Councilwoman Jasi Mikae Edwards

03/19/2026

I have been getting many calls, texts, and emails about the recent change in the amount required to purchase city-owned properties.

The city is moving in the wrong direction when it comes to selling city-owned properties.

For months and even years, hundreds of Trenton residents have been waiting for the opportunity to purchase vacant, city-owned homes, many of which require significant rehabilitation.

Now, applicants are being told they must offer 25% of the tax assessed value, a number that does not reflect the true condition of these properties.

These homes often require $100,000 or more in repairs.

Every additional dollar we require upfront is a dollar that cannot be used to actually fix the home.

If we make it harder for residents to purchase and rehabilitate these properties, we are not protecting the City, we are only prolonging vacancy, slowing redevelopment, and blocking pathways to affordable homeownership.

The City does not build wealth through the sale of distressed properties.

We build wealth through restored homes, stable families, and long-term tax revenue.

We should be prioritizing:
• Getting properties back into productive use
• Supporting residents who are willing to invest in their neighborhoods
• Creating AFFORDABLE, realistic, achievable pathways to ownership

Not policies that unintentionally push or price people out.

I strongly oppose this shift and will be advocating for a more balanced, practical and AFFORDABLE approach that puts Trenton residents first.

03/12/2026

Trenton cannot keep responding to gun violence the same way and expect different results.

For years, our city has reacted to shootings after they happen instead of building a coordinated strategy to prevent them in the first place.

I've done the research to see what is working elsewhere that we can do here. Other cities are proving that a different approach works,

1. Newark recently reported its lowest murder rate since 1953, with non-fatal shootings down 35%.
2. Philadelphia’s Group Violence Intervention strategy has been associated with nearly a 39% reduction in weekly shootings among participating groups.
3. Oakland strengthened its Ceasefire strategy and saw homicides and non-fatal shootings drop by 34% in one year.
4. Baltimore reported a 22% drop in homicides and a 19% reduction in non-fatal shootings as part of a coordinated violence reduction strategy.

The results we are seeing in cities across the country show that a coordinated approach can reduce violence.

As mayor, I am prepared to bring that same level of focus, coordination, and partnership to Trenton (beyond what exists) and work alongside residents, community leaders, and public safety partners to build a safer capital city for everyone.

That means establishing a Violence Reduction Coalition that regularly reviews incidents, identifies patterns, and intervenes before conflicts turn into shootings.

It means partnering with trusted street outreach teams and violence interrupters who can mediate disputes and calm tensions before violence erupts.

It means treating violence as both a public safety issue AND a public health issue, ensuring mental health services, trauma support, and intervention resources are part of our response.

It means focusing enforcement and intervention on the small number of individuals and ongoing conflicts that drive many of these shootings.

And it means creating a Public Safety Advisory Task Force, so residents, faith leaders, youth organizations, and community partners help guide the city’s violence prevention strategy.

Trenton is a resilient city full of people who care deeply about our neighborhoods. But our families deserve more than reactive responses. They deserve leadership that is organized, proactive, and consistently committed to preventing violence before it happens.

We know what works. We also know what doesn't.

The question is whether we are ready to bring that level of leadership and coordination to the capital city of New Jersey.

03/11/2026

Today I join the Trenton community in mourning the loss of Retired Deputy Fire Chief Todd Patrick Willever, a dedicated public servant who gave 29 years of service to the City of Trenton through the Trenton Fire Department.

Chief Willever served our city with courage, leadership, and unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and safety of our residents. Rising to the role of Deputy Chief of Administration, he represented the very best of the fire service, discipline, pride in the uniform, and a deep love for the community he served.

For nearly three decades, Chief Willever answered the call whenever Trenton needed him. His legacy lives on through the firefighters he mentored, the lives he helped protect, and the example he set for future generations of public servants.

On behalf of the residents of Trenton, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Willever family, his loved ones, and the entire Trenton Fire Department. We are grateful for his service and the sacrifice he made for our city.

Rest easy, Chief. Your watch is complete.

— Councilwoman Jasi Mikae Edwards

02/22/2026

Please make sure if you live on a Main Street to move your vehicles off the road to a local school parking lot. The city will tow vehicles that are left on the main streets.

Be careful when the snow starts if you must drive. Stay safe. Stay warm. And for those of you that love the snow, have fun!

02/22/2026

01/24/2026

Happening Tomorrow

11/07/2025

There’s a white woman on Chambers St. That observation on July 18 represented fact and surprise simply because Caucasian women never appear in that part of Trenton. Better odds exist for finding a …

11/06/2025

OPED being released via Trentonian on 11/7/2025:
A New Partnership for a Stronger Trenton
By Trenton City Councilwoman At-Large Jasi Mikae Edwards

Tuesday’s election marked a new chapter for New Jersey. With the victory of Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Dale Caldwell, our state begins a new era of leadership grounded in service, innovation, and opportunity. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to both, and I especially celebrate Dr. Caldwell’s historic achievement as the first Black male Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey’s history and Mikie Sherrill as the first Democratic female Governor in New Jersey’s history. These milestones are a symbol of progress and representation that inspires us all.

As the capital city, Trenton’s future is deeply intertwined with the vision of our state’s leadership. Governor Sherrill’s commitment to economic revitalization, education, and equity aligns strongly with my own mission to rebuild Trenton from the inside out. Together, we can ensure that the capital city truly reflects the strength and promise of New Jersey.

Rebuilding Trenton from the Inside Out

For decades, Trenton residents have carried the financial weight of a city overburdened by tax-exempt properties and aging infrastructure. It’s time for a new partnership that brings real property tax relief and neighborhood renewal.

Through expanded Capital City Aid, the state can help us rehabilitate vacant homes, fund grants for homeownership, and support residents who want to purchase and repair city-owned properties to live in them. These investments will stabilize neighborhoods, strengthen homeownership, and ease the burden on long-time taxpayers who have sustained this city for generations.

Economic Growth and Downtown Revitalization

Our small businesses are the backbone of Trenton, yet too many are struggling due to limited walkable traffic and years of disinvestment. Trenton’s downtown and commercial corridors city-wide have been dormant for too long. To change this, we need state-backed economic tools that help retain small businesses, fill long-vacant commercial spaces, and attract anchor tenants downtown and city-wide, and revive our walkable districts.

By aligning with the Sherrill–Caldwell administration, we can restore Trenton’s downtown as a vibrant, walkable hub of commerce, art, and culture, while also strengthening neighborhood corridors across the city. This revitalization will not only grow our tax base but reaffirm Trenton as the heart of the Garden State. We can bring new life to our city’s heart — creating jobs, expanding entrepreneurship, and increasing state pride in its capital.

Infrastructure, Public Safety, and Route 29

The reconstruction of Route 29 presents one of the greatest opportunities in Trenton’s modern history. For too long, this highway has divided our neighborhoods from the waterfront and stifled development. Working with Governor Sherrill, NJDOT, and Mercer County, we can transform Route 29 into a safe, community-centered boulevard that reconnects our residents to the riverfront and opens doors for new housing, recreation, and economic growth.

Public safety must be a central part of this vision—through traffic-calming measures, improved lighting, pedestrian crossings, and design elements that slow vehicles and protect lives. This is about more than roads; it’s about reconnecting our city and reimagining how Trenton moves, grows, and thrives.

Restoring Confidence in Trenton Water Works

Trenton Water Works (TWW) is one of our city’s most critical assets, and one that deserves the full support of the state. I look forward to working with the new administration through Council’s Ad Hoc Committee to secure the financial and operational assistance needed to modernize the utility, strengthen staffing, and restore public confidence.

Our goal is to ensure clean, reliable, and affordable water for every resident and customer while operating with transparency, accountability, and efficiency. With focused investment, TWW can become a model of public excellence in municipal water management.

Looking Ahead

Trenton deserves a real seat at the table. With new leadership in the State House and renewed energy at the local level, we can finally align our priorities to deliver meaningful results for our residents.
As a Councilwoman, I am committed to building a strong partnership with Governor Sherrill and Lieutenant Governor Caldwell to advance Trenton’s most pressing needs — housing stabilization, economic revitalization, public safety, infrastructure renewal, and improved city services.

Together, we can rebuild Trenton into the City We Deserve — a capital that reflects the strength, resilience, and unity of New Jersey itself.

Congratulations to our new Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill and Lt. Governor-elect Dr. Dale Caldwell!

10/15/2025

Over the past few weeks, my team and I have been going door to door across the city, sharing important information, promoting civic engagement, and encouraging residents to take part in upcoming citywide cleanups and the November election. 🗳️💪🏽

We’ve also been handing out my new Information Guide for City Services & Civic Engagement, which includes:
🏘️ How to purchase city-owned properties
🚮 How to report illegal dumping or maintenance issues
🏠 Renters’ rights and housing assistance
📅 Upcoming City Council meetings
🗳️ Voter registration and early voting details

As your Council Vice President and At-Large Member, I’m committed to making city government more transparent, accessible, and responsive. Together, we can build a cleaner, safer, and stronger Trenton.

📍You can grab a brochure at from me or download it online here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KsbKj5OfHOWSq7IeGtwCVOEFG0z2j58W/view?usp=drive_link (English)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RpCPNUSuquYETUdOrf30BAdXxTlMH7Uk/view?usp=sharing (Espanol)

Let me know if you want to volunteer to go door to door with me and my crew to help spread the word!

09/15/2025

Trenton Water Works (TWW) is at a crossroads. The issues we’re facing are not new, they’ve been building for decades. From infrastructure breakdowns and DEP violations to billing problems and staffing shortages, we’ve all seen the impact. As your Council Vice President, I’ve been doing the research and listening to residents, employees, and experts. I want to share my perspective on how we move forward.

First, we cannot make hasty decisions without the facts. That’s why I am pushing for a comprehensive assessment of TWW. This assessment would give us the full picture:

✅ Asset valuation (what the system is worth)
✅ Outstanding bonds and debt obligations
✅ Customer accounts receivable (how much is owed to TWW)
✅ Bonding capacity (how much we can responsibly borrow)
✅ Capital improvements needed and their costs (repairs)
✅ Staffing, salaries, and operational needs

Second, the assessment must look at three options:

1. Keep TWW as-is, but reform it. This means major capital investments, performance evaluations, competitive salaries, surplus management, and stronger oversight. I recommend creating a 9-member oversight board with regional representation to make sure accountability is not just on Council alone.

2. Create a Trenton-owned authority (I highly recommend). Similar to the Trenton Housing Authority, this would give TWW its own bonding power while still keeping local control. The board would include regional representation, but the City would remain majority owner. This option would need to address how surplus funds transfer to the City’s budget, and how debt and assets are managed.

3. Regionalization (truly not an option but it must be explored so that everyone understands how it would affect Trenton). This would mean shared ownership with the townships. It could bring financial relief but also comes with risks, Trenton could lose direct control and revenue.

Finally, while the assessment is underway (which may take 12–18 months), we must take immediate steps:

🔹 Revisit the Capital Improvement Plan to see what’s done and what remains
🔹 Commission an asset valuation to know our real bonding power
🔹 Reallocate budget resources and adjust salaries so we can compete for the skilled professionals we need
🔹 Begin applying aggressively for every available grant at the state and federal level

At the end of the day, my priority is making sure TWW remains public, accountable, and sustainable. Trenton deserves clean, safe water and we deserve a utility that’s run responsibly.

Doing nothing is not an option, and neither is rushing into changes without the facts.

I welcome your thoughts and questions. Together, let’s make sure Trenton has a water system we can be proud of.

CC for more info.

09/10/2025