Ashe-Nadrowski punches at Booker over data center-related votes in Bayonne

Bayonne mayoral candidate Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski has launched an attack on her rival, Councilman at-Large Loyad Booker, regarding his stance and votes on data center-related developments in Bayonne. Ashe-Nadrowski accused Booker and other 'insider politicians' of prioritizing corporate interests over the community's, specifically referencing the permitting of data centers at the Delta Self-Storage Facility on New Hook Road. The controversy stems from a December decision by the planning board and city council, which amended a redevelopment plan to include data centers as a permitted use at the site. Ashe-Nadrowski contends that this decision effectively made data center construction an 'as of right' development, meaning no further variances would be needed. She criticized the council's recent unanimous vote on two non-binding resolutions opposing a data center, calling them 'toothless' and 'ceremonial' given the prior zoning approval. Councilman Booker defended his votes, stating that the planning board's decision was merely to approve the 'usage' of the property and not a direct approval of a data center itself. He claimed the issue was then passed to the council for further investigation, where, in response to public outcry, they decided to issue resolutions against a data center. However, Ashe-Nadrowski, who attended the December meeting, noted that the planning board unanimously approved the amendment without questions despite resident opposition. Bayonne Business Administrator/Board of Education President Mary Jane Desmond, the third mayoral candidate, called the approved resolutions 'problematic,' citing them as a 'political knee-jerk reaction' that could lead to lawsuits. The debate over data center zoning and transparency is a key issue in Bayonne's non-partisan municipal elections on May 12th, where voters will elect a new mayor and City Council members.