Turning a Corner?
January 06, 2010 Filed in: Politics
As we enter a new decade and welcome a new mayor, we
at the Englewood Report hope that we may be starting
a new chapter in the history of Englewood. We no
longer have a grandstanding mayor more interested in
scheming for higher office than governing. We no
longer have a city council which takes its orders
from the County political boss. We have a city
manager who is striving to instill pride and a sense
of service in the City work force. We have a Board of
Education which has at last settled on a new
superintendent. Englewood, of course, is only a
microcosm in this world full of daunting challenges
at every level of government, but we would like to
think that we may have turned a corner locally.
Some things we would like to see happen as we move forward are:
Decisions sooner or later to be made by the City Council about the Lincoln and Liberty school and the firehouse properties, as well as the skating rink, should take into account the social needs of the community as well as the financial needs of the City. Our new mayor has, for example, indicated his desire for a community center facility which will bring all parts of the community together.
Developers should no longer be tempted to assume that zoning regulations can be overridden if enough favor is curried with or enough pressure is placed on City officials.
More attention should be paid to the City’s appearance, specifically in the parks, and in the directional and informational signs at our borders and within Englewood. A plan should be developed and implemented for the City-owned Harvey property at 500 Liberty Road.
In the public schools, the Board and Superintendent should settle their differences and not allow budget constraints to divert their attention from continuing to raise standards at all grade levels.
More attention should be directed to protecting Englewood’s historic buildings, which clearly contribute to our attraction as a place to live and thus to property values. For starters the Historical Preservation Advisory Committee can be elevated to the status of Historical Commission in line with our neighboring towns.
We should not be reluctant to point out the strengths which our city has, as opposed to the problems which need to be solved. In addition to our attractive and historic homes, we have a strong and generally prosperous downtown shopping district. We have an extraordinary number of religious institutions for a city of our size. Englewood Hospital & Medical Center, Bergen PAC, and Flat Rock Brook Nature Center are all unique in their own ways. There were good reasons why New Jersey Monthly magazine rated us the most livable city in the state a few years ago!
Some things we would like to see happen as we move forward are:
Decisions sooner or later to be made by the City Council about the Lincoln and Liberty school and the firehouse properties, as well as the skating rink, should take into account the social needs of the community as well as the financial needs of the City. Our new mayor has, for example, indicated his desire for a community center facility which will bring all parts of the community together.
Developers should no longer be tempted to assume that zoning regulations can be overridden if enough favor is curried with or enough pressure is placed on City officials.
More attention should be paid to the City’s appearance, specifically in the parks, and in the directional and informational signs at our borders and within Englewood. A plan should be developed and implemented for the City-owned Harvey property at 500 Liberty Road.
In the public schools, the Board and Superintendent should settle their differences and not allow budget constraints to divert their attention from continuing to raise standards at all grade levels.
More attention should be directed to protecting Englewood’s historic buildings, which clearly contribute to our attraction as a place to live and thus to property values. For starters the Historical Preservation Advisory Committee can be elevated to the status of Historical Commission in line with our neighboring towns.
We should not be reluctant to point out the strengths which our city has, as opposed to the problems which need to be solved. In addition to our attractive and historic homes, we have a strong and generally prosperous downtown shopping district. We have an extraordinary number of religious institutions for a city of our size. Englewood Hospital & Medical Center, Bergen PAC, and Flat Rock Brook Nature Center are all unique in their own ways. There were good reasons why New Jersey Monthly magazine rated us the most livable city in the state a few years ago!
