Pellettieri's 3rd Candidate Meet and Greet

In spite of steady rain yesterday, the candidates doggedly came out to Pellettieri Homes. Our location in the Roebling Market made it feasible for John Harmon, Mr. Shahid Watson, Juan Martinez and Algernon Ward, Jr. to visit with us on short notice. With the six remaining candidates scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, this gave us quality time with these four.

Mr. John Harmon, candidate for Mayor, was our first speaker. He gave us an impressive business resume which included President of the Trenton Chamber of Commerce. He would run the city as a "Customer Service Driven" business where, if you did not perform, you would be fired. He commented that some areas of the city seem to have been overlooked in the present administration. He would change this. The input from each ward would reflect their special priorities. "Everyone pays his fair share and is entitled to the same share of services". He faults the Mayor's office for letting the union hall leave town. "Now you need a driver's license and a GED to be a bricklayer and carpenter". He thinks there should be a survey of the city's needs and specific training programs tailored to fit these needs. From his banking experience, he feels that micro loans marketing can help start up businesses.

Our second Mayoral candidate was Mr. Shahid Watson. He shared his personal challenges, the lack of family support in childhood, not having a regular roof over his head, and yet he managed to get to college. He stated that he is not used to Council meetings but prefers "action" because "The city systems are a mess!" The city cannot survive if the $34 million dollars are taken from its budget, so he thinks that there will be an eventual compromise with the Governor's Office. He would create a "Bureau of Senior Needs". Senior citizens should reconnect with youth and, addressing the ladies in attendance, he called on them to use their wisdom to teach "how to sew, how to cook, how to be a lady". He summed up by saying "We need new thinking out of the box."

Juan Martinez is running for one of the three At Large Council seats, campaigning on a platform of safe education and safe streets. He was instrumental in Pellettieri Homes getting bank approval from NJ Housing over a decade ago. He is aware of deplorable conditions for seniors in Trenton. He pointed out that there is a lot of funding that never gets paid out because the city has no grant writer. He thinks the city needs changes and a grant writer, who works on commissions, would be productive. In his present work for the Board of Education, he has a close look at the school situation. He thinks this generation is a lost generation and laying off teachers will make things worse. Kids who are raising babies, without being given a chance to grow up themselves, need hope. If there were courses of study available, in nursing, clean energy and green jobs, we would be investing in the city's future as well as theirs.

The final candidate for the afternoon was Algernon Ward, Jr. also running for one of the At Large Council seats. He grew up in the city of Trenton and attended its schools. One summer, as a Boy Scout, he spent five days in wilderness training learning to survive by living off the land. What he learned about himself gave him confidence in his own abilities. Today, he is a living example that the city's educational system can work. His groundwork for this job includes spending a full year learning about the city of Trenton. He is a "Leadership of Trenton Fellow" who studied its history, budget, school systems, police and judicial departments with the intent to prepare himself to serve the community. When asked about senior issues, he expressed concern about some city senior housing. He would take a personal interest in correcting abuses and get inspectors on the job so residents are not afraid to speak up for their rights. Mr. Ward is employed as a research scientist for the Department of Health, working with water, air and heavy metals which gives him a unique perspective into the environmental health of the city. He opposed the sale of the Trenton Water Company and noted that it has now been put to a referendum for this November. He thinks the budget crisis is critical but "Panic is the worst thing you can do." He cited the Boy Scout motto: "Be prepared." and added, "Don't lose your head".

Our final Meet and Greet is scheduled for 3:00 pm Wednesday April 28. Candidates lined up are Mayoral candidates Eric Jackson, Keith Hamilton, and Paul Pintella. At Large candidates are Ernest Perez, Jr., Donelle M. Presha and Phyllis Holly-Ward.

Everyone is welcome. Pellettieri Homes is at 615 S. Clinton Ave. in the Roebling market.

Have a nice day.