to St. Peter’s College, is nothing, if not loquacious. He is also regarded as an entertaining storyteller, particularly of contemporary non fiction.
Jerry, who was ‘Jerry’ before Seinfeld, agreed to be interviewed by the editor of Accipiter, the alumni publication, in March 1984, during his first term as Mayor. That interview took place in the Mayor’s Office at City Hall, and is re-presented, courtesy of the Alumni Association archives, following this article. Thirty-seven years later, Jerry is back with a follow-up interview with the same editor, this time for Building The Legacy, a publication of the Office of Advancement at Hudson Catholic.
Jerry served two non-consecutive terms as mayor, from 1981-85 and then 1989-92, making him the Grover Cleveland of the JC Mayoralty. This interview took place at the venerable VIP Diner, corner of Sip Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard.
BTL: How would you describe downtown Jersey City and the waterfront when you were elected Mayor in 1981?
GM: Waterfront development, since the days of the Paul Jordan administration in the early 70s, had been entirely focused on industrial development. Upon my election to the mayoralty, the focus changed to commercial development, otherwise the waterfront and community you see today would have been replaced by heavy industrial activity.
BTL: Given your vision for the JC waterfront back in 1982, how do you feel things turned out?
GM: It has turned out precisely as we proposed it to be. But not before clearing many hurdles, such as having to institute a building ban in Newport until we could improve the sewage system beneath the ground.
BTL: What was the impetus for your grand vision?
GM: It was always about Jersey City’s advantageous geographic positioning, being on the waterfront to the New York Harbor, and its proximity to the greatest city in the world. We always felt that Jersey City should be able to enjoy many of the same fruits as New York City always had.
BTL: What would the average person not know about problems that had to be solved?
GM: Many and severe infrastructural challenges stood in our way. Water, sewer, and electric lines, along with our sewage treatment facilities, all required upgrading before development could commence. At varying times, we had to shut down the city water system to deal with environmental risks. On the west side, we discovered PCP and chromium on building sites, suits followed, and we went to the US Supreme Court, and won those cases, to ensure safety and proceed with development. After all this, then we got to the starting line where, awaiting us was the task of attracting businesses from New York to come over the river. Bankers Trust rewarded our vision and efforts, becoming the first company to commit to making the cross-river journey, placing 1,600 new jobs near Exchange Place.
BTL: Proudest accomplishment as Mayor?
GM: Without a doubt, initiating the redevelopment of the City that continues to this day. Today’s ‘Gold Coast’ was but a gleam in our eye back in 1981.
BTL: During your mayoralty, you met a lot of colorful characters, such as New York Mayor Ed Koch and real estate developer Donald Trump. Which person was the most memorable and why?
GM: Ronald Reagan. He was a man who kept his word, which to us meant everything, because we could not have done the waterfront without federal money. President Reagan gave us everything we asked for to deal with our infrastructural issues. The rest is history.
BTL: You are a member of the school's pioneers -- first graduating class in 1968. How do you feel about your alma mater today?
GM: I am very happy for the school’s success, particularly after the scare we experienced 13 years ago. I think that the school not missing one day during the pandemic is truly amazing - a story that should be told. I am going to ask Mayor Fulop to recognize that in some way.
BTL: Memories of your time at HC?
GM: Being in the first class, we not only spent our freshmen year at a different location while our present building was being built, we had the odd experience of never experiencing any upperclassmen during our four years. Everything was new………..everything! At the same time, we were going to school with grammar school kids, and wound up recruiting some of them to enroll in Hudson Catholic.
I recall Football was not too good - we scored our first touchdown ever on a fumble! When we won the Freshmen Basketball City Championship, that was a huge surprise, I mean, something like that is not supposed to happen with a brand new school. The next year when we moved up to Bergen Avenue, the cafeteria had not yet been completed, so we did not have a lunch period, we schooled for half days and went home (Editor’s Note: some things come full circle, from the Pioneer Days to Pandemic Times). It was truly a unique, great experience. The best thing for me was meeting Matt Donohue and Bob Gironda, going all through Hudson Catholic and St. Peter’s College together, and then going into business with them, starting our own Accounting firm!
Rapid Fire Round
BTL: Greatest track star you have coached.
GM: Evander Pierre and Crystal Ortiz at Hudson Catholic. Both were All Americans, among five I had at Hudson, along with 3 State Championships.
BTL: One regret
GM: None
BTL: If you wrote a book, which person would be most embarrassed?
GM: I wouldn’t write a book, because I wouldn’t want to embarrass anyone.
BTL: Title of that book?
GM: Next question
BTL: Three dinner guests
GM: Ronald Reagan, Sandy Koufax, Mohammed Ali
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Editor’s Note: I've often asked Jerry if he would be writing a book, would ever write a book, and then begged him to write a book. He has always declined, he has said, because he would never want to embarrass anyone in print.
To read the original Accipiter article, click on the link below
