Yampaglia: We Need Pocket and Dog Parks for NA Residents
NORTH ARLINGTON – Picking up where he left off in 2018 when he made a host of “quality of life” suggestions in his mayoral platform and agenda, Councilman Mark Yampaglia is calling for additional open space initiatives that would yield pocket and dog parks for residents.
Yampaglia is locked in a battle for the unexpired term he opted to seek with the vacancy created by the election of Dan Pronti last year for mayor.
Pronti appointed Kirk Del Russo who Yampaglia defeated for a council seat in 2011, but Del Russo is seeking a full-term of office versus completing the unexpired term. Yampaglia is running against Donna Bocchino, the daughter of James “Jimmy” Bocchino, the chief fundraiser for the NA Republicans and chairman of his daughter’s campaign.
Bocchino’s wife is the treasurer of the same.
Bocchino, a retired county patronage employee who was twice defeated for borough council, is a former GOP party leader both in District 36 and municipal chairman.
Bocchino was recently appointed to the part-time patronage position of “Quality of Life” Officer for $8000. No other town North Arlington’s size has this position which had no true qualifications and was not advertised by the community.
No formal interview process was held and apparently Bocchino was the only applicant.
Yampaglia, a graduate of NAHS earned his BA and MA from FDU and his JD from The Touro School of Law. A member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa, Yampaglia is a local businessman with law offices in Rutherford and Jersey City. A parishioner at Queen of Peace Church with his wife Shirley, Yamaglia has been appointed twice and elected four times to the Mayor and Council (2005, 2008, 2011 and 2016). A former municipal defender, Councilman Yampaglia is the son of retired Municipal Court Judge Emil Yampaglia and the brother of John Yampaglia who serves on the local planning board.
A life-long resident, Yampaglia played Varsity Baseball for the Vikings.
“Constructing dog and pocket parks are great ways to enhance public space as well as increase our property values. Many residents have a dog but few places to walk their pet. This initiative is just another way to offer more value in terms of services and amenities that can be created for pennies on the dollar,” noted the four-term Democrat.
Yampaglia believes open space parcels on River Road as well as other locations should be vetted so that pet owners can feel more part of our thriving community,” offered the lifelong resident.
“Should I be successful we could create a committee of elected officials as well as seniors and other citizens to scout for locations to consider. There seems to be overwhelming support for this course of action. We have several pocket parks along Ridge Road and we can certainly extend and compliment those locales with additional parks for the community.”
Yampaglia has made several infrastructure suggestions such as bike and running path at the Passaic riverfront that would connect the Arlington Diner to Riverside County Park as well as renovating or replacing the North Arlington Senior Center that is located by the Library and across from Borough Hall.
“The way you keep North Arlington suburban is through these kinds of green initiatives. These are projects that would have universal support and compliment the community across the board. This proposal compliments our current tree planting initiatives started by Mayor Pronti in terms of beautification of our streets and neighborhoods. Open space, tree planting and more parks are something we can all rally around for an even better North Arlington,” noted the Borough’s Ranking Member.
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