An NA Today Exclusive:
PRONTI’S “SUMMER SLAM” OF NA HOMEOWNERS HAS PROPERTY TAXES OUT-OF-CONTROL!
Bergen County’s highest paid part-time mayor has little tolerance for those seeking a change at the top!
NORTH ARLINGTON – As residents settle in on a new school year and the unofficial final weekend of the summer, they are also dealing with the hard reality that property taxes are increasing at an alarming rate thanks to the massive overdevelopment and random reassessments of Mayor Dan Pronti (R).
With no one left to blame for his own failed policies endorsed by his rubber stamp Borough Council, citizens are seeking relief with calls of change online being disputed by Administration officials. 
One resident posted that his property taxes under Pronti have increased some $4,000 since 2021 while another resident concurred, calling for a change in denying the incumbent a third term.
In response, Republican Councilman Brian Fitzhenry demanded, “show us the math,” as apparently, he doesn’t think a homeowner knows how to calculate his own bill! This is the same individual who raised school taxes six consecutive times as a member of the North Arlington Board of Education while making failed attempts for county office and the state senate.
For it’s been a bad year politically for this part-time mayor and real estate agent who seems to find someone to blame when things don’t go his way.
But no Democrat has served on the governing body since 2019, some seven years ago and every Pronti initiative regarding reassessments, massive overdevelopment and high taxes have been endorsed without delay or discussion by this borough council.
Another resident offered that her taxes increased from $15,000 to $19,555.
“What’s it going to be like 5 years from now?” 
It’s the same question hundreds of homeowners are asking as the bills finally trickle in to enraged residents who were told that the proliferation of apartment construction along Ridge Road would stabilize expenses.
The exact opposite has occurred.
For a sense that North Arlington has become urbanized, as we witnessed this summer with the Ridge Road double homicide or the federal raid of a former North Arlington business on the Belleville Pike that went unaddressed by this mayor. 
“It was like it never occurred,” said one resident when asked to comment.
John Balwierczak, the Democratic mayoral hopeful, believes the incumbent has simply “lost his way.” 
“Look at Ridge Road and all the vacant storefronts led by a 42,000 square foot, former MELRAYS property. Our business district has been decimated thanks to massive overdevelopment of apartments nobody wants. The application of random reassessments that are clearly unfair to longtime residents, especially seniors on fixed incomes. If I’m successful, I’ll call for a moratorium on all apartment construction and go back to a more reasonable reassessment process that will occur every 5-7 years so that the advantage goes back to the property owner. Enough is enough. We’re losing our brand as the gateway to Bergen County. Keeping North Arlington small, safe, and suburban is not a slogan, it represents my values as a lifelong resident and graduate of NA High School.”
“I have made simple requests for public information such as the usage of municipal vehicles that have been seen at an Atlantic City casino, some 150 miles away from North Arlington? Why are department heads allowed to have apparently unlimited usage? Why does our Borough Administrator work just three days a week? Why is Dan Pronti engineering raises for elected officials? Why is he allowed to arbitrarily increase his own salary while people are struggling to pay the rent or the mortgage? He is detached from the realities of real people just trying to get by.” 
According to numerous sources, Dan Pronti is one of the highest paid part-time mayors in all of New Jersey, earning nearly $15,000 to attend a single public meeting per month!
“Nice work if you can find it,” offered his Democratic challenger.
As the long Labor Day weekend is upon us, Balwierczak reminded voters who have the backing of middle-class, and working-class families and seniors. 
“There are some 2,700 seniors in North Arlington struggling. Dan’s answer is a 40-unit senior structure on River Road where it floods all the time? That’s his solution, and we still don’t know the cost to taxpayers for this impending “White Elephant.” More importantly, who will determine who gets to live in these units? Is this the solution we have waited a decade for? A politically connected lawyer who is a financial supporter and contributor to the Pronti political machine. This won’t cut it with residents,” assured the candidate.
“As the campaign officially commences, we are the ticket of change. Three homeowners all invested in North Arlington’s future that have received the endorsement of the Bergen County Central Trades Council of the AFL-CIO. Jim Sever is the only union member who also received the endorsement of the New Jersey AFL-CIO, one of just a handful of candidates to earn that support here in Bergen County. I’m proud to be running with Dennis Papile, who is a school crossing guard, and Jim, who is a marble and tile installer. Both are homeowners, husbands, and fathers. Other than out-of-town developers who are gentrifying our community, decimating our business district and causing our taxes to rise, where is the support for a continuation of Pronti’s nonsense? It does not exist and that’s why he won’t debate.”
The candidate stated he will be canvassing and having a table at the post office again to meet and greet residents over coffee to discuss their issues and concerns.
MEET THE NEXT MAYOR AND HIS TEAM. 
Have a question? Call Balwierczak at (201) 655-8497 or via e-mail at [email protected]
Need a sign to support the team?
John will be happy to stop by and place it for you, and he’ll take it down after the campaign is over as well.