NA DEMOCRATS WALKING WHILE GOP DOES NOTHING.
Balwierczak & Yampaglia continue door-to-door canvassing while GOP incumbents remain “mum” on the critical issues of urbanization, density, gentrification, rolling assessments and the explosion of apartment units along Ridge Road with hundreds more anticipated thanks to Fitzhenry & Sheedy!
NORTH ARLINGTON – Undeterred by the online criticisms of mindless GOP followers, empty rhetoric and broken promises of the incumbents, Democratic council candidates John Balwierczak and John Yampaglia continue to make the case for change and responsible, two-party representation on the North Arlington Mayor & Council.
For even Republicans agree, having one-party domination of the Mayor & Council is eating away at grass roots democracy and making a mockery of the electoral process. Both Balwierczak and Yampaglia believe their message is resonating with every resident they engage. 
“We have no illusions. Democrats need to do a better job of engaging voters and offering a realistic alternative to the policies of those now running the community. That is exactly what we’re doing and the response has been well worth the effort.”Here we see the Democrats taking their case to the people, one door at a time. Democrats remain optimistic as it becomes apparent local residents, especially new members of the community seek and endorse responsible, two-party government.
“Could you imagine the US Senate or the House of Representatives having all members of just one political party? Everyone just nodding and voting yes for everything and anything? Hundreds, it not thousands of votes by this governing body all in the affirmative with never a debate or discussion? That’s what you have with Brian Fitzhenry and Allison Sheedy, rubber stamps for more apartments, more traffic, more density and the complete transformation of Ridge Road into an urban extension of Hudson County, Harrison and Kearny,” noted the challengers.
“There are several new developments already in the works along Ridge Road, and Fitzhenry nor Sheedy utter a word. They are rubber stamps for more apartment dwellings and they refuse to even talk about it because the hard reality is that they haven’t campaigned for reelection in nearly a decade,” offered the Democrats.
With one-party government, wasteful spending is in full effect as witnessed by $8,000 squandered on a useless newsletter designed to promote Republicans, not the community.
Who really supports such a waste of tax dollars? The answer is obvious.
Democrats are in the midst of making public records requests to see actually what is taking place and why North Arlington is spending so much for a community this small. According to sources, nearly a million dollars was spent on renovations of the Borough Hall and lavish office space for part-time politicians at taxpayer expense.
The Republicans refuse to address the issue of empty storefronts, closing businesses, car break-in’s and a sense that North Arlington is being urbanized while Democrats will fight to retain the notion that the community remain small, safe and suburban.“The differences between us and the incumbents are as plain as day. We believe in responsible two-party government, they support the elimination of the same. We believe in a discussion of the issues, they offer monologues and zero dialogue. We want a vibrant Ridge Road with local retailers, they prefer an explosion of apartments to be built everywhere and anywhere and that same policy is now being aimed at Schuyler Avenue and River Road. They believe having all Republicans controlling all phases of the government is just fine, and unless you’re a partisan Republican, there is no place at the table for you no matter how long you lived here,” noted the challengers.
“Residents are delighted to see us and they tell us they have never met a candidate that took the time to knock on their door and have a frank discussion of the issues. They can’t understand why with so much construction, why haven’t we had a Town Hall to discuss what is happening and why,” said Balwierczak, himself a former Republican.
And local Democrats believe the enthusiastic support for Donald J Trump by both Fitzhenry & Sheedy remains unanswered and strange. “Before Donald Trump became president he was the engineer behind the failed housing debacle known as EnCap, that was supported by both Fitzhenry and Sheedy. Trump wanted to construct nearly 1,600 units of low income apartments in the Meadowlands, and eminent domain seizure was required to make it happen. Many of the businesses there today were on the brink of being relocated to Fish House Road in Jersey City if not for local Democrats standing up and saying no,” offered Nick Antonicello, the longtime local party leader.
“Sources say Ridge Road has become a series of vacant storefronts that will be bulldozed for even more apartments that do not fit the mass, scale and character of the community. Why Fitzhenry and Sheedy are afraid to tell people the truth about their plans for North Arlington is reckless and disturbing. If there is a single reason why we need another voice representing residents that are not partisans like the incumbents, this is it.”