The Human Rights, Ellis Island, and Tourism commissions and the Municipal Drug & Alcohol Abuse Alliance avoided the axe after a frustrated member urged the City Council to reconsider.

All four were deemed defunct, and no longer serving important government functions, according to the ordinance.

“Jersey City is on its way to being the largest city, with its strategic position, in New Jersey,” Human Rights Commission member Fouad F. Shafik told the City Council at the May 26 meeting. “The Human Rights Commission is rooted in the heart of American people. A few month ago, this administration joined the United Nations Human Rights Council and now you’re abolishing the Human Rights Commission?”

Shafik told City Clerk Robert Byrne that the last time the group met was on May 10, but it’s plagued by absenteeism. “Our ability to function has been paralyzed,” Shafik said. “We need to reform, not abolish the group.”

The City Council voted the ordinance down, 0-9. Councilman William Gaughan said the four volunteer agencies should be considered in separate ordinances, not lumped into one, and the functions of each group should be researched. Councilman Mariano Vega highlighted one group’s history.

“We need to go back to memory lane to determine why we created the Human Rights Commission,” Vega said. “A man of Indian and Pakistani descent was viciously assaulted 15 years ago. With immigration reform going on in the United States, there can be attacks on Hispanics, which make up to one third of Jersey City.”

Each group has approximately 16 members.