Jersey City Birds Statement on Mayor Fulop’s Veto of Ordinance 25-123
(December 6, 2025)
Mayor Steven Fulop sent a letter to Council on 12/4 vetoing Ordinance 25-123, which includes the new bird-friendly design standards for new construction.
This is an outrageous move that attempts to overturn a 7-0 council vote on November 25th, and a unanimous Planning Board vote in September. It also ignores the huge outpouring of public support this ordinance has received. We can only assume this is a misguided attempt to curry favor with developers. But it is also a parting shot at those who supported and introduced the legislation, including Mayor-elect Solomon, as well as at the vast majority of voters who turned out last week to elect a progressive slate that will not be swayed by developer money and self-interest.
The irony – as Newark and New York City have already proven with similar legislation – is that bird-friendly design is not anti-development. In both Newark and NYC, development is at record levels and creation of affordable housing has not been impacted. This ordinance calls for buildings to incorporate common-sense, practical solutions to make new construction sustainable and environmentally friendly, which makes them better for people too. It offers flexibility and leeway in the methods and materials used, as long as the result reduces threat to birds to accepted levels.
Bird-friendly buildings are not just bird-friendly. They are more energy-efficient, more sustainable, and more desirable for tenants and homeowners. Arguments against bird-friendly legislation focus on the cost of specialty materials. But designing a bird-friendly building isn’t just a matter of comparing glass prices or swapping premium specialty materials for regular ones. There are many possible strategies to making a building more bird-friendly, including using less glass overall, which can mitigate the cost of any specialty materials used in the first 100 feet. Other cities are designing beautiful, energy-efficient buildings that meet the needs of the inhabitants while also protecting birds. It’s time for Jersey City to do the same.
Bird-friendly legislation does not ask politicians to choose birds over people, or over affordable housing. But it does ask that developers take responsibility for the environmental impact of their buildings.
The heart of Jersey City Birds’ mission is very simple: to make our city better for birds and birders. For people, as well as for wildlife. This ordinance accomplishes both goals. We stand by it. So do NYC Bird Alliance, American Bird Conservancy, New Jersey Audubon and every other expert we reached out to for research and advice, including architects and the Newark planning director who described this legislation as a win-win. Just as importantly, we know so many of you support it. Hundreds of you have shared and commented on our posts, signed our petition, emailed, messaged, and expressed your relief and happiness that this is happening at last.
The only pushback has been from developer-aligned special interest groups who have their own agenda. And now, from our outgoing mayor.
The misleading arguments have been debunked many times but we will counter them all again for each council member and for anyone else who wants to hear facts and research rather than bogus fear-mongering claims. Then we hope and trust that our current council will do what they already voted to do, and allow the ordinance to pass by overriding this veto on December 10th.
We ask you to reach out to your council people and let them know you support this ordinance. Join us at the upcoming council meeting on December 10 at City Hall, start time 6pm. And know that we are going to get this done, with your help, for the birds and for Jersey City, because it is the right thing for both.
