André Sayegh, Mayor, City of Paterson

In an interview with Invest:, André Sayegh, mayor of the city of Paterson, said that strategic investment in public infrastructure, recreational spaces, and economic revitalization is driving Paterson’s transformation. “To give you a few data points, we’ve invested over $116 million in upgrading our parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, pools, tennis courts, and basketball courts. The goal is not just beautification, it’s also economic development.”

What changes and recent successes over the past year have had the greatest impact on the city of Paterson, and in what ways?

Let me take you back to when I first became mayor in 2018. At that time, Paterson had approximately 1,200 abandoned properties. Seven years later, that number has been reduced to fewer than 200 — a reduction of over 80%. This is a clear sign of the redevelopment and revitalization taking place across the city, especially in our public spaces.

To give you a few data points, we’ve invested over $116 million in upgrading our parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, pools, tennis courts, and basketball courts. The goal is not just beautification, it’s also economic development. Renovated parks tend to raise nearby property values. We refer to this movement as a “recreational renaissance.” It’s vital not just to restore these public spaces but also to provide programming that maximizes their use and appeal. In addition to decreasing the number of abandoned properties and investing in public spaces, we’ve also brought in $100 million in grants over the past seven years. That’s crucial for us as a cash-strapped city — we didn’t want to burden our operating budget further. These grants have supported improvements in public safety, public health, and public works.

What would you consider your immediate or medium-term goals and priorities for the city?

One of our main priorities is road repaving. We’ve launched an ambitious resurfacing program. To date, we’ve repaved about 140 streets in Paterson. By the end of the year, our goal is to reach nearly 200 streets.

This matters because infrastructure improvements are vital. Smoother roads are better for business and make the city more navigable and welcoming. We want people to drive through Paterson without worrying about hitting potholes. Infrastructure is paramount, and we’ll continue to push forward with road improvements across the city.

What economic development initiatives are underway in Paterson, and how are they affecting the local economy?

One key example is the revitalization of a formerly abandoned property, Hinchliffe Stadium. It’s one of only two stadiums in the United States that hosted Negro League Baseball games. When African Americans were denied the opportunity to play in Major League Baseball, they played in stadiums like Hinchliffe. The only other stadium of its kind still standing is Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

The renovation has led to local job creation for maintenance staff, concessions workers, and security personnel, all of whom are Paterson residents. One story I love to share is about the head of security at the stadium. He not only works there but also lives right next door in the affordable senior housing we built adjacent to the stadium. So now, he walks to work every day.

Former President Joe Biden presented Paterson with a national restoration award for our work in bringing Hinchliffe Stadium back to life. It was a significant recognition, and we’ve received several awards, but that one stands out. We’ve also successfully attracted professional teams to call Hinchliffe home.

In light of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, we’re bringing in two more professional soccer teams — one men’s and one women’s — to play at the stadium. This expands the number of professional teams to four and creates jobs and athletic opportunities for Paterson residents. Our goal is to position ourselves as “Soccer City, USA.”

We’re only about 20 minutes from East Rutherford, and while Hinchliffe Stadium is too small to host actual World Cup games — it seats 8,000 compared to MetLife’s 80,000 — we’re planning related events like clinics and practices for youth. This will drive tourism and economic activity. Visitors will eat at our restaurants and shop locally. There’s a real multiplier effect, and the impact of the stadium should not be underestimated.

Given your work in securing funds to improve services and security, how has that evolved in recent years?

We’ve leveraged the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program, designed to spur investment in urban areas like Paterson. One major incentive is the reduced sales tax — just 3.5% instead of the standard 7% on certain items. For example, if you shop at Home Depot in Paterson, you pay half the sales tax compared to a nearby town without UEZ status.

Beyond that, the UEZ funds public safety through police foot patrols and cleanliness through dedicated maintenance crews in business districts. The aim is to make these areas safe and inviting for both shoppers and investors.

What sectors are driving economic growth in the city?

Paterson has become a destination for food lovers. When I became mayor, my wife, who’s a marketing manager, and I came up with the slogan: “Great Falls, Great Food, Great Fun.” We’re home to the second-largest waterfall east of the Mississippi after Niagara.

We’ve also embraced and monetized our multicultural identity by naming areas after ethnic communities. For instance, Grant Street is “Mexico Boulevard,” Union Avenue is “Bangladesh Boulevard,” and Market Street includes “Peru Square” and “Dominican Republic Way.” Main Street even has “Palestine Way” — we have the highest Palestinian population per capita in the United States. We want to share our diversity with others, not just celebrate it internally.

What is the city doing to support residents in starting or growing small businesses?

We have a Small Business Development Center behind City Hall, operated by William Paterson University. Additionally, the UEZ helps incentivize investment in small businesses. Restaurant Week is another strong example. It promotes family-owned restaurants and gives them visibility through advertising and marketing.

What are the biggest challenges facing the city, and how are you working to overcome them?

Bureaucracy is one of our biggest hurdles. Cutting through red tape takes time and persistence. I often tell my team that if Patersonians knew how hard I had to advocate to get even basic things done, they’d be surprised.

One example is the development around the Great Falls, our city’s signature attraction, which draws around 300,000 visitors a year. We want to reach 1 million. We’re working to bring more restaurants to the area so people can visit the Falls, take photos, eat, and share their experiences online. A new café is opening this summer, and a rooftop restaurant and food hall are planned for next year to enhance the area’s appeal.

What is your outlook for the city, and what are your top goals to bring that vision to life?

We want to build on our success with the stadium and its ripple effects. After Hinchliffe was restored, nearby homes and even the local fire station underwent renovations. That kind of neighborhood revitalization is what we aim to continue. As I’ve said, park development is economic development. Just look at Central Park. Property values around it are among the highest in Manhattan. We want to replicate that kind of growth here.

When I started as mayor, we didn’t have a single playground designed for children with special needs. Now, we have eight inclusive playgrounds for children on the spectrum. I visited three of them recently and was heartened to see families enjoying the spaces. That’s the kind of progress we’re committed to making.