RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED WITH NA’S DRASTIC CHANGING LANDSCAPE
Homeowners see a tale of two communities due to rapid redevelopment along Ridge Road
North Arlington Democratic candidates John Balwierczak and John Yampaglia continued this door-to-door hunt for support as the changes along Ridge Road have many residents worried as to what is the direction of the community with the proliferation of apartment dwellings on Ridge Road.
Local Republicans have had a virtual monopoly and stranglehold on local government despite the fact there are more registered Democrats versus Republicans. Undeclared or independent voters are the largest voter registration pool in North Arlington.
No Democrat has served on the NA Borough Council since 2019, some five years ago.
But with an anticipated large turnout due to the contest for President, Balwierczak and Yampaglia believe hard work with a common sense message of keeping the community small, safe and suburban resonates with a majority of residents regardless of party registration.
According to the candidates, there seems to be little enthusiasm for the stark contrast that now exists on Ridge Road when compared to streets just behind these new structures.
For many seem to believe that increased multiple dwellings will have an impact on the size of classes as there has been a spike in the public school population and does the district have the capability to absorb more students should this trend towards apartment living construction continue?
For it appears additional construction is in-store for Ridge Road and even more new rentals will make its way to Schuyler Avenue as well as River Road.
The Democrats believe the choice in the race for two council seats will be both stark and obvious.
“Those who think unbridled construction is a good thing will support the incumbents while the rest of the community will have our candidacy to consider,” offered Balwierczak, a former Republican who like his running-mate John Yampaglia is a life-long resident and graduate of North Arlington High School.
Balwierczak is committing himself full-time to persuading voters that the time to send two Democrats back to the Mayor & Council is now.
“We believe partisan politics should be last and responsible public policy first. That isn’t the case when you have six council members casting hundreds, if not thousands of votes in the affirmative meeting after meeting, month after month and year after year for almost a decade. For if you are not a supporter of these embedded incumbents, you are effectively locked out and left behind in the management and operation of this municipality. Non-Republicans need not apply,” offered candidate Balwierczak.
“We need a second pair of eyes that puts taxpayers first. This overtly Republican Administration led by incumbents Brian Fitzhenry and Allison Sheedy just refuse to reach out or even entertain a consensus or bipartisan solution to anything. The solution as they see it is to eliminate choice, to run unopposed and effectively end local grass roots democracy and that in many ways deteriorates a community from within,” said the candidates.
FIRST FUNDRAISER MAY 20TH
The Democrats will be hosting their first fundraiser of the campaign season on May 20th at the La Venere Restaurant located on Schuyler Avenue with a traditional style, Italian dinner and tickets are $100 per person and you can pay at the door.
To RSVP, please contact the campaign at (201) 655-8497 and all residents are invited to meet other Democrats as well as other elected officials from the county, state and federal levels. Paul Juliano, the Chairman of the Bergen County Democratic Committee is co-hosting the event along with longtime Democratic leader Nick Antonicello.