WHY NORTH ARLINGTON NEEDS A NEW DIRECTION, A NEW MAYOR!
THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW!
North Arlington – After two terms on the Borough Council and two additional terms as North Arlington mayor, there are specific, defensible reasons that can be discussed why the time for a new mayor in John Balwerczcak is now and that incumbent Dan Pronti be denied a third, four-year term.
Pronti was first elected mayor in 2018, reelected in 2022, and his current term ends December 31, 2026.
Pronti credits himself with redevelopment, road improvements and sports-field investments. But spending, taxation, borrowing and the overall cost of local government continues to increase on his watch with the coupled notion based on the double homicides and federal raid regarding drugs that North Arlington is not the small and safe community once endorsed by Republicans as well as Democrats.
Under Pronti, Republican have strayed into a different and unpopular direction.
Here are 10 Reasons North Arlington Needs a New Mayor:
Property taxes need greater accountability:
Residents deserve a clear explanation of why municipal spending and property tax burdens continue to be contentious issues after eight years of Pronti leadership not simply explanations that point to inflation, the county or the schools. Recent local reporting has sharply criticized the administration’s handling of tax increases and the random reassessments he continues to endorse despite their unpopularity with homeowners!
North Arlington needs a spending audit:
Before asking homeowners for more money, Pronti should conduct a comprehensive independent review of salaries, contracts, professional fees, vehicles, overtime, debt and discretionary spending.
Again, Pronti ignores all calls for fiscal accountability and transparency.
Pronti shouldn’t be giving himself raises:
The borough’s own records show Pronti approving compensation increases for department heads. Recent reporting also says the mayor’s compensation has risen to nearly $15,000 annually. A new administration could establish a policy that elected officials cannot increase their own compensation during an existing term of office, and that term limits should be implemented ending this power grip on local government.
Development needs a reset:
North Arlington has massive redevelopment plans covering Ridge Road, Schuyler Avenue, Belleville Turnpike and the River Road/VFW area. The question isn’t whether North Arlington should develop it’s what kind of development the community can realistically absorb without sacrificing its small-town character.
Residents deserve actual government transparency:
Government shouldn’t require residents to file public-records requests (OPRA) to understand basic questions about spending, vehicles, contracts and municipal operations. Transparency should be the objective.
Municipal vehicles demand tighter controls :
Taxpayers should know which employees have take-home or full-time access to municipal vehicles, the legitimate business purpose, mileage, fuel costs, tolls and after-hours usage. Allegations regarding municipal vehicles have recently become a political issue in North Arlington. Why are municipal vehicles doing at an Atlantic City casino is a premium parked position?
The mayor needs to be accountable for the entire administration:
After eight years, Pronti can no longer campaign as an outsider promising to fix problems created by previous administrations. He has been mayor since 2018. The buck ultimately stops with him. It’s time for real transparency, not excuses.
North Arlington needs a stronger focus on seniors:
There are 2,700 seniors living in North Arlington, most on fixed incomes. With rising housing and property tax costs, seniors need more than an annual promthey need a municipal government actively looking for ways to make remaining in North Arlington financially sustainable and realistic.
Government should be less political and more professional:
North Arlington needs a mayor who will work with residents regardless of party affiliation and encourage genuine public participation rather than treating every disagreement as a political fight. The majority of residents are Democrats and Independents, not Republicans and they have no say at the table. Responsible two-party government is mandatory for real change.
Eight years is enough time to judge the results:
Pronti has had two terms to implement his vision. His administration can point to massive overdevelopment, and rolling reassessments with some limited accomplishment but voters can reasonably ask whether those accomplishments justify continued increases in spending, compensation and overdevelopment pressures.
The November election gives residents an opportunity to decide whether North Arlington needs a new direction.
“North Arlington doesn’t need more excuses. It needs accountability, affordability, transparency, and a new direction for working families, seniors, and taxpayers. Give me that chance to turn North Arlington around,” offered Democrat John Balwierczak, a life-long resident, homeowner and graduate of North Arlington High School.
Meet the next Mayor! 
Call him at (201) 655-8497 or via email at [email protected]
Let’s keep North Arlington small, safe, suburban, and affordable!