April 28 Candidate Meet and Greet

We have been blogging about the transportation needs for Trenton seniors and Wednesday gave us another example of service problems. Several of our seniors did not get back from their nutrition center lunch program in time to meet our candidates. Once again, driver unavailability meant dispatch inadequacies.

Eric Jackson, running for the office of Mayor, was our first speaker. He has a background in finance and "customer friendly" service. His years working with Henry J. Austin and the city's welfare division gave him insight into structured health care and ideas how to move forward. In 1999 he became director of Trenton's Public Works. Subsequently he implemented a street paving program, currently budgeted at $600,000 to $800,000 per year, which can resurface fifty to seventy-five streets each year curb to curb. Another innovation is the "pot hole truck" that uses permanent hot emulsion repair and needs only one man to operate. Previously, temporary "cold patches" required a crew of three men to fill a pot hole. Also, if his concept of costumed historical figures, guiding vistors and demonstrating crafts, is developed, there could be a tourist bonanza.

Keith Hamilton, also a Mayoral Candidate, is probably best known for his years serving as Mercer County Freeholder. Now he feels that he is the best qualified for the financial challenges facing Trenton. He emphasizes the need to "stabilize the revenue stream after years of mismanagement." He would like to see leasing of city assets instead of outright sale. He would ask Governor Christie to "make his tax payment". He thinks Trenton should be entitled to Federal funding because of its historical significance. At one time we were even considered as the Nation's capital and this should be recognized.


Ernest Perez, Jr. is candidate for Councilman at Large. He is a resident of the South Ward and feels that there should be more attention to city services. "We are in the service business." He is a local community activist known for recreation, ballpark development, fishing...which led him to discuss the proposed marina for Trenton. He feels that the whole project, from boardwalk to marina, is long overdue and would be a terrific idea. He recalled Cadwalader Park, "We lost a lot and there's no plan to bring it back." He thinks that the answer to the Capital Tax question might be charging the Capital for the services Legislators enjoy. Another idea is that of a head tax for workers who do not reside in the city but work here.

Phyllis Holly-Ward is also running for Councilman at Large. She addressed senior issues such as housing. "You hear the same things over and over." and would put inspectors on the job to improve conditions. Also disseminating information is important and she would like a watchdog to monitor such services. "Seniors are a big issue and we have to honor the senior base because it sends a message to everyone else." She acknowleged the importance of transportation for seniors and the disabled, "Resources have to be allocated and City Council is checks and balances for everything". Also she thinks that a clean city sends a message that "Clean streets feel safer" and will work to a beautification campaign. She is working for a unified city and pointed out that continuously printing out dual posters in both English and other languages creates separation. One of the reasons that students are currently failing state graduation exams is that they have difficulty with English, so obviously this should be emphasized in our high schools.

Paul Pintella, Mayoral Candidate, was our final guest of the day. He used to live in the old Cigar Factory so he remembered when Pellettieri Homes was a factory building. He asserts that "If you want to work here, you should live here." Because this is a challenging times fiscally, and there is a perception of crime, "It is a time for experience. Would you go to a mechanic if you were sick?"
He asserts that people are moving here, that it is unprecedented for growth and there is room for families and becoming a microcosm of "what a nice town can be". He updated us on the Water Company controversy by pointing out that the pipes lying in outlying townships were the only elements for sale. The water filtration plant is in the City of Trenton and would continue to produce water which would be sold separately to Hamilton, Ewing, and others, to produce a constant source of income even after the lines are sold.

Just a thought...the pipeline sections in the outside townships are maintained by Trenton workers who presently have to leave Trenton proper to work. Yipes! And we are carrying insurance on these guys to work in areas out of our jurisdiction? There has to be a cost saving here I bet. Imagine if Hamilton or Ewing decided to put a head tax on a Trenton water company worker because they were working in Hamilton but did not live there.

In summary, we are impressed with the energy and qualifications of the candidates running this spring. We have two weeks before the election to sort out our notes and discuss items and issues that caught our attention. One thing that I do want to say, regardless of the controversy in the media, there are awesome brainpower and really good intentions evident in these candidates. I am inclined to be hopeful that the cream will float to the top.

It is now up to us.

Trenton Rocks!