South Orange Needs New Leadership
Dear Editor,
Please join me in supporting the Pure Progress ticket in the upcoming Village
Trustee elections, May 8, 2007. Progress is the key word and new political
leadership is essential for South Orange to achieve its potential as a premier
and choice community.
The major responsibilities of a highly qualified board and Village President
include strategic and long term planning, along with hiring and managing
key employees and consultants of the same description who will get the job
done. The Pure Progress candidates meet those criteria and deserve your
vote.
Whether you are raising a family, recently retired, single, studying at
Seton Hall or relocating because of the Midtown Direct, South Orange should
be among the top residential destinations in the Essex, Union, and Morris
area. With prime employment opportunities in Manhattan, Jersey City, Hoboken
and Newark via the Midtown Direct, potential residents and quality businesses
should be banging down the doors to move to our community. Top this off
with Newark's major transportation hub of rail and airport within
a 15-minute drive, and the formula for our community's economic success
should be second to none. For those who desire a vibrant and culturally
diverse community, great housing stock, thoughtfully planned open space,
excellent schools, university access, and close proximity to NYC, South
Orange should be the first choice.
As citizen voters, we have a duty and obligation to steward the use of community
tax dollars by electing smart, talented, disciplined, collegial, and innovative
decision makers.
As a former Village Trustee (1993-98) and community volunteer, I appreciate
the time and sacrifice contributed by current and past elected officials
and citizen volunteers. However, thoughtful and energetic political change
is both good and necessary for our civic life. Term limits assure elected
officials do not slip into complacency and a "we know best" mindset.
The turnover of leadership every 4-8 years offers the best opportunity for
continued revitalization, thoughtful debate, strategic planning, technical
expertise, transparency, and best practices.
South Orange residents face greater economic and community challenges than
ever before, which requires new and vigorous leadership with proven professional
expertise and fresh ideas to lead us into the future. I applaud the Pure
Progress ticket for working to be the change they and we hope to see.
At the same time, I sincerely appreciate the effort and dedication contributed
by senior incumbents, Bill Calabrese, Allen Rosen, and Art Taylor and thank
them for their generous and long-term service to the Village. Their experience
and wisdom offers them a unique opportunity to continue their civic involvement
through the many community boards and groups that serve the governing body
through study, research, recommendations and advisement.
Sincerely,
Liz McMahon
Failure in Downtown Development Hurts Homeowners
Dear Editor,
It is clear that a change in South Orange is desperately needed. While
the residential neighborhoods in South Orange are beautiful, well maintained
and architecturally interesting, the same cannot be said about our downtown.
The downtown is unattractive, with vacant lots, unsightly graffiti and inactive
construction sites every where you turn. Having been a resident of South
Orange for over 10 years, I have heard nothing but promises since I moved
in about how wonderful the downtown would become and how South Orange would
become a "destination". However, I have seen the downtown deteriorate
every year since I have been here. As a town so close to NYC with so much
diversity and so much promise, I am extremely disappointed with progress
in our downtown especially considering that real estate taxes have doubled
over the past 10 years. And for those of us who work in NYC, the indefinite
waiting list for train parking makes South Orange a much less desirable "destination".
It is time for a change. It is time for Pure Progress. Vote for Doug Newman, Mark Rosner, Deborah Davis Ford, Howard Levison and Michael Goldberg on May 8th.
Sincerely,
Tony Verducci
Pure Progress Ticket Offers Refreshing Change
To the Editor:
I have lived in South Orange for 26 years. In the last several years I have seen our village President and Board of Trustees become poster children for term limits. They can't be objective about the Village's problems because they created so many of them. They have become unresponsive to the citizenry—1700 petitions not to spend Village money on a sculpture were not even considered. They have been imprudent regarding their development agreements and procedures, resulting in millions of wasted dollars. They refuse to deal with the traffic mess they created when they misguidedly caused South Orange
Avenue to be narrowed. And they mislead us constantly—SOPAC was to
cost $10 million (reality: $16 million); the supermarket(which will
be a gourmet store, not a true supermarket) would be open years ago(usually
announced by the Village President just before an election), Mr. Beifus
will start construction imminently. Enough.
We now have a choice. Intelligent, experienced long-time Village residents
with vision and vigor have placed the Pure Progress ticket on the ballot.
I have met with the candidates and am convinced that they have the intelligence,
enthusiasm and business-world experience required to put the Village back
on the right track. Please read their biographies and statements at www.PureProgress.org
Come to one of their coffees (dates and locations also on the website);
you'll
find their candor refreshing. At the very least, please attend the candidates'
debates. You will see why the incumbents' time has
passed, and that we have the opportunity to do much better.
I am, of course, aware that one of the Pure Progress candidates, Mark Rosner,
is an incumbent. But he has pledged his support for the Pure Progress positions,
and joined in the call for open government. His presence on the opposition
ticket evidences his sincerity in that regard.
Dena F. Lowenbach
A Call to Action for all South Orange
To the Editor:
Shaking up my anonymity, I attended a morning coffee to meet three of five
Pure Progress candidates last Saturday, and have written this supporting
letter as a voice for action in South Orange. The Pure Progress candidates
spoke intelligently and passionately about their vision for the future of
South Orange. This new slate (Row "A") will challenge the existing
guard at the municipal election on May 8th. Pure Progress consists of bright
Village activists who, disappointed with the current stagnation, have dedicated
their resources and time to create positive change for us.
At the coffee, I learned that on Tuesday (April 24) starting at 7:30pm,
a "Candidates Night" sponsored by the League of Women Voters will
take place at the South Orange Middle School.
Surprisingly, neither this April debate nor the May election is calendared in the April 2007 South Orange Gaslight or the Village's web site. The upcoming election may be a "rendezvous with destiny" for our lovely Village where I have lived for nearly eight years, having grown up in Maplewood.
Go to the polls on May 8th and
take a chance on change.
Beth Meyer
Vote for Pure Progress ticket
To the Editor: An important municipal election is coming up May 8. South
Orange residents must get out and vote for the Pure Progress ticket: Doug
Newman for Village President, Michael Goldberg, Howard Levison, Mark Rosner
and Deborah Davis Ford for trustees.
Anyone who drives down South Orange Avenue or watches the trustee meetings
knows that it is time for a change. I know Michael, Howard and Doug personally,
and recently met Deborah. They are all intelligent and thoughtful individuals
who are committed to a better South Orange.
Every voter in South Orange owes it to themselves to read their impressive
platform. The Pure Progress position can be viewed at www.pureprogress.org.
Register to vote by April 17 and vote for Pure Progress on May 8.
Nancy Gould
Pure Progress is the way to go
To the Editor: What a great country we live in! We enjoy abundant opportunity
and a freedom that is second to none! Most important, we decide who will
lead our government, from the president of the United States to the
South Orange Board of Trustees. New Jersey politics has personified an
environment of mistrust and questionable practices, with a lack of term
limits and incumbency advantages allowing many elected officials extremely
long terms of service. Village President William Calabrese has been our
ebullient cheerleader for the past 20 years, but it is time for him to
step aside and let someone else take the reins for the vision and direction
our community will take in the future. The community should be grateful
and thank Mr. Calabrese for the time and effort he has given our community.
The same should be said for Allan Rosen, who has served for almost 30
years. However, appreciation for a long tenure of service should not be
the basis on which we should re-elect our village's leaders.
I have lived in our community for the past 15 years and, as most who read
this probably know, I have been an active, passionate participant in our
community. I have also had the good fortune to get to know Douglas Newman.
Doug is one of the most intelligent and qualified individuals amongst us.
Doug is a candidate for the position of village president in the upcoming
election on May 8.
Doug Newman and his family have been contributing to our community for
more than 17 years. They have been extremely generous with their time,
serving on many different committees and boards to the benefit of South
Orange. I have served alongside Doug and witnessed firsthand his intellect,
his leadership, his passion for results and, most of all, his integrity.
South Orange is quite fortunate to have a candidate of Doug's caliber
willing to volunteer his time for public service.
Doug is leading the five-member, unified Pure Progress team.
Trustee Mark Rosner, a friend of mine for the past 12 years, has integrity,
is bright, and works very hard. He never has been afraid to independently
take a lone stance as a Trustee. Mark has been very courageous in speaking
out against injustices that he felt were harmful to the community. Mark
does not vote for appearances, he votes his beliefs.
Deborah Davis Ford, Michael Goldberg and Howard Levison are active community
participants. They share a desire to improve the quality of life our residents
enjoy and make our community exemplary.
I strongly urge you to support and vote Pure Progress "Line A" on
May 8. A vote for Pure Progress is a vote for new, fresh ideas, a different
perspective to finally get the job done and for a government representative
of the people and for the people.
Vote "Line A" on May 8. Pure Progress.
Jeffrey DuBowy
Pure Progress offers more than Calabrese
To the Editor: In response to South Orange Village President Bill Calabrese's
statement in the March 15 article "Race is official," I'm writing
in support of the Pure Progress ticket.
My wife and I purchased a home in South Orange in May 2003. I attended
Seton Hall in the late `80s, so I immediately recognized all that has been
done by Bill Calabrese to revitalize the village. In particular, I was
encouraged by Sloan Street and my wife was truly excited by Cait & Abby's, Starbucks,
the cute diner and the "coming soon" gourmet market.
Four years later, we're discouraged by years of fits and starts: the lack
of a gourmet market—though it actually now seems to be coming soon;
the multiple West South Orange Avenue building tear downs and subsequent
vacant lots; the Manhattan-style high-rise excavation at the Vose Avenue
pit and the ripping down of the village-owned historic triangle building
on Vose; and the decrepit state of historic village owned buildings.
More disturbing than slow progress and blind promises to an early '90s
vision is Mr. Calabrese's lack of ongoing commitment to South Orange.
When asked if he would serve out a new four-year term if elected in May,
the News-Record reported on March 15 that he responded, "We'll cross
that bridge when we come to it." My family is committed to South Orange
long term, and if Mr. Calabrese isn't, we as voters need to make sure we
elect a village president and trustees who are.
The Pure Progress slate, led by Doug Newman, has a viable plan to finish
the uncompleted work and will bring a new vision and renewed commitment
to Village Hall. I do appreciate the years of service of the village president
and the multi-term incumbents on his ticket, but now is the time for a
change. I fully support the Pure Progress slate of candidates and I encourage
all villagers to learn more about them and to vote the Pure Progress line
on May 8.
James Ankner
Do residents live in Fantasy Land?
To the Editor: After reading this week's letters to the editor, I found myself asking "Where do these people live? Fantasy Land?" While I agree with what was said about Bill giving breaks to people who can't afford their medications and I agree his pharmacy does deliver for free, I ask what about the mess the downtown area is in? What about the properties taken off the tax rolls? What about the "Coming Soon" for the last eight plus years grocery store? What about the lack of open government?
Bill Calabrese has had more than enough time to be the village president.
Art Taylor and Allan Rosen have had enough time being trustees. Having
lived here most of my 43 years plus, I'm tired of nothing being started
until right before an election. How many of you remember what happened four
years ago at election time? Where's the grocery store we were promised would
be completed by Thanksgiving? Why do we still have Beifus, where once in
a while you'll see some dirt being pushed around? Why hasn't something been
built yet? Why are we even building more stores? Don't we have enough empty
stores as it is?
I'm tired of the empty stores and the piles of dirt in our village. I'm
tired of broken promises. Enough already. It's time for a change. Give
someone else a chance to rebuild our town. I want elected officials who
listen to the taxpayers of the community. To not cut them off, talk over
them or just plain ignore what the residents have to say. I want elected
officials who respect what residents have to say; even if they don't agree.
I want elected officials who will not make broken promises after broken
promises. Whatever happened to the open government promises made before
the last election? I want a change.
Ask yourselves what has really been accomplished in the past four years?
Sure we have SOPAC, along with how many millions of dollars of debt? Aletter
writer a couple of weeks ago wrote about Bill building up the town. What,
besides SOPAC, has been built?
For the voters who have never gone to or watched a trustees meeting, I
ask you to please go to the village Web site and watch one. See for yourself
how residents are treated. Witness for yourself questions not being answered.
Being given round about answers. Broken promisees made again and again.
This time around, as much as I like and respect Bill as a person, I'm sorry
I cannot vote for him, or anyone else running with him.
Jeannemarie Ahrens
Impressed with Doug Newman
To the Editor: It's early in the South Orange campaign season, but I'm
already impressed with the Pure Progress slate of candidates. Michael Goldberg
was one of the first people we met when we moved to South Orange almost
two years ago. They were most welcoming to us and we instantly became close
personal friends and have been able to count on each other for help at
any time.
I recently attended the Pure Progress kickoff party at Cryan's, where I
was able to meet Michael's running mates, including Village President candidate
Doug Newman. Doug was extremely articulate and personable, and had a very
impressive professional as well as educational background.
Doug, along with his running mates, immediately gave me the sense that
they were both capable of and serious about helping South Orange realize
its enormous potential. Their collective passion was palpable.
Considering all of the challenges as well opportunities that South Orange
has, we're going to need someone of Doug's caliber in a leadership position.
I often watch the Board of Trustee meetings on television and am surprised
at the current village leadership's inability to communicate ideas, inspire,
and effect positive change. I'm miffed by the staunch opposition presented
to fresh thinking and approaches that are offered in the spirit of improvement
and forward thinking.
When I met Doug Newman, I met a man who is capable of leading and inspiring;
someone who will be a real asset to South Orange; and a president we can
all be proud of.
My wife and I are going to vote for Michael, Doug and the entire Pure Progress
ticket. We hope others will too.
David Goodman
Pure Progress takes us to next level
To the Editor: As a longtime South Orange resident, I have always said
the best thing about the village is the people who live here. The people,
along with the charm of the town and the one-seat, half-hour commute to
mid-town have combined to provide South Orange with a lot of potential.
But we had that same potential four years ago and even eight years ago.
It is time we move this town forward.
I think the best way for us to move forward is to elect the Pure Progress
team on May 8.
As we have seen, just wishing things will get done does not accomplish
anything. Electing a team that has the knowledge and expertise in the
critical areas necessary for good government in a modern world will put
us back on the path to progress.
In the areas of marketing and leadership, Doug Newman brings almost 30
years of senior level corporate marketing and management experience into
the mix.
In the area of risk management, Mark Rosner brings years of experience
from the insurance industry to the team and the town.
In the area of staffing, Deborah Davis Ford has been putting the right
people in the right role and then letting them succeed in their job for
some of the largest companies in corporate America.
In the area of process management, Howard Levison has been establishing
the process and then repeating its success for decades as a consultant
and in his own business.
In the area of program management, Michael Goldberg has used his project
management skills and expertise to successfully bring in dozens of projects
over the years, while skillfully managing client expectations and ensuring
they remained satisfied.
These five villagers, motivated by civic pride, have come together as a
well-balanced team, ready to take us to the next level. Please do your
part to get us there by voting for Line A on May 8.
Dan Shelffo South Orange
Vote for Pure Progress
To the Editor: Just a few days before the election in 2003, I saw the Beifus building was knocked down. A lot of voters, including myself, took that as a sign of progress. However, it's four years later and we continue to see nothing more than an empty lot.
Just on the other side of the train trestle we were told a supermarket
would be open within one year. Four years later and still no market.
More than one year ago, I saw the village purchase the old gulf station
on Valley Street — and down it came. Another empty lot for our downtown.
Enough is enough. It is time for new leadership. I met Mr. Newman and the
other candidates on his ticket. I sense they understand our frustration,
not only with the delays in downtown development but just as importantly
how they will do things differently to bring positive changes to the downtown.
I suggest everyone take the time to meet the candidates on the Pure Progress
ticket and support them on election day.
Patrick Barragan
