MY MEETING?
PRONTI PROCLAIMS MAYOR & COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE HIS MEETINGS, NOT THE COMMUNITY!
COUNCIL CANDIDATE JIM SEVER ASKS QUESTION ABOUT NORTH ARLINGTON’S NON-COMPLIANCE OF FAIR SHARE HOUSING REGULATIONS.
COUNCILMAN BRIAN FITZHENRY TRIES TO BERATE CANDIDATE JOHN BALWIERCZAK FOR SPEAKING TO HIS COUNCIL RUNNING-MATE.
NORTH ARLINGTON – Sparks flew Thursday evening as Democratic council hopefuls attended the monthly general meeting of the North Arlington Mayor & Council that consists of all Republicans and no Democrats.
Cengiz “Jim” Sever asked the all-Republican body about why North Arlington is one of just two municipalities in Bergen County and one of six in all of New Jersey nor compliant with Fair Share housing and also inquired on the details of a new police station being proposed and the size of the facility.
After Sever made his public statement and inquiry, Councilman Brian Fitzhenry (R) began explaining why he was personally supportive of legal action and commented that North Arlington could be obligated for over 200 affordable units, even though New Jersey has no enforcement mechanism in place.
He then began to criticize candidate Balwierczak for speaking to his running-mate Sever and was accused of “disrupting” the meeting by Mayor Dan Pronti (R).
Describing the council meeting as “my meeting,” and not that of the residents of which he was elected to simply preside, Pronti started banging the gavel and was threatening to remove the candidate for simply answering Fitzhenry’s unprovoked political rhetoric.
Why Fitzhenry was addressing questions to a political rival during a public meeting was unclear and without provocation by Balwierczak.
It should be noted that while Fitzhenry claims to be against all forms of affordable housing, he and his council colleague Kirk Del Russo, a real estate agent seeking reelection in 2025 were avid supporters of the failed EnCap project in the Meadowlands, which became a housing debacle as the project claimed it would turn landfills into golf courses, and ultimately proposed some 1,700 units of housing including affordable and low income units. 
Democrats at the time opposed the project, while Republicans like Del Russo and Fitzhenry were unabashed advocates for the faulty housing scheme that eventually collapsed under its own financial weight.
Pronti, who presides over the governing body and has no vote unless in case of a tie, was seemingly angered by the mere presence of NA Democrats attending this May meeting.
Pronti, who has been critical of Democrats for opposing the GOP’s massive redevelopment policies along Ridge Road as well as his unbridled support of rolling tax assessments that are raising taxes, is aggressively seeking that no Democrat ever get elected to the Borough Council.
No Democrat has won election since 2016, and no Democrat has served since 2019, but despite that political reality, Pronti seems to find an excuse or reason why anything that is wrong with North Arlington is the fault of a party out-of-power for over a decade.
Balwierczak, a former Republican left the GOP because of the unbridled gentrification of North Arlington by Pronti, who’s policies have resulted in increased traffic, congestion and the urbanization of this small, bedroom community.
“I’m a life-long resident of North Arlington. Dan is from Bayonne. I graduated from NAHS, Dan did not. I oppose the massive redevelopment of Ridge Road with endless apartments, Dan does not. I’m for a new recreation center and retaining our senior center. Dan isn’t. Even statewide Republicans oppose his version of redevelopment as turning NA into a city it isn’t. Dan wants NA to become an extension of Belleville. I want North Arlington to retain our community character as being small, safe and suburban. Maybe this year Dan will let his candidates speak for themselves. The time for a responsible two-party government is now,” offered Balwierczak.
“I want to see Democrats and Republicans working in a bipartisan basis to fix North Arlington. Pronti wants to prevent two-party government and run roughshod over this all-GOP council that lacks the courage to stand up,” blasted the second-time challenger.
NA Democrats will be gathering on Wednesday, May 28th at the Arlington Diner for a fundraiser beginning at 7PM. To RSVP or for more details, contact (201) 655-8497.
All supporters are encouraged to attend, and you can pay at the door.