PURE PROGRESS INSPIRES A
RENEWED SENSE OF HOPE FOR SOUTH ORANGE

 

South Orange, NJ ( March 5, 2007) - Over one-hundred South Orange residents packed into Cryans Beef & Ale House Thursday night to attend the Pure Progress kick-off celebration. Pure Progress, an opposition slate comprised of Village President candidate Douglas Newman, incumbent Trustee candidate Mark Rosner and Trustee challengers Deborah Davis Ford, Howard Levison and Michael Goldberg, stirred the crowd with passionate promises of an improved Village and fierce criticism of the status quo.

 

"The driving force behind Pure Progress is our desire and need to create a renewed sense of hope," stated Newman. "We look forward to communicating a clear vision and plan for South Orange. We don't intend to mess with or make personal attacks on Mr. Calabrese but we will be aggressive and vocal about the many significant issues affecting our Village. First and foremost we'll create a new master plan to guide redevelopment and we'll address other critical issues like reducing our tax burden, decreasing our debt, repairing our infrastructure and creating an open and productive dialogue with Villagers. There is a lot to get done in order to become a premier New Jersey suburb."

 

Incumbent Trustee Mark Rosner, who ran with Village President Calabrese in 2003, provided insight on his decision to pursue an opposition ticket. "I want to be a part of positive and productive change," stated Trustee Rosner. "I have been frustrated by the inability to resolve significant issues like the ongoing Beifus saga on South Orange Avenue. Beifus is one of the most valuable pieces of commercial real estate in the Village and has remained undeveloped since 2000. There is no excuse for this lack of progress. I look forward to working with the Pure Progress team and getting South Orange back on track."

 

Trustee candidates Deborah Davis Ford, Howard Levison and Michael Goldberg took aim on other campaign issues including: unity among residents and Village Hall, improving Village infrastructure and fiscal responsibility. "We want our community to be a major part of the decision making process and not simply hostage to its results," stated Davis Ford. "Pure Progress is about implementing a more open and inclusive government."

 

Levison emphasized the need to address significant Village infrastructure issues. "Our historic buildings like Village Hall and the Baird Center are in major need of repair," stated Levison. "Pure Progress is committed to improving and maintaining our vital community assets."

 

Goldberg focused on fiscal responsibility as a critical need for the Village. "Pure Progress will continue to aggressively pursue solutions for stabilizing our taxes and reducing Village dept," stated Goldberg. "Its unacceptable that some residents have to consider relocation as a solution for rising taxes. We will continue to investigate shared services with neighboring towns and identify other creative ways stabilize taxes and improve Village finances."

 

In last week's News Record, Calabrese issued a warning to the Pure Progress campaign asserting, "You [Pure Progress] can mess with me but you can't mess with South Orange." When asked to respond, candidate Newman said, "We respectfully request that Mr. Calabrese and his running mates focus on the issues at hand and not pursue an agenda of personal attacks or political rhetoric. This election is not about any one individual; it's about doing what's best for our community."

 

 

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The Pure Progress team will be attending various coffees around town held by neighbors, possibly people you know. They are informal gatherings and a good place to ask questions and get to know the candidates and your neighbors. Please try to attend one. After registering for a particular location and date, you will receive an e-mail with more specific information and an address.

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