NO JOKING MATTER: NA HISPANICS FIND NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT ATTACKS ON PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY
North Arlington registered Democrats account for 55% of returned mail-in ballots, GOP an abysmal 24%!
Balwierczak & Yampaglia: Massive overdevelopment opposed by North Arlington residents regardless of party, race, age, ethnicity or gender!
NORTH ARLNGTON – Just when you thought Republicans would tone down the ugly rhetoric, a comedian named Tony Hinchcliffe described the United States territory of Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” and that Puerto Ricans in general were part of an “invasion of the country.”
The controversial statements were made yesterday at a rally in New York City held at Madison Square Garden, just 12 miles away in midtown Manhattan.
The rally showcased ex-President Donald Trump, who engineered the failed EnCap housing scheme that tried to ram over 1,500 units of low income apartments on Porete Avenue in the Meadowlands.
That proposal was fully supported by incumbent Brian Fitzhenry and his council colleague Kirk Del Russo, a real estate agent and former member of the now defunct, North Arlington Redevelopment Agency that supported this fantasy of garbage landfills to golf courses that never happened.
The housing scheme collapsed under it’s own weight when local Democrats opposed the project while every North Arlington Republican official supported the failed and flawed proposal.
Today, Democrats John Balwierczak and John Yampaglia methodically canvassed door-to-door as those of Hispanic heritage found the comments about Puerto Ricans hardly laughable.
“Puerto Ricans are American citizens. They have been citizens since 1917. That’s 107 years ago. The currency of Puerto Rico is the US Dollar. They send a non-voting member to the US House of Representatives. It is unfortunate and wrong to attack fellow Americans in this fashion,” offered the Democratic challengers. 
“As usual, neither Fitzhenry or Sheedy have commented on yet another senseless and mindless attack on the hard working Puerto Rican community. We have met many Puerto Rican residents and voters and they are hurt by this kind of slur. North Arlington has a large contingency of Puerto Rican residents and we welcome them as part of NA. This kind of nonsense has no place in politics. Every American citizen should be treated with decency and respect.”
DEMOCRATS OPEN BIG LEAD IN VOTE BY MAIL RESULTS!
Both Balwierczak and Yampaglia received good news today as sources tell NA Today that over 700 ballots have been returned to Bergen County election officials with a week to go.
Of the 708 ballots returned, 386 were from Democrats representing 55% while just 172 were returned by Republicans for an abysmal 24%!
“Massive overdevelopment by Fitzhenry and Sheedy is the only real issue in this campaign after the Republicans voted “yes” for higher property taxes. Everywhere we go and every door we knock on the complaints and criticisms are the same, stop the construction of apartment dwellings on Ridge Road. End the urbanization and density. Reduce the traffic and increase residential street parking. They want North Arlington to remain small, safe and suburban. North Arlington is not a city, it is the gateway to Bergen County. Give us two of the six seats on the Borough Council so that we can return responsible two-party government for homeowners and tenants alike,” offered council candidate Balwierczak, who changed political parties to oppose the housing schemes of Pronti, Fitzhenry and Sheedy.
NA Democrats will be hosting a local “meet and greet” this Wednesday beginning at 7 PM at the Arlington Diner and light refreshments will be served.
The Democrats host a table at the North Arlington Post Office every Saturday from 9 PM till 12 noon located at Ridge Park Drive and all residents are urged to stop by and discuss the issues you really want to talk about.
For details, call the campaign at (201) 655-8497.