After Jersey City Councilwoman Sentenced In Hit-And-Run, Some Still Demand Resignation

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Seven months after Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise was cited for leaving the scene of a crash in which her car hit a bicyclist, she pleaded guilty late last month to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident.

In Essex County Superior Court , DeGise agreed to pay $5,000 fine and lose her license for a year.

But many of the activists who demanded her resignation last summer — and who've asked public officials to join them in doing the same — are still holding rallies and updating their petition.

Video of the July 19, 2022 incident — which shows local Uber Eats bicyclist Andrew Black getting hit, flipping over DeGise's car, and hobbling away — made national news. The crash can be seen at 1:00 in this video.

DeGise did not report the crash until she headed into Jersey City police headquarters six hours later that day.

On Jan. 24, 2023, DeGise pleaded guilty to the charge of leaving the scene of an accident. She also gave a statement to the court.

“I fully accept the legal consequences of my actions and now have an opportunity to serve my community, regain the trust of the people, and live out my values each and every day," she said, according to NJ Spotlight.

In essence, she's not resigning, activists noted.

7,500 Signatures

Megan Carolina, whose petition for DeGise's resignation has now garnered more than 7,500 signatures, called the response "unconscionable" afterward. https://www.change.org/p/counc...

"She is telling us that she did this — and thinks it is okay to continue serving as a lawmaker in our community," says the latest update on the petition. "Amy DeGise has every right to pursue peace for herself and a productive life - as a private citizen, not making the laws that shape the futures and safety of quarter a million residents in Jersey City."

While several elected officials publicly criticized DeGise's actions, some residents believe they need to do more.

On Monday night, they held a rally to ask for DeGise to resign. They've also asked residents to speak at recent council meetings.

Meanwhile, the victim in the crash has filed a $1 million tort claim, naming DeGise and the city as possible defendants, NJ.com reported this week.

See prior reporting here.

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