Below you’ll find more in depth discussions of the latest issues along with updates from the campaign. Use the contact form here to sign up for email updates, or follow me on Instagram or Facebook.
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How PILOTs Impact the Budget: The Edison Lofts Example
When you talk about development, the topic of PILOTs and tax abatements inevitably comes up. There’s often a misconception here, with people thinking that this means that a development pays no taxes at all. But the fundamental belief that most people have – that PILOTs are good for developers and bad for the rest of…
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It’s August and West Orange Still Hasn’t Adopted a Municipal Budget
Last year, West Orange’s budget process dragged late into the fall. It was so late that the 4th quarter tax bills were delayed because they couldn’t be calculated properly. This started with the Mayor. The budget wasn’t presented to the Council until late April. But after that, the Council engaged in a lengthy series of…
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Running Up Mt. Pleasant to Essex Green and the West Orange Public Library
Essex Green is pretty centrally located in town. It’s also almost entirely cut off and isolated from the town. Whether you’re trying to hang out at the shopping plaza with your friends or get to the library tucked away in the back, it’s tough to get there if you’re on foot or on a bike.…
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Builder’s Remedy Lawsuits in West Orange: How Did We Get Here?
At the August 4 council meeting, the topic of development and affordable housing came up. This prompted the township attorney, Mark Semeraro, to provide an update on the situation in which West Orange now finds itself. That situation is, in a word, precarious. As Semeraro explained, the township failed to pass its affordable housing plan…
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Safer Streets for Everyone: Moving West Orange from Plans to Action
When you walk through your neighborhood in West Orange – whether you’re dropping your kids off at school, jogging down Pleasant Valley Way, or visiting a local business on Main Street – you should feel safe. Yet too many of us have experienced near misses with speeding or distracted drivers. I run every morning, and…