A Jersey City councilwoman refused to step down from office Wednesday night amid outcry over an alleged hit-and-run last month.
Nearly 100 locals showed up to a city council meeting Wednesday, imploring Amy DeGise to step down. DeGise expressed remorse but refused to capitulate, teasing that she will have more to say about the incident after legal proceedings ensue.
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“I’m not resigning,” DeGise declared, Fox News reported. “For those who call for my resignation, you are heard and I understand that you have concerns and questions that I respect and would enjoy any type of dialogue or discussion with you after I go to court.”
Footage showed an SUV colliding with Andrew Black, 29, at an intersection on July 19. He appeared to blow through a red light and managed to survive the incident while suffering injuries. The SUV, which was reportedly driven by DeGise, is then seen driving away from the scene.
A #JerseyCity councilwoman has no plans to resign after allegedly smashing into a #bicyclist in an intersection in an apparent hit-and-run accident. #Councilwoman Amy DeGise was cited for failure to report an accident and leaving the scene of an #accident. pic.twitter.com/QIOE1jdSdO
— Roderick White (@iGotYouDFW) August 11, 2022
DeGise was subsequently hit with two summons for fleeing and then failing to report the incident for about six hours, CBS News reported. During the meeting Wednesday, DeGise expressed gratitude toward the few residents in attendance who voiced support for her amid the firestorm.
“I’m appreciative of everyone who came out and had to stay tonight. I’m appreciative and so grateful for the people who have reached out to support me or just want to wait until that court process goes on to ask me any further questions [or] to pry anymore. I cannot make it through these days without you,” she said, per Fox News.
Black was making deliveries for Uber Eats when he was rammed by the SUV, CBS News reported. He has reportedly been contemplating a lawsuit against DeGise.
“Like if you hit someone that speed and just drive away, it seems like that’s not nice to me,” Black told the news outlet.
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DeGise also noted Wednesday that she did not yet have a court date and insisted the incident has made her eager to be “a better leader.”
She was previously involved in another vehicular incident. Police body camera footage from last November showed a police officer informing her that she had parked her car illegally and it had been struck by another car and would be towed away.
If she continues refusing to step down, locals could try to pursue a recall election against her, a council member told CBS2.
