On Tuesday, the Paterson City Council rejected a borrowing measure that would have helped finance repairs to Hinchliffe Stadium.
Hinchliffe Stadium is one of a relatively small number of ballparks remaining to have hosted Negro Leagues baseball, and there has been an effort over the years to repair the facility. Last week, the city council had voted to authorize $1.5 million in improvements to Hinchliffe Stadium, part of which would have been funded through borrowing. The plan would have led to work along the ballpark’s exterior, including the restoration of four ticket booths.
The funds needed for the project were included in a $2.6 million borrowing package that would have also covered repairs to other recreational facilities. Six votes were required to advance the measure, but it ultimately fell short in a 4-4 vote, with some on the council expressing frustration with the lack of information from the administration of mayor Jose “Joey” Torrres. More from NorthJersey.com:
Much of Tuesday night’s two-hour discussion of the issue involved the council’s ongoing complaints that Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres’ administration was not providing enough information about its plans. But some of the information that the council requested had been distributed by the administration a week earlier when the contract was voted upon.
“That’s the problem that we’re having, a lack of communication,” said [council president William] McKoy, the council president.
The proposed $2.6 million in bonds would have covered more than just the Hinchliffe work. A city memo showed that $700,000 of the money to be borrowed would have gone toward the Hinchliffe repairs. The rest of the money for the $1.5 million renovation contract has been attained through grants, officials said.
Hinchliffe Stadium originally opened in 1932, and hosted the New York Black Yankees and New York Cubans.
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